Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Gordon Joinville was shot and killed while investigating the theft of a large amount of chemicals used in the production of LSD. During the investigation he located a suspect at 5th and Claremont Streets. He requested a computer check on the subject but was told to standby due to high priority radio traffic. After that last transmission the suspect shot Sergeant Joinville twice before fleeing. The man was apprehended the following day as a result of an investigation in which the main clue was a license plate number Sergeant Joinville had written down on his clipboard. On February 4th, 1969, the suspect was sentenced to death but the sentence was later commuted to life. He died in prison in 2006. On October 5th, 1968, the Joinville Swim Center was opened on Kehoe Avenue in his honor. Sergeant Joinville had served with the San Mateo Police Department for 12 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-81B4480B- 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.
Sergeant Joinville gave the San Mateo Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Mateo community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Joinville.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Gordon R. Joinville 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 San Mateo 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Gordon R. Joinville's cause is highlighted.
How Gordon R. Joinville Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Gordon R. Joinville is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Gordon R. Joinville was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from San Mateo Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
