Roll of Honor
Incident
Reserve Officer Spingola was killed after being struck by a ricochet bullet that had been fired by another officer at an escaping burglary suspect at 11:30 p.m. Officers were responding to a burglary at a liquor store at 665 Bancroft Avenue. Officers attempted to stop the suspect from escaping the roof of the building by firing a warning shot, which ricocheted off the sidewalk, striking Officer Spingola, who was providing cover behind a patrol car. When the suspect continued to flee, he was hit by another bullet, killing him. The suspect had a lengthy criminal record and a history of fleeing from law enforcement. Officer Spingola was transported to San Leandro Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. Officer Spingola was a United States Air Force Vietnam War veteran and had served with the San Leandro Police Department for only three months. He was survived by his wife, parents, brother, and sister. He wore the same badge as his father, who had retired from the agency a year prior.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, parents, brother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-50FC16DA- 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.
Reserve Officer Spingola served with the San Leandro Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Leandro 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
Donald F. Spingola served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Reserve Officer Donald F. Spingola is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 719 of 1,837 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At San Leandro Police Dept., 1 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 33.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald F. Spingola's cause is highlighted.
How Donald F. Spingola Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Donald F. Spingola is highlighted in Sep.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from San Leandro Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
