Roll of Honor
Incident
Watchman French was shot and killed by a suspect he had arrested earlier in the night for being drunk in public and creating a disturbance in a pool hall. After being taken to the jail the suspect apologized and asked to go home to go to sleep. The officers released the man, who went home, grabbed his double-barrel shotgun, and returned to the downtown district. The suspect located Watchman French and shot him twice in the back. The suspect fled the scene after the murder. He was never apprehended.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-B84331BF- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Night Watchman French served with the Kingsburg Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Kingsburg community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Night Watchman French.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Night Watchman Fred French is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,775 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Fred French's cause is highlighted.
How Fred French Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Fred French is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Fred French was killed by shotgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
0 officers from Kingsburg Police Department are honored on badge.nw.