Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Michael Rainford was struck and killed by a drunk driver on the Garden Grove Freeway near Harbor Boulevard. He had just made a traffic stop and was exiting his patrol car when the drunk driver crashed into the back of his vehicle and then struck him. He was thrown 30 yards by the impact. A 42-year-old woman was later apprehended and charged with drunk driving, hit-and-run, and manslaughter. Officer Rainford had served with the Garden Grove Police Department as a full-time officer for six months and had previously served as a reserve officer for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-5DE85EB0- 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.
Officer Rainford gave the Garden Grove Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Garden Grove community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Rainford.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Michael Lloyd Rainford 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 Garden Grove Police Department, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Lloyd Rainford's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Lloyd Rainford Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Lloyd Rainford is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Lloyd Rainford was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Garden Grove Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
