Jose L. Castellanos
Agency patch
Detective

Jose L. Castellanos

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Felonious
End of Watch March 5, 1959
Age 36
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Badge 6517
The Vigil Panel 94 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Jose Castellanos was shot and killed and his partner was seriously wounded by a crazed murder suspect. Earlier the suspect went into a cafe, he had been ejected from, and shot the proprietress in the arm and killed a patron who went to her aid. Later Detective Castellanos and his partner went to the home of the suspects estranged wife and questioned her about the suspect. As they were leaving, the suspect, who was hiding in the bushes near the house, opened fire. Detective Castellanos' partner was able to return fire killing the suspect. Detective Castellanos had served with the agency for nine years. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, two sons, his mother, and two sisters. He is laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, three daughters, two sons, his mother, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-8AAFA12C
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.
Detective Castellanos gave the Los Angeles Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Castellanos.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch March 5, 1959
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 36
Badge Number 6517
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Detective Jose L. Castellanos 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 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
1
of 97,772 officers
0% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Jose L. Castellanos's cause is highlighted.

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

How Jose L. Castellanos Compares

Age at Death
36
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
9
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Jose L. Castellanos is highlighted in Mar.

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. Jose L. Castellanos 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