Incident
Sergeant David Kieffer died on May 21st, 1997, from injuries he had sustained on May 7th, 1977, when his patrol car was struck by a drunk driver at N. 16th Street and E. McDowell Road. The drunk driver was also killed in the crash. The crash left Sergeant Kieffer as a quadriplegic, and he died as a result of complications of injuries sustained in the crash. Sergeant Kieffer had served with the Phoenix Police Department for 20 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and four children.
In Our Keeping
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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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Kieffer gave the Phoenix Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Phoenix community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Kieffer.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Phoenix Police Department has lost 47 officers; 28 of them killed feloniously.
David is one of 204 officers killed feloniously in AZ, 61.8% of the 330 remembered there.
David is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
David is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1997, 1 officer at Phoenix Police Department was killed feloniously, the 6th heaviest of 23 years on record. The heaviest was 1982, with 2.
In 1997, 3 officers in AZ were killed feloniously, the 16th heaviest of 99 years on record. The heaviest was 1918, with 6.
In 1997, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1997, 93 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 67th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
David was 53. Of the 28 killed feloniously at Phoenix Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 43; the middle age was 33.5. David had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
David was 53. Of the 186 killed feloniously in AZ whose age is recorded, half were between 31.3 and 47; the middle age was 39. David had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
David was 53. 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. David had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
David was 53. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. David had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 25% of these deaths at Phoenix Police Department, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 14.3%.
May holds 13.2% of these deaths in AZ, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Wednesdays: 13.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 59.6% of all 47 deaths at Phoenix Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 14.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 61.8% of all 330 deaths in AZ, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 7.8% 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 automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.4% of these deaths.
His people
Phoenix Police Department has 47 officers remembered here, David among them.
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Haze Burch
Feb 5, 1925
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David Lee Johnson
May 2, 1944
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Walter H. Stewart
Feb 19, 1952
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Albert Raymond Bluhm
Dec 28, 1970
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Dale Crist Stone
Dec 28, 1970
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Clay Quincy Haywood
Nov 22, 1971
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Michael Dennis Hemschmeyer
Nov 2, 1973
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Gilbert Richard Chavez
Jun 16, 1975
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John Franklin MacInnis
Feb 22, 1976
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Arthur Edward Del Gaudio, Jr.
Apr 22, 1976
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Ignacio Gonzales Conchos
Jul 1, 1982
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John R. Davis, Sr.
Aug 6, 1982
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Kenneth E. Campbell
Jan 29, 1984
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Errol C. Hawkins
Apr 24, 1984
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Robert L. Polmanteer
May 4, 1984
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Kevin William Forsythe
Sep 7, 1984
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John A. Robertson
Nov 19, 1984
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Robert T. Fike
Jan 8, 1986
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Kenneth L. Collings
May 27, 1988
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Patrick O. Briggs
Jun 20, 1990
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John Wayne Domblisky
Jul 26, 1990
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Danny L. Tunney
Jul 26, 1990
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Leonard Leon Kolodziej
Sep 4, 1991
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David Martin Kieffer
May 21, 1997
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Marc Todd Atkinson
Mar 26, 1999
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Goelet Alessandro Carlo Beuf
Nov 1, 1999
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Beryl Wayne Scott, Jr.
Sep 10, 2002
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Donald Ralph Schultz
May 12, 2004
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Eric James White
Aug 28, 2004
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Jason Alan Wolfe
Aug 28, 2004
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David Christopher Uribe
May 10, 2005
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Paul Robert Salmon
Nov 29, 2005
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George Valentino Cortez, Jr.
Jul 27, 2007
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Nicki James Erfle
Sep 18, 2007
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Shane Cory Figueroa
Oct 25, 2008
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Travis Paul Murphy
May 26, 2010
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Daryl Michael Raetz
May 19, 2013
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John Thomas Hobbs
Mar 3, 2014
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Craig Tiger
Nov 7, 2014
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David Van Glasser
May 19, 2016
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Paul Thomas Rutherford
Mar 21, 2019
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Greg Scott Carnicle
Mar 29, 2020
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Ginarro Allen New
May 31, 2021
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Mathew Aaron Hefter
Aug 7, 2021
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Thomas Crawford Craig
Sep 3, 2021
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Phillip James Vavrinec, Jr.
Sep 22, 2021
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Zane Tristan Coolidge
Sep 6, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 46-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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