Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Gerald Sawyer was shot and killed while working in a joint undercover investigation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. A cocaine trafficker shot Detective Sawyer during an attempted robbery of a $144,000 flash roll. The trafficker and an accomplice were arrested at the scene by other officers and charged with first-degree murder. A jury acquitted both suspects on September 28, 1974. Detective Sawyer had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-4ECCD72D- 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.
Detective Sawyer gave the Los Angeles Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Sawyer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Gerald Wayne Sawyer 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 97,772 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%.
At Los Angeles Police Department, 115 of 240 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 47.9% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gerald Wayne Sawyer's cause is highlighted.
How Gerald Wayne Sawyer Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gerald Wayne Sawyer is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gerald Wayne Sawyer was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
239 officers from Los Angeles Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
