Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Toolen was shot and killed while he and another officer were attempting to arrest an auto theft suspect. They had received information about the suspect's location and then went to the man's home to arrest him. As the officers spoke with the suspect's mother the man came down the stairs and opened fire on the officers, fatally wounding Sergeant Toolen. The suspect fled but was apprehended a few days later. The 23-year-old suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to eight years. He was paroled on September 10, 1921. Sergeant Toolen had been with the agency for nine years.
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- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-4DB6E077- Stewardship
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- 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.
Sergeant Toolen gave the Los Angeles Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Toolen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant John Francis Toolen 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. John Francis Toolen's cause is highlighted.
How John Francis Toolen Compares
Offender Outcome
paroled in 1921
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Francis Toolen is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Francis Toolen was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
239 officers from Los Angeles Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
