Vernon Oliver Dinsmore

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch November 4, 1922

Age 25

Tour of Duty 8 mo

The Vigil Panel 44 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 239

Incident

Policeman Vernon Dinsmore was shot and killed at 817 East Third Street by a subject he had arrested for stealing bottles of milk from a nearby wagon. A special officer had observed the man stealing the milk at the corner of First Street and Central Avenue. As the man ran from the special officer, Officer Dinsmore intercepted him at East Third Street. After being arrested, the man asked for and was given permission to get money from his boarding room at 817 East Third Street. Policeman Dinsmore escorted him to his boarding room to retrieve the money. The man suddenly pulled a handgun from his dresser and a violent struggle ensued between the two. The man was able to fatally shot Policeman Dinsmore before fleeing the scene. The subject was arrested a short time later in the Santa Fe Railroad yards as he attempted to leave the city. He was convicted of Policeman Dinsmore's murder and was hung at San Quentin Prison on September 10th, 1926. Policeman Dinsmore was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for eight months.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-9D31969A
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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Policeman Dinsmore served with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

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

Agency

Department Los Angeles Police Department

Location Los Angeles, CA

Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch November 4, 1922

Tour of Duty 8 mo

Age 25

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Executed in 1926

Military Service

Vernon Oliver Dinsmore served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Policeman Vernon Oliver Dinsmore is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

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

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious