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Incident
Patrolman Ralph Morgan was shot and killed when he and his partner stopped a stolen vehicle at the intersection of 5th Street and Almond Street. Unbeknownst to Patrolman Morgan, the two brothers had just been involved in an earlier shooting and were former San Quentin Prison inmates. The men opened fire on the officers, killing Patrolman Morgan and severely wounding his partner. Despite being mortally wounded, Patrolman Morgan continued firing at the subjects as he fell. One of the men was killed and the other committed suicide after being wounded.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
NW-HMZ2-XKVC-7earlier record number BO-US-CA-1BDF95B2- 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.
Patrolman Morgan 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, Patrolman Morgan.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Long Beach Police Department has lost 28 officers; 13 of them killed feloniously.
Ralph is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Ralph is one of 15,741 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.2% of the 27,543 remembered there.
Ralph 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 1931, 1 officer at Long Beach Police Department was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 11 years on record. The heaviest was 1967, with 2.
In 1931, 8 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 38th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1931, 221 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 5th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1931, 222 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 9th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Ralph was 24. Of the 12 killed feloniously at Long Beach Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27 and 37.8; the middle age was 32.
Ralph was 24. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35.
Ralph was 24. 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.
Ralph was 24. Of the 15,849 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
July holds 15.4% of these deaths at Long Beach Police Department; December holds the most, 23.1%. Mondays: 7.7%.
July holds 8.1% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 12.9%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 46.4% of all 28 deaths at Long Beach Police Department, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 23.1% 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
Long Beach Police Department has 28 officers remembered here, Ralph among them.
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Thomas C. Borden
Mar 17, 1912
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J. R. Wilkinson
Jan 17, 1923
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Orlando E. Bridgeman
Mar 21, 1923
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Robert H. Halstead
Mar 6, 1926
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George A. Walls
Nov 18, 1928
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Ralph A. Morgan
Jul 13, 1931
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William J. MacLean
Dec 12, 1934
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Delbert P. Buckman
Feb 13, 1940
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Engebret Larson
Feb 25, 1942
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Harold W. Irwin
Mar 20, 1945
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Cecil W. Singer
Nov 18, 1945
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Marlin L. Evans
Jul 17, 1949
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Jesse M. Ream
Feb 28, 1950
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Robert H. Morgan
Nov 2, 1950
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William H. Waggoner
Dec 18, 1954
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Frederick W. Walsh, Jr.
Jan 20, 1957
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Vernon J. Owings
Jun 24, 1960
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Richard R. LeFebvre
Aug 15, 1965
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Robert G. Smith
Dec 12, 1965
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William L. Isham
Aug 26, 1967
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Donald V. Knott
Aug 26, 1967
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Robert R. Birdsall
Sep 16, 1975
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Franke Neal Lewis
Dec 13, 1975
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Gary Orville Elkins
Jan 1, 1976
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Lloyd Marland Lund
Oct 30, 1981
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Karl Duane Simons
Oct 13, 1996
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Daryle Wayne Black
Apr 30, 2000
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Edward Roy Davenport
Feb 4, 2003
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 42-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Long Beach Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
