Richard R. LeFebvre
Agency patch
Police Officer

Richard R. LeFebvre

Long Beach Police Department — Long Beach, CA
Accident
End of Watch August 15, 1965
Age 23
The Vigil Panel 221 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Richard LeFebvre was shot and killed while working a civil disturbance call in the 1300 block of California Avenue (modern-day Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard). The Watts Riots had spilled over to Long Beach. Officers responded to the area of California Avenue and New York Avenue regarding subjects throwing bricks at passing cars. A police officer's gun was discharged during a scuffle, and struck Officer LeFebvre, killing him.

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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.
Police Officer LeFebvre served with the Long Beach Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Long Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer LeFebvre.

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

Agency

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

Service Record

End of Watch August 15, 1965
Age 23
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Richard is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% 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 1965, 56 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 83rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Richard was 23. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.

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

When

August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Sundays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Long Beach Police Department has 28 officers remembered here, Richard among them.

VI

Where

Police Officer Richard R. LeFebvre

Long Beach Police Department · End of Watch August 15, 1965

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 1-E

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