Michael Lee Edwards
Agency patch
Police Officer

Michael Lee Edwards

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Felonious
End of Watch May 11, 1974
Age 25
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Badge 15444
The Vigil Panel 113 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Michael Edwards was shot and killed execution-style after being abducted by unknown assailants. He was last seen leaving the police academy on May 10, 1974. His handcuffed body was found the next day in an abandoned apartment building. The case was never solved and remains open with the Los Angeles Police Department. Officer Edwards had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for five years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-EDA2AA52
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Michael. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Edwards gave the Los Angeles Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Edwards.

— 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 May 11, 1974
Tour of Duty 5 yrs
Age 25
Badge Number 15444
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Police Officer Michael Lee Edwards 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. Michael Lee Edwards's cause is highlighted.

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

How Michael Lee Edwards Compares

Age at Death
25
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. Michael Lee Edwards is highlighted in May.

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. Michael Lee Edwards 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