Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Donald Brereton was shot and killed while chasing a man who had just robbed a liquor store at 501 Florida Avenue, NW. He and his partner were staking out a liquor store when it was robbed by two men. Officer Brereton chased one of the men into an alley, where he was ambushed and shot several times. The subject then stole his service weapon before fleeing. Officer Brereton's partner was also shot and wounded. The subject who shot Officer Brereton was arrested, convicted of murder, and sentenced to death. Officer Brereton was a United States Army veteran of World War II and had served with the Metropolitan Police Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife and 1-year-old daughter. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 1-year-old daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-DC-76526086- 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.
Officer Brereton gave the Metropolitan Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington 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
Donald Joseph Brereton served in the Army before joining law enforcement.
Officer Donald Joseph Brereton 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 DC, 754 of 1,419 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.1% of this state's fallen. That is 1.1 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Metropolitan Police Department, 70 of 131 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Donald Joseph Brereton's cause is highlighted.
How Donald Joseph Brereton Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to death
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Donald Joseph Brereton is highlighted in Jan.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Donald Joseph Brereton was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
130 officers from Metropolitan Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
