Merle Lee Andrews
Agency patch
Officer

Merle Lee Andrews

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA
Felonious
End of Watch December 20, 1967
Age 39
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Badge 2769
The Vigil Panel 103 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Merle Andrews was shot and killed while conducting a felony traffic stop of a man wanted in connection with a robbery and kidnapping. He spotted the vehicle and called for backup as he stopped it near Via Rivera and Paseo Lunado in Palos Verdes Estates. As he approached the vehicle with his weapon drawn, the suspect opened fire, fatally wounding him. The suspect was later apprehended at a drugstore where he held three hostages, who were released unharmed. The man had told his pastor earlier in the day that he intended to become involved in a shootout with police in order to be shot by them. The suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison on August 30th, 1972. Officer Andrews had served with the California Highway Patrol for nine years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, mother, and brother, who also served in law enforcement.

In Our Keeping

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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.
Officer Andrews gave the California Highway Patrol 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Andrews.

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

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 20, 1967
Tour of Duty 9 yrs
Age 39
Badge Number 2769
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Rifle

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Merle is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 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 1967, 105 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 48th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Merle was 39. 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. Merle had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

California Highway Patrol has at least 120 officers remembered here, Merle among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Merle Lee Andrews

California Highway Patrol · End of Watch December 20, 1967

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 37-E

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