William C. Getman
Sheriff

William C. Getman

Felonious
End of Watch January 7, 1858
Tour of Duty
The Vigil Panel 2 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Sheriff William Getman was killed while trying to diffuse a violent situation in a pawnshop at the corner of Los Angeles Street and Aliso Street. A man had entered a pawnshop and demanded to the storeowner shoot him or he would shoot the store owner. Sheriff Getman responded and came up behind the suspect, spoke calmly to him, and placed his hand on the man's shoulder. The subject quickly turned around and started shooting his gun. Sheriff Getman was struck and killed. A deputy and other men returned fire killing the suspect.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-601293AE
Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

168 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Getman served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location Monterey Park, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lacso.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 7, 1858
Tour of Duty
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

Sheriff William C. Getman 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 Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, 58 of 120 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
58
of 120 officers
48.3% 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. William C. Getman's cause is highlighted.

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

How William C. Getman Compares

Years of Service
0
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.4 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. William C. Getman is highlighted in Jan.

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. William C. Getman was killed by handgun.

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

Incident Location