Henry I. Bunch
Agency patch
Police Officer

Henry I. Bunch

San Jose Police Department — San Jose, CA
Felonious
End of Watch July 29, 1985
Age 33
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Badge 2076
The Vigil Panel 129 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Henry Bunch was shot and killed with his own service weapon after being overpowered by a suspect he had arrested for DUI. The suspect was found passed out and slumped over the steering wheel of his vehicle. He was placed under arrest and handcuffed by Officer Bunch and his partner. The officers then transported the suspect back to the police facility to process him for drunk driving. At the police facility, Officer Bunch began the procedure to obtain a chemical sample from the suspect while his partner proceeded to secure his duty weapon at another area of the facility. During this time, Officer Bunch had not yet secured his duty weapon, and he and the prisoner were alone. The suspect was unhandcuffed by Officer Bunch, and he managed to obtain control of the officer's service weapon. The suspect shot Officer Bunch in the head and attempted to shoot Officer Bunch's partner when he came to assist. However, the partner was able to use the weapon and shoot the suspect in the head. Both Officer Bunch and the suspect were pronounced dead at the scene. Officer Bunch had served with the San Jose Police Department for five years and previously served with the Daly City Police Department for six years.

Survivors

The officer is survived by his wife, 6-year-old daughter, and two stepchildren, ages 7 and 4.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-30E0CDA8
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.
Police Officer Bunch gave the San Jose Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Jose community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Bunch.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location San Jose, Santa Clara County, CA
Platform Identity sjpd.santaclara.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 29, 1985
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 33
Badge Number 2076
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

Police Officer Henry I. Bunch 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 Jose Police Department, 8 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 61.5% of this agency's fallen.

San Jose Police Department
8
of 13 officers
61.5% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Henry I. Bunch's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
1 (0%)
Accident
1 (0%)
Illness
1 (0%)
Cardiac
1 (0%)
Undetermined
1 (0%)
Suicide
1 (0%)

How Henry I. Bunch Compares

Age at Death
33
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
11
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Henry I. Bunch is highlighted in Jul.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,516
May
1,504
Jun
1,442
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,517
Sep
1,491
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Henry I. Bunch was killed by officer's handgun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909

Incident Location