Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Darrel Cate was shot and killed while he and his partner searched a residence for a felony suspect at 939 South Emerald Street in Anaheim. The suspect was wanted for a sex offense involving a woman. When the detectives arrived at the home, the subject was working under his vehicle and stated that the man they were looking for lived down the street. The other detective went to the neighbor's home to question the subject's location. Detective Cate stayed at the house where the man followed him and shot him in the head and chest. The suspect fled, and a manhunt ensued. Detective Cate was transported to the hospital, succumbing to his injuries an hour later. The suspect was apprehended and convicted of second-degree murder in 1973 in connection with Detective Cate's murder but released in 1982. In 2006 he was added to the US Marshals Service 15 Most Wanted List after violating parole on unrelated charges in Virginia. Deputy U.S. Marshals, task force officers from the Merced County Sheriff's Office, and the California Department of Corrections arrested the suspect on unrelated charges at a group home on June 01, 2010. Detective Cate served with the Buena Park Police Department for ten years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and five children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-0E826F5B- 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.
Detective Cate gave the Buena Park Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Buena Park community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Cate.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Detective Darrel Dale Cate 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 Buena Park Police Department, 1 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Darrel Dale Cate's cause is highlighted.
How Darrel Dale Cate Compares
Offender Outcome
Released in 1982
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Darrel Dale Cate is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Darrel Dale Cate was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Buena Park Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
