Jose L. Castellanos
Agency patch
Detective

Jose L. Castellanos

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Felonious
End of Watch March 5, 1959
Age 36
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Badge 6517
The Vigil Panel 94 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Jose Castellanos was shot and killed and his partner was seriously wounded by a crazed murder suspect. Earlier the suspect went into a cafe, he had been ejected from, and shot the proprietress in the arm and killed a patron who went to her aid. Later Detective Castellanos and his partner went to the home of the suspects estranged wife and questioned her about the suspect. As they were leaving, the suspect, who was hiding in the bushes near the house, opened fire. Detective Castellanos' partner was able to return fire killing the suspect. Detective Castellanos had served with the agency for nine years. He is survived by his wife, three daughters, two sons, his mother, and two sisters. He is laid to rest at Calvary Cemetery.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, three daughters, two sons, his mother, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
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 Castellanos gave the Los Angeles Police Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Castellanos.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 5, 1959
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 36
Badge Number 6517
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Jose is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 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, 61 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 123rd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Jose was 36. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Jose had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Los Angeles Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Jose among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Jose L. Castellanos

Los Angeles Police Department · End of Watch March 5, 1959

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 53-E

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