Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer James Guelff succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained the previous day when he was shot by a carjacking suspect near the intersection of Pine Street and Franklin Street at approximately 6:00 pm. The suspect had carjacked a vehicle in Mountain View and had driven to San Francisco, where he pushed the car's owner out of the vehicle. The suspect then drove to Pine Street, where he double-parked the vehicle. The man opened fire on Officer Guelff with a semi-automatic rifle as the officer approached the vehicle. Officer Guelff emptied his service weapon at the suspect and was reloading when he was shot again. The suspect was wearing a ballistic helmet, a flak jacket, and carrying hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Members of the San Francisco Police Department's SWAT Team shot and killed the man, but not before another officer, a paramedic, and a civilian were wounded by gunfire. Officers found the man was also in possession of a police scanner, gunpowder, fuses, and three vials of painkillers. Officer Guelff had served with the San Francisco Police Department for 10 years.
Survivors
survivors include his two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-02CBCDA6- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew James. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Guelff gave the San Francisco Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Francisco community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Guelff.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer James Louis Guelff 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 Francisco Police Department, 66 of 106 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 62.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Louis Guelff's cause is highlighted.
How James Louis Guelff Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. James Louis Guelff is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. James Louis Guelff was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
105 officers from San Francisco Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
