Elza P. Fitzpatrick, Jr.

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA

Felonious

End of Watch December 6, 1956

Age 45

The Vigil Panel 92 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 232

Incident

Officer Elza Fitzpatrick was shot and killed near the intersection of Whittier Boulevard and Santa Gertrudes Avenue, in Whittier, while investigating a wrecked vehicle that had been used in a armed robbery of a Compton service station. Officer Fitzpatrick radioed in that he had found the car. While on the scene the suspect returned in a taxi cab. As the suspect reached for a revolver a struggle ensued and Officer Fitzpatrick was shot and killed just as two Los Angeles County Deputies arrived on the scene. As the suspect ran from the scene one of the deputies brought him down with a shot to the leg. Authorities got the description of the car from the part time attendant who the suspect shot and critically wounded. The victim, 22, was a Los Angles County deputy sheriff. On May 13, 1956, the 37-year-old suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. On December 19, 1956, the wounded deputies' 19-year-old wife and new mother, added beauty and drama to the police academy graduation of 22 new deputies, when she accepted her husband's diploma. He was still in the hospital but fully recovered.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-62832211
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.
Officer Fitzpatrick served with the California Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Fitzpatrick.

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

Agency

Department California Highway Patrol

Location Sacramento, CA

Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 6, 1956

Age 45

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Officer Elza P. Fitzpatrick, Jr. 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

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