Incident
Officer Frank Mello succumbed to injuries sustained three months earlier when his motorcycle collided with a state police vehicle.
He was responding to a fire alarm call when his motorcycle collided near the intersection of 7th Street and H Street. He was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries less than three months later.
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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Mello served with the Sacramento Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Mello.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Sacramento Police Department has lost 17 officers; 5 of them lost to accidents.
Frank is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Frank is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Frank is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1951, 1 officer at Sacramento Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1951, 11 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 1951, 70 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 48th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1951, 76 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 64th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Frank was 23. Of the 5 lost to accidents at Sacramento Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 23 and 37; the middle age was 24.
Frank was 23. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35.
Frank 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.
Frank was 23. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36.
When
June holds 40% of these deaths at Sacramento Police Department; April holds the most, 40%. Saturdays: 20%.
June holds 8.6% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 13.1%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 14.7%.
How
Accident deaths account for 29.4% of all 17 deaths at Sacramento Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.2% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Sacramento Police Department has 17 officers remembered here, Frank among them.
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George C. Chapman Apr 28, 1858
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Joseph Scott Dec 7, 1878
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Charles H. Wetzel
Aug 29, 1893
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Frank Auener Lungershausen
Dec 27, 1935
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Frank Fragoso Mello
Jun 30, 1951
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Arnold Z. Gamble
Feb 15, 1963
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Eugene Edgar McKnight
Jul 23, 1963
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Bernard M. Bennett
May 13, 1970
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Andrew Lee Collins
Apr 19, 1972
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Doyle Allen Popovich
Aug 3, 1974
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Rodney Taylor Butts
Oct 15, 1975
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William Henry Warner
Jun 1, 1981
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Michael David Gartrell
Apr 25, 1991
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Emily Jewett Morgenroth
Oct 17, 1997
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William Chandler Bean, Jr.
Feb 9, 1999
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Matthew M Prichard Apr 20, 2008
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Tara Christina O'Sullivan
Jun 19, 2019
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 25-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
16 officers from Sacramento Police Department are honored on badge.nw.












