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Police Officer

Gordon G. French

Laguna Beach Police Department — Laguna Beach, CA

Felonious

End of Watch February 13, 1953

Age 48

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Badge 6

The Vigil Panel 89 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Police Officer Gordon French was shot and killed after being taken hostage by a prisoner attempting to escape the police station.

Officer French, who was unarmed at the time, was shot while attempting to overpower the subject. The man later committed suicide.

Officer French had served with the Laguna Beach Police Department for three years.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-6A3A4D02
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer French gave the Laguna Beach Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Laguna Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer French.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department Laguna Beach Police Department

Location Laguna Beach, CA

Platform Identity lbpd.orange.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 13, 1953

Tour of Duty 3 yrs

Age 48

Badge Number 6

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed suicide

Police Officer Gordon G. French is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At Laguna Beach Police Department, 1 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.

Laguna Beach Police Department

of 2 officers

50% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gordon G. French's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Gordon G. French Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Committed suicide

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gordon G. French is highlighted in Feb.

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gordon G. French was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Laguna Beach Police Department are honored on badge.nw.