Roll of Honor
Incident
Corporal John Pierce died as a result of injuries sustained nine months earlier while conducting an undercover narcotics investigation at Whittier College. On September 21, 1976, Corporal Pierce was leaving a dormitory when two security guards, who had received a complaint about a man harassing students, accosted him in a case of mistaken identity. The security guards shoved him into a parked car, which resulted in Officer Pierce suffering a broken neck. Corporal Pierce was paralyzed from the neck down, needed a machine to breathe, and was in a coma until he passed away on May 18, 1977. Both security guards were charged with felony assault. One guard was acquitted, but the jurors could not agree on the verdict for the second guard. The second security guard was charged with manslaughter after Corporal Pierce's death but was also acquitted. Corporal Pierce had served with the Whittier Police Department for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, two daughters, and parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-24CBC5F4- 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.
Corporal Pierce gave the Whittier Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Whittier community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Pierce.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Corporal John Lawrence Pierce 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 Whittier Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John Lawrence Pierce's cause is highlighted.
How John Lawrence Pierce Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Lawrence Pierce is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Lawrence Pierce was killed by person.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Whittier Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
