Roll of Honor
Floyd Harold "Bernie" Swartz
Incident
Police Officer Bernie Swartz was shot in the throat and killed while attempting to arrest a murder suspect. He and other officers were attempting to coax the suspect from a hiding spot, in dense weeds behind a residential area, when the suspect opened fire. Five hours later, the suspect surrendered to officers. The suspect was wanted for stabbing to death a 19-year-old girl whom he and another man had abducted from her home four nights earlier. He was convicted of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. The man died in prison in December 2020 while on death row. Officer Swartz was a United States Air Force Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Pinole Police Department for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his expectant wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-74B8E801- 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.
Police Officer Swartz gave the Pinole Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Pinole 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
Floyd Harold "Bernie" Swartz served in the Air Force (1966â1970) before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer Floyd Harold "Bernie" Swartz 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 Pinole Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Floyd Harold "Bernie" Swartz's cause is highlighted.
How Floyd Harold "Bernie" Swartz Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Floyd Harold "Bernie" Swartz is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Floyd Harold "Bernie" Swartz was killed by rifle.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Pinole Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
