Roll of Honor
Paul Lawrence Verna
Incident
Motor Cycle Officer Paul Verna of the Los Angeles Police Department was shot and killed after making a traffic stop of a vehicle containing two armed robbery suspects. One of the men shot Officer Verna once, then passed the revolver to the second subject, who shot him five more times. Both men, both 26, and two women, both 25, were apprehended the next day. On October 2, 1985, both men were sentenced to death. As of December 3, 2022, both were still on death row. Officer Verna was a United States Air Force veteran and served 14 years in law enforcement. On December 10, 1981, he rescued two boys with intellectual disability from a burning building.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two sons - both of whom went on to become LAPD police officers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-256B97DF- 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.
Motorcycle Officer Verna gave the Los Angeles Police Department 14 years.
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
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Paul Lawrence Verna served in the Air Force (1965â1968) before joining law enforcement.
Motorcycle Officer Paul Lawrence Verna 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.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Paul Lawrence Verna's cause is highlighted.
How Paul Lawrence Verna Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Paul Lawrence Verna is highlighted in Jun.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Paul Lawrence Verna was killed by handgun; revolver.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
239 officers from Los Angeles Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
