Roll of Honor

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Assistant Deputy Director

Michael S. Bernstein

United States Department of Justice - Office of Special Investigations — Washington, DC

Felonious

End of Watch December 21, 1988

Age 36

The Vigil Panel 134 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice

Incident

Assistant Deputy Director Michael Bernstein, Special Agent Ronald Lariviere, and Special Agent Daniel O'Connor, both of the Diplomatic Security Service, were killed when a terrorist's bomb destroyed the commercial aircraft they were traveling in while returning to the United States from Europe. A total of 259 people on the plane and 11 people on the ground were killed when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland. The investigation that followed lead to strong sanctions against Libya and the arrest of two Libyan nationals. One suspect was convicted of murder while the second was acquitted. On July 25, 2009, the suspect applied for, and was later granted compassionate release from the United Kingdom, on the basis that he had terminal prostate cancer. On August 20, 2009, he was released from prison and traveled to Libya the same day. He died in Libya in 2012.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-81AAE066
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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Assistant Deputy Director Bernstein served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Assistant Deputy Director Bernstein.

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

Agency

Department United States Department of Justice - Office of Special Investigations

Location Washington, DC

Platform Identity usdjosifed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 21, 1988

Age 36

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Explosives; Bomb

Offender Deceased

Assistant Deputy Director Michael S. Bernstein 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

United States Department of Justice - Office of Special Investigations

of 1 officers

100% Felonious

DC — Statewide

754

of 1,419 officers

53.1% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael S. Bernstein's cause is highlighted.

Felonious

17,623 (54.2%)

Accident

10,088 (31%)

Illness

2,974 (9.1%)

Cardiac

1,306 (4%)

Undetermined

260 (0.8%)

Suicide

256 (0.8%)

vehicular

1 (0%)

How Michael S. Bernstein Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Deceased

When Felonious Deaths Occur

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

Jan

1,392

Feb

1,295

Mar

1,373

Apr

1,517

May

1,505

Jun

1,443

Jul

1,587

Aug

1,516

Sep

1,553

Oct

1,371

Nov

1,447

Dec

1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael S. Bernstein was killed by explosives; bomb.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518