James L. Beck

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA

Felonious

End of Watch January 28, 1931

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

The Vigil Panel 61 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 239

Incident

Policeman James Beck succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained two days earlier while responding to a domestic disturbance at 2053½ Dayton Avenue. A male subject returned to Los Angeles from San Francisco and had gone to his common-law wife's home to demand custody of their 18-month-old child. When the woman refused to open the door the male subject broke it down. As Policeman Beck and his partner arrived at the location the subject approached their car and began firing into it before either officer could exit the vehicle. Policeman Beck was struck twice but was able to return fire and wounded the subject, before the man fled the scene in a stolen vehicle. Policeman Beck was transported to Georgia Street Receiving Hospital where he remained until succumbing to his wounds three days later. His killer, 29, turned himself in a short time after the shooting. He was convicted of five felony charges, including Policeman Beck's murder, and sentenced to life in prison on April 28, 1931. Policeman Beck had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for six years.

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Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-DBE46B27
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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.
Policeman Beck gave the Los Angeles Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Beck.

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

Agency

Department Los Angeles Police Department

Location Los Angeles, CA

Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 28, 1931

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Sentenced to life

Policeman James L. Beck 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 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.

Los Angeles Police Department

115

of 240 officers

47.9% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious