Paul C. Teel
Agency patch
Police Officer

Paul C. Teel

Riverside Police Department — Riverside, CA
Felonious
End of Watch April 2, 1971
Age 26
The Vigil Panel 108 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Teel and Officer Leonard Christiansen were shot and killed when they were ambushed. They were responding to fake call placed by the suspects reporting a burglary at an abandoned house. The suspects laid in wait and opened fire on the officers with shotguns, killing them both.

The suspects were charged in connection with the murders but the trial ended in a hung jury.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-4CA988D6
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.
Police Officer Teel served with the Riverside Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Riverside community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Teel.

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

Agency

Location Riverside, CA
Platform Identity rpd.riverside.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 2, 1971
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Not available

Police Officer Paul C. Teel 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 Riverside Police Department, 14 of 15 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 93.3% of this agency's fallen.

Riverside Police Department
14
of 15 officers
93.3% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% 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. Paul C. Teel'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 Paul C. Teel Compares

Age at End of Watch
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Offender Outcome

Not available

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Paul C. Teel is highlighted in Apr.

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. Paul C. Teel was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518