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Officer

Tommy De La Rosa

Fullerton Police Department — Fullerton, CA

Felonious

End of Watch June 21, 1990

Age 43

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Badge 671

The Vigil Panel 136 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 1

Incident

Officer Tommy De La Rosa was shot and killed after being ambushed by drug suspects in Downey, California. Despite being mortally wounded, Officer De La Rosa returned fire and killed one of the suspects. The three remaining suspects were all apprehended and convicted of Officer De La Rosa's murder. All three were sentenced to life without parole. Officer De La Rosa had served with the Fullerton Police Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and four children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-92A824B8
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 De La Rosa gave the Fullerton Police Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fullerton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer De La Rosa.

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

Agency

Department Fullerton Police Department

Location Fullerton, CA

Platform Identity fpd.orange.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 21, 1990

Tour of Duty 10 yrs

Age 43

Badge Number 671

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Shot and killed

Officer Tommy De La Rosa 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 Fullerton Police Department, 2 of 2 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Fullerton Police Department

of 2 officers

100% 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. Tommy De La Rosa'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 Tommy De La Rosa Compares

Age at End of Watch

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years

Years of Service

This officer

Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and killed

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Tommy De La Rosa is highlighted in Jun.

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. Tommy De La Rosa was killed by gun; unknown type.

Gun; Unknown type

5,083

Handgun

2,077

Shotgun

922

Officer's handgun

909

Automobile; Alcohol involved

530

Rifle

518

Others Who Wore This Badge

1 officer from Fullerton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.