Keith Wayne Boyer
Agency patch
Police Officer

Keith Wayne Boyer

Whittier Police Department — Whittier, CA
Felonious
End of Watch February 20, 2017
Age 53
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
The Vigil Panel 166 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Keith Boyer was shot and killed as he and another officer investigated an accident near the intersection of Colima Road and Mar Vista Street.

Unbeknownst to the officers, the vehicle that caused the crash was stolen and being driven by a gang member who had just been paroled. The parolee had just committed another murder hours earlier. As Officer Boyer attempted to conduct a pat down on the subject, the man suddenly pulled a handgun from his waistband and opened fire. Officer Boyer was killed and a second officer was wounded. Despite the wounds, the officers returned fire and wounded the subject.

Officer Boyer was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.

Officer Boyer had served with the Whittier Police Department for 27 years and was preparing to retire.

Survivors

He is survived by three adult children, mother, and stepfather.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-C8E0C277
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

27 years. You could have gone home.
Police Officer Boyer gave the Whittier Police Department 27 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Whittier community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Boyer.

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

Agency

Location Whittier, CA
Platform Identity wpd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 20, 2017
Tour of Duty 27 yrs
Age 53
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Handgun
Offender Shot and wounded

Police Officer Keith Wayne Boyer 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 Whittier Police Department, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.

Whittier Police Department
3
of 4 officers
75% 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. Keith Wayne Boyer'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 Keith Wayne Boyer Compares

Age at End of Watch
53
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
27
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Shot and wounded

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Keith Wayne Boyer is highlighted in Feb.

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. Keith Wayne Boyer was killed by handgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Incident Location