Vernon J. Owings

Long Beach Police Department — Long Beach, CA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch June 24, 1960

Age 27

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 9 mo

The Vigil Panel 95 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 27

Incident

Police Officer Vernon Owings was shot and killed when he and his partner stopped to help what they thought were two men having car trouble on Seaside Avenue on Terminal Island at 6:30 p.m. When Officer Owings exited the vehicle and approached the men, one of the subjects produced a handgun and shot Officer Owings. The subject then shot Officer Owings' partner who had just exited the patrol car. He returned fire, wounding one of the suspects. Officer Owings was dead at the scene, with his gun still holstered. Both suspects were apprehended. The gunman was the gang leader responsible for 70 holdups that netted the gang more than one hundred thousand dollars. He was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death on November 2, 1960. His sentence was later commuted to life. The other suspect, a convicted felon, was convicted of robbery after turning state's evidence which enabled them to convict the remaining members of the gang. Officer Owings was a United States Navy veteran and served with the Long Beach Police Department for over three years.

Survivors

He was survived by his daughter, son, and parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-E80BCFE9
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 Vernon. 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 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 Owings gave the Long Beach Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Long Beach 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

Department Long Beach Police Department

Location Long Beach, CA

Platform Identity lbpd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 24, 1960

Tour of Duty 3 yrs 9 mo

Age 27

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Sentenced to life

Military Service

Vernon J. Owings served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Police Officer Vernon J. Owings 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 Long Beach Police Department, 13 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 46.4% of this agency's fallen.

Long Beach Police Department

of 28 officers

46.4% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious