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Incident
Officer Rea was shot and killed during a shootout while investigating a burglary at a warehouse. As he and the assistant chief arrived at the scene in a patrol car they observed the suspect run in between two houses. Officer Rea exited the patrol car with his shotgun and pursued on foot as the assistant chief drove around the corner to cut the suspect off. When the suspect emerged from on the other side of the houses he fired at the patrol car and he then ran back between the houses. When he did so he was confronted by Officer Rea. The two exchanged shots and Officer Rea was struck once in the head. The suspect escaped. On April 2, 1967, a tip led to the arrest of the suspect in Montara, San Mateo County. On August 8, 1967, the suspect, now 54, was sentenced to death but the sentence was later commuted to life in 1972. He was released in 1981 and died in 2002. Officer Rea had served with the agency for 7 years. He was survived by his wife and four children. On January 26, 1971, a hiker walking in the Mojave Desert near Baker, California, came across some old bones that would lead to one of most sensational murder investigations and the oldest murder case solved in California history. The bones were that of an adult female. With no way to identify the remains the case stalled. The tip that led to Ofiicer Rea's killer's arrest came from his wife. What she did not tell police was the reason she told on him. She was afraid her husband was going to kill her over a murder they committed together in 1946. In 1975 for no known reason, the suspect in Folsom Prison, admitted to a murder in 1946 that officials knew nothing about. He told them that his wife shot and killed a woman she caught him in bed with. He said they took her body to a the Mojave Desert near Baker where they buried her. Officials realized the location was either very near or was the locaton of where a woman's remains were found in 1971. Officials could not find a second set of bones and still had no way to
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
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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 Rea gave the North Sacramento Police Department 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Rea.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
North Sacramento Police Department has lost 2 officers; 2 of them killed feloniously.
Francis is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Francis is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Francis is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1954, 5 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 82nd heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1954, 76 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 92nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1954, 77 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 97th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Francis was 48. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Francis had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Francis was 48. 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. Francis had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Francis was 48. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Francis had served 7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 9% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 15.8%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 100% of all 2 deaths at North Sacramento Police Department. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 50% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 26.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
North Sacramento Police Department has 2 officers remembered here, Francis among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from North Sacramento Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
