David Marin Romero
Agency patch
Officer

David Marin Romero

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA
Felonious
End of Watch September 23, 2005
Age 47
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
The Vigil Panel 153 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer David Romero was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a vehicle being driven by a driver under the influence of narcotics.

Officer Romero was on patrol on his department motorcycle when he stopped for a red light at the corner of Turnbull Canyon Road and Valley Boulevard in the City of Industry. While waiting at the light, a vehicle approached from behind at a high rate of speed. Officer Romero noticed that the vehicle was approaching and attempted to gain the attention of the driver by waving his arms and turning on his emergency lights. The driver was unable to stop and struck the rear of Officer Romero's motorcycle, throwing Officer Romero to the ground. The vehicle then struck another vehicle.

Officer Romero was taken to Los Angeles Medical Center where he died from his injuries.

The driver of the vehicle that struck Officer Romero was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

Officer Romero had served with the California Highway Patrol for 23 years and was assigned to the Santa Fe Springs Station. He is survived by his wife, three children, and two stepchildren. He is buried in Rose Hill Memorial Park, Whittier, California.

Officer Romero was on patrol on his department motorcycle when he stopped for a red light at the corner of Turnbull Canyon Road and Valley Boulevard in the City of Industry. While waiting at the light, a vehicle approached from behind at a high rate of speed. Officer Romero noticed that the vehicle was approaching and attempted to gain the attention of the driver by waving his arms and turning on his emergency lights. The driver was unable to stop and struck the rear of Officer Romero's motorcycle, throwing Officer Romero to the ground. The vehicle then struck another vehicle.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, three children, and two stepchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-51D10C51
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

23 years. You could have gone home.
Officer Romero gave the California Highway Patrol 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Romero.

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

Agency

Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 23, 2005
Tour of Duty 23 yrs
Age 47
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Vehicular assault
Weapon Automobile; Narcotics involved
Offender Sentenced to life

Officer David Marin Romero 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 California Highway Patrol, 71 of 233 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.5% of this agency's fallen.

California Highway Patrol
71
of 233 officers
30.5% 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. David Marin Romero'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 David Marin Romero Compares

Age at End of Watch
47
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
23
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Sentenced to life

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Marin Romero is highlighted in Sep.

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. David Marin Romero was killed by automobile; narcotics involved.

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

Incident Location