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Incident
Reserve Officer Theodore Brassinga was accidentally shot and killed during a multi-agency training exercise aboard an Amtrak train for the 1994 World Cup Soccer tournament. The officers in the exercise were supposed to have unloaded weapons. Officer Brassinga had served with the Palo Alto Police Department for 1 year.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- 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
You barely got started.
Reserve Officer Brassinga gave the Palo Alto Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Palo Alto community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Reserve Officer Brassinga.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Palo Alto Police Department has lost 3 officers; 2 of them lost to accidents.
Theodore is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Theodore is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Theodore is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1994, 5 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 68th heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 1994, 81 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 26th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1994, 105 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 15th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Theodore was 33. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35. Theodore had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Theodore was 33. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Theodore had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Theodore was 33. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Theodore had served 1 year; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 6.4% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 13.9%.
May holds 8.6% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
May holds 8.4% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 66.7% of all 3 deaths at Palo Alto Police Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.2% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Palo Alto Police Department has 3 officers remembered here, Theodore among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 35-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Palo Alto Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
