Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Lyle was shot and killed after stopping a stolen car in a downtown parking lot. Officer Lyle exchanged shots with the suspect but was struck several times. The suspect then shot Officer Lyle in the back of the head as he lay on the ground. The suspect was apprehended, sentenced to death, and executed in San Quentin State Prison in November 1962. Officer Lyle was a U.S. Air Force veteran. He had served with the Menlo Park Police Department for 8 years and was survived by his wife, son and three daughters. He was interred at Alta Mesa Cemetery in Palo Alto, California.
Survivors
He had served with the Menlo Park Police Department for 8 years and was survived by his wife, son and three daughters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-1A008D84- 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.
Police Officer Lyle gave the Menlo Park Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Menlo Park 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
John W. Lyle served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer John W. Lyle 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John W. Lyle's cause is highlighted.
How John W. Lyle Compares
Offender Outcome
Executed in 1962
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John W. Lyle is highlighted in Sep.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John W. Lyle was killed by gun; unknown type.