Oakland Police Department, California
End of Watch Thursday, February 7, 1974
Add to My HeroesDavid Edward Marks
Officers David Marks and David Branhan were shot and killed with Officer Marks' service weapon after a suspect gained control of it.
The officers had been dispatched to a middle school on a call that a disorderly person was on the school grounds and fighting with school staff. When the officers arrived they located the man and took him to a conference room. The man began to struggle with the two officers and gained control of Officer Marks' service weapon and shot them both. The man was apprehended at a nearby apartment building after he was shot and wounded by other officers.
The suspect was convicted of two counts of second degree murder and sentenced to two consecutive terms of 15 years to life on May 29, 1975.
Officer Marks had been a member of the Oakland Police Department for two years, and is survived by his mother.
Bio
- Age 26
- Tour 2 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Officer's handgun
- Offender Sentenced to life
Related LODD Deaths
Police Officer David John Branhan
Oakland Police Department, CA
EOW: February 7, 1974
Most Recent Reflection
View all 24 ReflectionsDave and I were in the same Oakland Police Academy in May 1972. I remember him coming over from the Alameda County Sheriff Department. We occasionally studied together as this was my first experience in law enforcement. I was working that day when the incident occurred with him and Brennan. I was working beat 27 in East Oakland, and I was on the scene. Even now I will always remember what I saw. I have mentioned this incident in some workplace violence training and I know how it effective me. Dave was a great guy and always was a mild mannered and even temper guy. He was one of the favorites in our class.
Raymond A. Clark, former Oakland Police
Was in the same police academy as Dave
August 19, 2019
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