Roll of Honor
Incident
Policeman Earl Bickel was killed when the patrol car he was a passenger in was struck by a freight train at the Osborn Street railroad crossing of the Southern Pacific Railroad. He and his partner were on patrol and driving along San Fernando Road during a period of heavy fog. The fog obscured their vision as they turned onto Osborn Street. They were unable to see the train until the last moment. Policeman Bickel's partner suffered several internal injuries as a result of the collision. Policeman Bickel had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for almost 14 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two young children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-C42527AC- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Earl. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Policeman Bickel gave the Los Angeles Police Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Bickel.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Policeman Earl John Bickel 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 Los Angeles Police Department, 97 of 240 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 40.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earl John Bickel's cause is highlighted.
How Earl John Bickel Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Earl John Bickel is highlighted in Aug.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
239 officers from Los Angeles Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
