David Earle Bailey
Agency patch
Police Officer

David Earle Bailey

Los Angeles Police Department — Los Angeles, CA
Felonious
End of Watch October 21, 1977
Age 21
Badge 21939
The Vigil Panel 119 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer David Bailey succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained six days earlier when he attempted to take action during a robbery attempt while off duty in the North Rialto Shopping Center. Several juveniles approached him and a friend and displayed a firearm. As Officer Bailey took cover the subject opened fire. Officer Bailey identified himself and attempted to disarm the juvenile, but was shot in the face and thigh. The 17-year-old subject who shot him was arrested. On August 23, 1978, he was found guilty of second degree murder and sentenced to California Youth Authority for an indefinate sentence not to exceed 8 years.

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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 Bailey served with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Bailey.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lapd.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 21, 1977
Age 21
Badge Number 21939
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

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

34,117 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 1977, 128 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 36th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

David was 21. 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.

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

When

October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.

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 handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Los Angeles Police Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, David among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer David Earle Bailey

Los Angeles Police Department · End of Watch October 21, 1977

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 32-E

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