Paul C. Teel
Agency patch
Police Officer

Paul C. Teel

Riverside Police Department — Riverside, CA
Felonious
End of Watch April 2, 1971
Age 26
The Vigil Panel 108 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Teel and Officer Leonard Christiansen were shot and killed when they were ambushed. They were responding to fake call placed by the suspects reporting a burglary at an abandoned house. The suspects laid in wait and opened fire on the officers with shotguns, killing them both.

The suspects were charged in connection with the murders but the trial ended in a hung jury.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-4CA988D6
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.
Police Officer Teel served with the Riverside Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Riverside community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Teel.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Riverside, Riverside County, CA
Platform Identity rpd.riverside.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 2, 1971
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

Police Officer Paul C. Teel 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 Riverside Police Department, 14 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 93.3% of this agency's fallen.

Riverside Police Department
14
of 15 officers
93.3% 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. Paul C. Teel's cause is highlighted.

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

How Paul C. Teel Compares

Age at Death
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Paul C. Teel is highlighted in Apr.

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. Paul C. Teel was killed by gun.

Handgun
3,684
Gun
3,592
Gun; Unknown type
1,492
Shotgun
1,109
Rifle
935
Officer's handgun
909