Roll of Honor
Herbert Berkeley Stovall, Jr.
Incident
Lieutenant Herbert Stovall was shot and killed with his own weapon after responding to an officer needs assistance call at 10:30 a.m. The other officer had chased an auto theft suspect into an estuary that separates the Laney College campus from the football field. Lieutenant Stovall, who was in his office, responded to the scene and ordered the man out of the estuary at gunpoint. As the man came closer, he started to struggle with Lieutenant Stovall, and both men fell into the water. The suspect gained control of Lieutenant Stovall's weapon and shot him once while the two were underwater. No one heard the shot because it was fired underwater. The suspect was apprehended and charged with Lieutenant Stovall's murder but took an insanity defense. Lieutenant Stovall was a United States Air Force veteran and served with the Peralta Community College District Police Department for 21 years. He was only six weeks shy of retirement when he was murdered.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, two daughters, his brother, and three grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-79985A8C- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Lieutenant Stovall gave the Peralta Community College District Police Department 21 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Herbert Berkeley Stovall, Jr. served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Lieutenant Herbert Berkeley Stovall, Jr. 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Herbert Berkeley Stovall, Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Herbert Berkeley Stovall, Jr. Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Herbert Berkeley Stovall, Jr. is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Herbert Berkeley Stovall, Jr. was killed by officer's handgun.