Donald G. Luning
Agency patch
Officer

Donald G. Luning

Metropolitan Police Department — Washington, DC
Felonious
End of Watch September 14, 1982
Age 31
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Badge 661
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Donald Luning was shot and killed during a foot pursuit of a man who fled from a stolen vehicle. Officer Luning and his partner were working a tactical detail when they spotted the vehicle occupied by a male and a female on Jay Street, NE. When the man fled the vehicle Officer Luning pursued him into an apartment building at 3712 Hayes Street, NE, and a struggle ensued. The suspect gained control of Officer Luning's weapon and shot him after pinning him to the ground. The man was arrested several hours later after barricading himself in his apartment inside the building. He was convicted of Officer Luning's murder and sent to prison. Officer Luning had served with the agency for 11 years and was assigned to the 6th District.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

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.
Officer Luning gave the Metropolitan Police Department 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the Washington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Luning.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity mpdc.dc.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 14, 1982
Tour of Duty 11 yrs
Age 31
Badge Number 661
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Donald is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% 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 1982, 122 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 42nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Donald was 31. 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. Donald had served 11 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Metropolitan Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Donald among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Donald G. Luning

Metropolitan Police Department · End of Watch September 14, 1982

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W

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