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Incident
Detective Thomas Guerry was shot and killed by two robbery suspects at the intersection of West Ortega Street and Bradbury Avenue at approximately 5:30 pm. He and his partner noticed two suspicious persons who later turned out to be felons from Baltimore, Maryland, who were on a cross country crime spree. As the detectives stepped out of their vehicle, both subjects fired on them, fatally wounding Detective Guerry. Detective Guerry's partner was able to return fire and wounded one of the the suspects. Both suspects were apprehended and convicted of murder. One of the men was sentenced to life and the other to death, but his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment when the death penalty was abolished in California in 1972. He died in prison in 1992. Detective Guerry had served with the Santa Barbara Police Department for eight years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
NW-FCM5-QM9E-Nearlier record number BO-US-CA-48545986- Stewardship
- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Guerry gave the Santa Barbara Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Santa Barbara community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Guerry.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Santa Barbara Police Department has lost 5 officers; 1 of them killed feloniously.
H. is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
H. is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.
H. is one of 17,629 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,910 remembered here.
33,910 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1970, 24 officers in CA were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1970, 138 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 29th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1970, 142 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 35th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
H. was 28. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. H. had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
H. was 28. Of the 14,215 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. H. had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
H. was 28. Of the 15,849 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. H. had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 9% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 12%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 20% of all 5 deaths at Santa Barbara Police Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 100% 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 57.2% of all 27,543 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 33,910 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Santa Barbara Police Department has 5 officers remembered here, H. among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 20-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Santa Barbara Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
