Michael Lee Lane
Agency patch
Detective

Michael Lee Lane

Whittier Police Department — Whittier, CA
Felonious
End of Watch December 13, 1979
Age 31
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
The Vigil Panel 122 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Michael Lane was shot and killed during an undercover operation at a cocktail lounge at 12808 Whittier Boulevard. He had accompanied the victim of a motorcycle theft to the lounge as part of the investigation. As they sat in a pickup trick in the parking lot two members of rival motorcycle gangs approached the truck and opened fire on it, striking Detective Lane several times. Despite his wounds, he returned fire, killing one of the subjects and wounding the other. The wounded subject was taken into custody by Detective Lane's backup officers and charged with murder. Detective Lane had served with the Whittier Police Department for 11 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-FA983BBB
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 Lane gave the Whittier Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Whittier community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Lane.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch December 13, 1979
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 31
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Detective Michael Lee Lane 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 Whittier Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Whittier Police Department
3
of 4 officers
75% 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 Lane'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 Lane Compares

Age at Death
31
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
11
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Lee Lane is highlighted in Dec.

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 Lane 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