Michael David Gartrell

Sacramento Police Department — Sacramento, CA

Accident

End of Watch April 25, 1991

Age 37

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

The Vigil Panel 137 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 16

Incident

Officer Michael Gartrell was killed in an on-duty auto accident while in pursuit of a suspected drunk driver at Martin Luther King, Jr and Interstate 99. While chasing a suspect in a stolen car, Officer Gartrell lost control and hit a concrete barrier at over 80 mph. The suspect was apprehended and convicted of operating a stolen vehicle. Officer Gartrell had served with the Sacramento Police Department for seven years and had served with the Honolulu Police Department for eight years prior.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, stepson, parents, and brother.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-9D290472
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.
Police Officer Gartrell gave the Sacramento Police Department 15 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Gartrell.

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

Agency

Department Sacramento Police Department

Location Sacramento, CA

Platform Identity spd.sacramento.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 25, 1991

Tour of Duty 15 yrs

Age 37

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Weapon Not available

Offender Not available

Police Officer Michael David Gartrell is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In CA, 719 of 1,837 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.

At Sacramento Police Department, 5 of 17 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 29.4% of this agency's fallen.

Sacramento Police Department

of 17 officers

29.4% Accident

CA — Statewide

719

of 1,837 officers

39.1% Accident

Nationwide

10,088

of 32,508 officers

31% Accident