Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Gary Howe and Police Officer Charles Champe were killed when their police helicopter crashed into a parking lot and burst into flames. The helicopter's engine failed while the officers were on routine patrol. Officer Howe was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, daughter, two sons, parents, two sisters, and three brothers.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-FA2017C5- 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 Howe gave the Los Angeles Police Department 20 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles 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
Gary Alan Howe served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Police Officer Gary Alan Howe 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. Gary Alan Howe's cause is highlighted.
How Gary Alan Howe Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Gary Alan Howe is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
239 officers from Los Angeles Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
