Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Javier Bejar died from a gunshot wound sustained four days earlier when he responded to assist at the scene after Deputy Sheriff Joel Wahlenmaier was shot and killed.
Deputy Wahlenmaier, of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, along with members of the California Fire Marshal's Office and several other deputies went to serve a warrant on a suspected arsonist in Minkler, California. When they arrived, the suspect opened fire killing Deputy Wahlenmaier and wounding another deputy.
Officer Bejar responded to the officer down call. Approximately thirty minutes after the initial shooting, the suspect opened fire again with a high-powered rifle, outfitted with a scope. He shot and critically wounded Officer Bejar, who was using his patrol car as cover, from a range of approximately 80 yards.
Officer Bejar was taken to Community Medical Center where he died from his wound days later.
The suspect was found dead inside the home after a standoff that lasted several hours.
Officer Bejar had served with the Reedley Police Department for five years and had served with the department as an Explorer when he was a teenager. Officer Bejar was also a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, having served with the United States Marine Corps.
Deputy Wahlenmaier, of the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, along with members of the California Fire Marshal's Office and several other deputies went to serve a warrant on a suspected arsonist in Minkler, California. When they arrived, the suspect opened fire killing Deputy Wahlenmaier and wounding another deputy.
Officer Bejar had served with the Reedley Police Department for five years and had served with the department as an Explorer when he was a teenager. Officer Bejar was also a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, having served with the United States Marine Corps.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, mother, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-A88D0653- 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 Bejar gave the Reedley Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Reedley 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
Javier Bejar served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Javier Bejar 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Javier Bejar's cause is highlighted.
How Javier Bejar Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed Suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Javier Bejar is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Javier Bejar was killed by rifle.