Donald Archibald Mason
Detective

Donald Archibald Mason

Cardiac
End of Watch December 23, 1959
Age 36
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
The Vigil Panel 209 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Donald Mason suffered a fatal heart attack after struggling to subdue a mental patient in the courtroom at the San Bernadino County Superior Court at 351 North Arrowhead Avenue in San Bernardino.

Detective Mason had worked until 2:30 am and returned to duty at 7:30 am to attend court proceedings that had been moved due to the Christmas Holiday. During the last court case, he was kicked in the groin and chest when a subject was ruled mentally ill in court. After court proceedings at 12:57 pm, he was driving and pulled over on Highland Avenue near Muscott Street and summoned aid, complaining of chest pains. He was transported to Community Hospital where he was unable to be resuscitated.

Detective Mason had served with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for ten years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two daughters.

In Our Keeping

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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Mason gave the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Bernardino community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Mason.

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

Agency

Type Other
Location San Bernardino, San Bernardino County, CA
Platform Identity sbcso.sanbern.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 23, 1959
Tour of Duty 10 yrs
Age 36
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Cardiac

The Sacrifice · Cardiac

Donald is one of 1,307 officers lost to cardiac events in the United States, 4.7% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1959, 10 officers in the United States were lost to cardiac events, the 61st heaviest of 139 years on record. The heaviest was 2014, with 24.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Donald was 36. Of the 1,249 lost to cardiac events in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 55; the middle age was 48. Donald had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 15 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

December holds 8.5% of these deaths in the United States; January holds the most, 9.6%. Wednesdays: 14.5%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Cardiac deaths account for 4.7% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 4th most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department has 18 officers remembered here, Donald among them.

VI

Where

Detective Donald Archibald Mason

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department · End of Watch December 23, 1959

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 54-E

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