Detective Gerald Wayne Sawyer

Gerald Wayne Sawyer

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.