Gardena Police Department, California
End of Watch Sunday, September 2, 1956
Add to My HeroesDonald Eugene "Don" Bacon
Reserve Officer Don Bacon was killed when his patrol car was rear-ended by a drunk driver at the intersection of Compton Boulevard (modern day Gardena Boulevard) and Western Avenue. Officer Bacon was riding in the rear seat of the patrol car at the time it was struck. The two cars fused together and slid 180 feet from the intersection. The driver's speed was estimated to be over 70 mph.
The 24-year-old drunk driver, who had no license as a result of two prior drunk driving convictions, was convicted of drunk driving and felony manslaughter and sentenced to one to 10 years.
Reserve Officer Bacon had just graduated from the police academy and was awaiting a position as a full time officer. He was survived by his wife and son.
Bio
- Age 21
- Tour Not available
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Vehicular assault
- Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved
- Offender Convicted
Most Recent Reflection
View all 17 ReflectionsALTHOUGH I DON'T KNOW YOU AT A PERSONAL LEVEL OFFICER DON EUGENE BACON I GREATLY APPRECIATE THE SACRIFICE THAT YOU MADE TO PROTECT OTHERS. KNOWING THAT YOU WERE KILLED BY A DRUNK DRIVER REALLY HITS ME AT A CLOSE LEVEL BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS IN WHICH A DRUNK DRIVER CRASHED INTO MY FATHER AND ME . LUCKILY MY FATHER AND I SURVIVED BOTH OF THESE ACCIDENTS AND KNOWING THAT OFFICER BACON WAS KILLED BY THIS MAKES ME VERY UPSET TO HEAR ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THIS. ALSO KNOWING THAT OFFICER BACON WAS ONLY 21 AFFECTED ME GREATLY SINCE I'M ONLY 23 YEARS OLD AND WE WEREN'T VERY DIFFERENT IN OUR AGES. KNOWING THAT YOUR LIFE COULD END IN A MATTER OF SECONDS NO MATTER HOW OLD OR YOUNG YOU ARE IS A VERY BIG EYE OPENER FOR ME.
AS A RECRUIT GOING THROUGH THE LA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT ACADEMY I WAS LOOKING AT THE LA COUNTY MEMORIAL WALL ON OUR GRINDER AND I WAS ABLE TO SEE OFFICER BACON'S NAME VERY EASILY FROM WHERE I WAS STANDING. SEEING HIS NAME ON THERE MADE MY HEART FEEL HEAVY BECAUSE THIS WAS A MAN THAT WAS WILLING TO DO WHATEVER IT TOOK TO PROTECT AND SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTY. HE SADLY HAD TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE. SEEING HIS NAME I KNEW I HAD TO SEARCH UP HIS NAME AND FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS HERO. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK HIM FOR EVERYTHING THAT HE HAS DONE AND AM DEEPLY SORRY FOR HIS FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO SUDDENLY LOST HIM ALL BECAUSE OF A DRUNK DRIVER.
PALIAKARA
LASD RECRUIT
April 4, 2019
Recent LODD Deaths

Deputy Sheriff Marylin Anjanette Mayo
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, LA
EOW: September 21, 2023

Police Officer Darrin McMichael
Arlington Police Department, TX
EOW: September 21, 2023

Deputy Sheriff Ryan Clinkunbroomer
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: September 16, 2023

Governmental Affairs Liaison Michael Elaine Griffin
Mississippi Department of Public Safety, MS
EOW: September 4, 2023

Police Officer Kevin Cram
Algona Police Department, IA
EOW: September 13, 2023

Deputy Sheriff II Auston Smith Reudelhuber
Forsyth County Sheriff's Office, NC
EOW: September 9, 2023

Detective Robert Garten
Hartford Police Department, CT
EOW: September 6, 2023

Deputy Sheriff Matthew Pierson
Shelby County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: August 29, 2023

Sheriff Robert Daniel Rodgers
Wilcox County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: August 29, 2023