Incident
Officer Frost was shot and killed with his own weapon after responding to a vandalism call. A man, 38, had thrown a brick through a Food King window. A struggle ensued between Officer Frost and the suspect. The man gained control of Officer Frost's revolver and shot him five times. The suspect was arrested a short distance away. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a Western State Hospital and two years later to Eastern State Hospital. On July 29, 1981, he was released to a campus house off of hospital grounds where he could come and go freely and work in Spokane. Less than two years later, he moved to a home in Spokane, where he remains under intensive probation for the remainder of his life. Officer Frost had served with the Tacoma Police Department for 7 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his son and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-WA-3E52BEE4- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- 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.
Patrol Officer Frost gave the Tacoma Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tacoma community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrol Officer Frost.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Patrol Officer Larry Leland Frost 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 WA, 187 of 339 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 55.2% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Tacoma Police Department, 5 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 41.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Larry Leland Frost's cause is highlighted.
How Larry Leland Frost Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Larry Leland Frost is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Larry Leland Frost was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
11 officers from Tacoma Police Department are honored on badge.nw.









