Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Dess Phipps was killed in an automobile crash during a high-speed pursuit of two subjects wanted for burglary. Another vehicle struck Officer Phipps' patrol car at the intersection of Artesia Boulevard and Wilmington Avenue. The vehicle then struck two other vehicles. A second accident then occurred when another car collided with several cars that were stopped for the first crash. One driver involved in the second accident was also killed. The subjects in the vehicle being pursued fled the scene but were later apprehended. They were charged with murder and burglary. Officer Phipps was a United States World War II Navy veteran who served with the Compton Police Department for four years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, two sons, parents, and two brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-9E4405CC- 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 Phipps gave the Compton Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Compton 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
Dess K. Phipps served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Dess K. Phipps is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 719 of 1,837 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Compton Police Department, 1 of 4 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 25% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dess K. Phipps's cause is highlighted.
How Dess K. Phipps Compares
Offender Outcome
Charged with murder
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Dess K. Phipps is highlighted in Oct.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Compton Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
