Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Martin Ganz was shot and killed while making a traffic stop in the parking lot of the Manhattan Village Mall on Sepulveda Boulevard and Marine Avenue at 11:15 pm. As he was outside of the patrol car, the driver of the other car exited and started firing at him. Officer Ganz tried to take cover behind his vehicle but was shot numerous times. Officer Ganz's 12-year-old nephew was on a ride along with him and the suspect attempted to shoot at him, but his gun misfired and the boy was not harmed. The suspect was arrested approximately eight months later in connection with another murder in Oregon. The suspect was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole for the Oregon murder. In December 1998, the suspect was sentenced to death for the murder of Officer Ganz. Officer Ganz was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Manhattan Beach Police Department for five years. He was survived by his fiancee, mother, and five sisters. On the 12th anniversary of Officer Ganz's murder, a section of the I-405 between Hawthorne Boulevard and Rosecrans Avenue was renamed the Martin L. Ganz Memorial Highway.
Survivors
He was survived by his fiancee, mother, and five sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-591E1EDC- 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 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.
Officer Ganz gave the Manhattan Beach Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Manhattan Beach 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Martin L. Ganz served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Officer Martin L. Ganz 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 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 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Manhattan Beach Police Department, 2 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Martin L. Ganz's cause is highlighted.
How Martin L. Ganz Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Martin L. Ganz is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Martin L. Ganz was killed by handgun; .380 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Manhattan Beach Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
