Biographical Information
- Age: 48
- Tour of Duty: 7 years
Incident Details
- Cause of Death: Gunfire
- Date of Incident: Sunday, January 3, 1954
- Weapon Used: Handgun; .22 caliber
- Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
A burglary suspect wielding a stolen .22 caliber target pistol shot 48-year-old Officer Rea on Jan 3, 1954 during a running gun battle. Surprised by Officer Rea, the suspect fled from a brewery warehouse, shooting wildly behind him and fatally shooting Officer Rea in the head. Officer Rea was a seven-year veteran of the Sacramento Police Department.