Jay Warren Jackson
Agency patch
Police Officer

Jay Warren Jackson

West Covina Police Department — West Covina, CA
Veteran → Felonious
End of Watch January 14, 1978
Age 29
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Badge 154
The Vigil Panel 119 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Jay Jackson was shot and killed by an escaped mental patient at 2:32 a.m. Another patrol officer attempted to conduct a vehicle stop at Orange Avenue and Garvey Avenue South. The driver of the vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit ensued. Officer Jackson joined the pursuit as it traveled on the eastbound I-10 freeway. The subject exited at Holt Avenue and spun out just north of Garvey Avenue South. When the subject suddenly stopped, Officer Jackson stopped directly behind him. As Officer Jackson exited his patrol car the man opened fire from within his vehicle, fatally wounding him. Other officers returned fire and killed the subject. It was later learned that the man had fled from a psychiatric care facility and had made suicidal threats as well as threats to his own family and friends. Officer Jackson was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the West Covina Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and one child.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-B529D28D
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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Jay is one person.

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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.
Police Officer Jackson gave the West Covina Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the West Covina 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

Type Police Department
Location West Covina, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity wcpd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 14, 1978
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 29
Badge Number 154
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Military Service

Jay Warren Jackson served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

Police Officer Jay Warren Jackson 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 97,759 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 West Covina Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

West Covina Police Department
2
of 3 officers
66.7% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
1
of 97,759 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jay Warren Jackson's cause is highlighted.

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

How Jay Warren Jackson Compares

Age at Death
29
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
5
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jay Warren Jackson is highlighted in Jan.

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. Jay Warren Jackson was killed by gun.

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

Incident Location

Military Service

Jay Warren Jackson served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.

Visit Jay Warren Jackson’s page on salute.nw →

His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from West Covina Police Department are honored on badge.nw.