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Fred H. Early
Agency patch
Policeman

Fred H. Early

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Felonious
United States flag California flag
End of Watch March 23, 1973
Age 31
Badge 12522
The Vigil Panel 244 · Column 4 · Line 5 ›
Gender Male
Incident Media Service The Sacrifice Memorials 1 Department 239

Incident

Policeman Fred Early succumbed to injuries from a gunshot wound when he was shot by a robbery suspect on September 9, 1972. Policeman Early was off duty when he observed a burglary in progress. He went to a phone booth to call in the crime when he was confronted by the suspect(s) and shot while he was on the phone. He survived the shooting, but not without complications. In the months that passed, he suffered blackouts and other symptoms. While undergoing treatment at UCLA Medical Center, he sustained irreversible brain damage and never recovered from the procedures. He died from his injuries six months after the shooting. In March 1998, the Los Angeles City Council approved a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of suspect(s) in the shooting of Policeman Early.

Survivors

He was survived by his four daughters, mother, and sister.

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.
Policeman Early served with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Policeman Early.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch March 23, 1973
Age 31
Badge Number 12522
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Fred is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  3. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1973, 171 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 17th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Fred was 31. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

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%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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, Fred among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Policeman Fred H. Early

Los Angeles Police Department · End of Watch March 23, 1973

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 64-E

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