David C. Bearden
Agency patch
Police Officer

David C. Bearden

Miami Beach Police Department — Miami Beach, FL
Felonious
End of Watch March 20, 1928
Age 24
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
The Vigil Panel 55 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer David Bearden was shot and killed in a shootout with two auto theft suspects near the intersection of Ocean Drive and 22nd Street. Before succumbing to his injuries Officer Bearden was able to return fire and strike both suspects, fatally wounding one of them. The other suspect was convicted and released from jail in 1960. Officer Bearden had served with the Miami Beach Police Department for four years.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents, two brothers, and five sisters.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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 Bearden gave the Miami Beach Police Department 4 years.
Thank you for your service to the Miami Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Bearden.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, FL
Platform Identity mbpd.miamidade.fl.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 20, 1928
Tour of Duty 4 yrs
Age 24
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Gun

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 1928, 201 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 13th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

David was 24. 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 4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.

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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Miami Beach Police Department has 10 officers remembered here, David among them.

VI

Where

Police Officer David C. Bearden

Miami Beach Police Department · End of Watch March 20, 1928

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 43-E

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