Detective Gary Rippstein

The Torrance Police Department lost our third officer in the line of duty when Detective Gary Rippstein was shot by an Auto Theft suspect on Saturday, December 21st, 1968.

At approximately 10:25 that morning, Detective Rippstein and his partner, Detective Holmes, attempted to arrest the suspect at his apartment in the 600 Block of 8th Street in the City of Hermosa Beach. The detectives were invited inside the apartment by the suspect’s wife, but upon entering the bedroom, they were fired upon by the suspect. Detective Rippstein was struck one time.

Detective Holmes and Hermosa officers returned fire, killing the suspect. Detective Rippstein was rushed to the hospital where he later succumbed to his injury on Sunday, December 22nd, 1968.

Detective Rippstein was hired by the Torrance Police Department in April 1962. In addition to positions in Patrol, Detectives, and Services, Officer Rippstein, an ordained minister, was appointed to a newly created position as the Department’s very first Police Chaplain.

Officer Rippstein was buried at Green Hills Memorial Park in San Pedro on December 27th, 1968.

Officer Gary Rippstein… you will never be forgotten.