Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer John Frey was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on 7th Street between Campbell Street and Willow Street. During the stop, he requested backup. When the backup officer arrived, they removed the two occupants of the vehicle and separated them for questioning. During the questioning, the male suspect opened fire, striking both officers. Officer Frey was struck in the chest, stomach, and leg. He succumbed to his injuries while being transported to a local hospital. The other officer was struck in the chest but was able to return fire and wound the suspect, who was later apprehended. The suspect served three years in prison and was later killed in 1989. The two suspects were members of the radical racist group The Black Panthers. Officer Frey had served with the Oakland Police Department for 18 months. Survivors include his wife and daughter. The Black Panther Party was a black nationalist and Marxist revolutionary political and militant organization active in the United States between 1966 and 1982. Members and former members of the group were responsible for the murders of over 20 law enforcement officers and the wounding of dozens more across the nation. Please click here to visit all the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the Black Panther Party's violent activism.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-6679BDC3- 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
You barely got started.
Police Officer Frey gave the Oakland Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Frey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer John F. Frey 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 Oakland Police Department, 37 of 54 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 68.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John F. Frey's cause is highlighted.
How John F. Frey Compares
Offender Outcome
Apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John F. Frey is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John F. Frey was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
53 officers from Oakland Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
