Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Terry Long succumbed to gunshot wounds he received on June 18, 1970, at 3705 Monterey Avenue in El Centro.
At 3:15 a.m., Officer Long and another officer were questioning a subject for public intoxication when they noticed several men with rifles drawn on them. After calling for backup, Officer Long walked across the street to investigate, hoping to sneak up behind them, when he was shot by a man hiding behind a parked car. Responding officers returned fire on the fleeing suspects, hitting one of the men.
Officer Long was pulled from the barrage of gunfire by Officer Tony Arceo, who died in the line of duty on July 9, 1974. Officer Long was transported to Arcadia Methodist Hospital, where he suffered a shattered vertebrae, paralyzing him from the waist down. He succumbed to complications from his wounds on August 22, 2004.
The shooter was convicted of assault with the intent to commit murder and served five years in prison before he was paroled.
Officer Long was a United States Navy veteran and had served with the El Monte Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by a son, two daughters, his mother, and six grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-8C29E46F- 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.
Officer Long gave the El Monte Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the El Monte community. Thank you 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
Terry DeWitt Long served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Officer Terry DeWitt Long 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 El Monte Police Department, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Terry DeWitt Long's cause is highlighted.
How Terry DeWitt Long Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled after five years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Terry DeWitt Long is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Terry DeWitt Long was killed by rifle; .30 caliber.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from El Monte Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
