Incident
Police Officer John Frey was shot and killed while making a traffic stop on 7th Street between Campbell Street and Willow Street. During the stop, he requested backup. When the backup officer arrived, they removed the two occupants of the vehicle and separated them for questioning. During the questioning, the male suspect opened fire, striking both officers. Officer Frey was struck in the chest, stomach, and leg. He succumbed to his injuries while being transported to a local hospital. The other officer was struck in the chest but was able to return fire and wound the suspect, who was later apprehended. The suspect served three years in prison and was later killed in 1989. The two suspects were members of the radical racist group The Black Panthers. Officer Frey had served with the Oakland Police Department for 18 months. Survivors include his wife and daughter. The Black Panther Party was a black nationalist and Marxist revolutionary political and militant organization active in the United States between 1966 and 1982. Members and former members of the group were responsible for the murders of over 20 law enforcement officers and the wounding of dozens more across the nation. Please click here to visit all the law enforcement officers who have died as a result of the Black Panther Party's violent activism.
Survivors
Survivors include his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Police Officer Frey gave the Oakland Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Frey.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Oakland Police Department has lost 54 officers; 37 of them killed feloniously.
John is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
John is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
John is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1967, 1 officer at Oakland Police Department was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 32 years on record. The heaviest was 2009, with 4.
In 1967, 15 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1967, 105 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 48th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1967, 107 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 56th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
John was 23. Of the 34 killed feloniously at Oakland Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32.3 and 42.8; the middle age was 35.5. John had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
John was 23. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. John had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 23. 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. John had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
John was 23. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. John had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 8.1% of these deaths at Oakland Police Department; January holds the most, 18.9%. Saturdays: 29.7%.
October holds 9.3% of these deaths in CA, more than any other month. Saturdays: 16.4%.
October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 68.5% of all 54 deaths at Oakland Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 21.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.6% of these deaths.
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.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Oakland Police Department has 54 officers remembered here, John among them.
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Richard B. Richardson
Oct 22, 1867
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William G. Cashin Mar 12, 1893
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James Hume Smith, Jr.
Nov 27, 1903
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George W. Brown
Dec 17, 1904
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George White
Nov 25, 1907
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James J. Fenton
Jan 4, 1908
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Charles A. Williams
Apr 21, 1912
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Alfred M. Poulter Aug 22, 1914
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Robert Franklin Gushe Mar 4, 1916
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Alvin C. Gillem Apr 12, 1917
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Corrento G. J. Gargadennec
Sep 6, 1919
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John F. McCarthy
Nov 30, 1922
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William J. Davis
Jan 5, 1928
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Ernest H. Philbrick
Feb 11, 1929
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Timothy Duane
Apr 18, 1930
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Richard Philpott
Jan 7, 1931
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William T. Kohler
Jul 4, 1931
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Osborn Asher Lyon
Aug 19, 1931
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Michael Moore
Apr 5, 1935
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Leo T. Cunningham
Jul 18, 1940
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Thomas W. Prindiville
Jul 6, 1941
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Elmer E. Norgren
Jan 15, 1943
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Wallace J. Muscovich
Apr 23, 1944
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John R. Johnston
Jun 27, 1946
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Fred B. Veretto
Jan 7, 1947
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James S. Weir
Jun 2, 1950
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Donald O. Nielson
Mar 25, 1951
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Marvin Siebert
Sep 19, 1951
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Eugene M. Oneto
Nov 18, 1951
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David L. Worcester
Jul 8, 1953
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John F. Frey
Oct 28, 1967
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William L. Martin
Oct 9, 1970
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Robert W. Blan
May 23, 1973
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David George Guider
Oct 2, 1973
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Wendell I. Troyer
Oct 2, 1973
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David John Branhan
Feb 7, 1974
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David Edward Marks
Feb 7, 1974
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Michael J. Faulkner
Jun 27, 1981
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Ramon Irizarry, Jr.
Jan 18, 1983
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Chesley Allen Stephens
Nov 13, 1984
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John William Grubensky
Oct 20, 1991
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William Blea Grijalva
Dec 15, 1993
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Miguel T. Soto
Jun 22, 1994
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Keith Stephen Konopasek
Jul 8, 1995
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James Williams, Jr.
Jan 10, 1999
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William Alberto Wilkins, Jr.
Jan 12, 2001
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William Lynchburg Seuis
Jul 22, 2004
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Mark Thomas Dunakin
Mar 21, 2009
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Ervin Julius Romans, II
Mar 21, 2009
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Daniel Takashi Sakai
Mar 21, 2009
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John Raymond Hege
Mar 24, 2009
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Paul Michael Carlisle
Dec 1, 2015
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Tuan Q. Le
Dec 29, 2023
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Jordan Wingate
Apr 20, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 6-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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