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Detective Gerald Wayne Sawyer | Los Angeles Police Department, California
Los Angeles Police Department, California

Detective

Gerald Wayne Sawyer

Los Angeles Police Department, California

End of Watch: Tuesday, November 6, 1973

Biographical Info

Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: 11797

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 6, 1973
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Acquitted

Detective Gerald Sawyer was shot and killed while working in a joint undercover investigation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.

A cocaine trafficker shot Detective Sawyer during an attempted robbery of a $144,000 flash roll. The trafficker and an accomplice were arrested at the scene by other officers and charged with first-degree murder.

A jury acquitted both suspects on September 28, 1974.

Detective Sawyer had served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and two children.