Roll of Honor
Michael Anthony Brennan
Incident
Location: California Weapon: Handgun Offender: Sentenced to life
Sergeant Michael Brennan was shot and killed when he interrupted two men breaking into cars in his apartment's parking garage at 17050 Downey Avenue in Bellflower, California.
Sergeant Brennan was in uniform on his way to work when he encountered the men on the first floor of the garage shortly after 10:00 pm. He chased the men to the second level where a struggle ensued. One of the men produced a handgun and fatally shot Sergeant Brennan before stealing his off-duty revolver and fleeing.
Murder warrants were obtained and the suspect remained at large until September 16th, 1988, when he was stopped by officers with the Montebello Police Department. The man began to struggle during the arrest and was able to disarm one of the officers. Another officer shot and wounded the man and then took him into custody. He was convicted of Sergeant Brennan's murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Sergeant Brennan was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam War and had served with the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach Police Department for two years. He had previously served as a law enforcement officer in Ohio for 15 years and as a Security Policeman in the U.S. Air Force for two years.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9
Chris Di Gerolamo Federal Air Marshal Service November 5th, 2021
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- 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.
Sergeant Brennan gave the United States Department of Defense 19 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Michael Anthony Brennan served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Sergeant Michael Anthony Brennan 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Michael Anthony Brennan's cause is highlighted.
How Michael Anthony Brennan Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Michael Anthony Brennan is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Michael Anthony Brennan was killed by handgun.