Nicholas Paul Cecchetti

Stockton Police Dept. — Stockton, CA

Felonious

End of Watch August 3, 1978

Age 27

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

The Vigil Panel 120 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 11

Incident

Officer Cecchetti was shot and killed while serving a narcotics warrant. As he entered the rear door of the home he encountered the suspect, who was attempting to flee. As Officer Cecchetti reacted, he stumbled on the steps and fell forward. The suspect fired one shot, striking Officer Cecchetti near the collar bone, just above his vest, in a downward direction, striking his heart. The suspect, 23, was arrested a short time later. On October 15, 1979, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without parole. As of December 1, 2022, he was in Vacaville Prison and is not being considered for parole. Officer Cecchetti was survived by his wife, two sons, and parents. His father served as the Stockton police chief at the time of the shooting.

Survivors

Officer Cecchetti was survived by his wife, two sons, and parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-9DC77E9C
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 Cecchetti gave the Stockton Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Stockton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Cecchetti.

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

Agency

Department Stockton Police Dept.

Location Stockton, CA

Platform Identity spd.sanjoaquin.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch August 3, 1978

Tour of Duty 5 yrs

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .357 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Officer Nicholas Paul Cecchetti 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 Stockton Police Dept., 8 of 12 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.

Stockton Police Dept.

of 12 officers

66.7% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious