Officer Thomas Keller
The fourth and last officer we have lost in the line of duty was Officer Tom Keller. He was shot on Thursday, April 17th, 1986, while responding to an armed robbery call in the Downtown Torrance area.
The suspect had entered the Torrance Sport Shop at 1421 Marcelina Avenue, displaying a handgun, at approximately 3:45 in the afternoon. Employees and customers were able to flee the store and call police.
Unbeknownst to officers, the suspect had armed himself with an M-1 Carbine rifle that the store owner kept for protection. As officers arrived, the suspect opened fire from inside the store, striking Officer Keller. Officers returned fire, wounding the suspect several times.
Torrance SWAT Team arrived, made entry into the store, and found the suspect dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officer Keller succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Officer Keller was hired by the Torrance Police Department on April 26th, 1982. He had previously served with the United States Marine Corps and as a Reserve Deputy and Explorer Scout for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department.
Officer Keller was buried on April 23rd, 1986, at Calvary Cemetery in Goleta, California.
Officer Thomas Keller… you will never be forgotten.
The year 1986 will indeed live in infamy for my family on so many levels. My family had lived in turmoil due to problems with a wayward child. At a loss of what to do, because nothing seemed to be working with this child, I called the Torrance Police, threw my arms up in the air, and pled for help.
Among the officers who responded to our plea was Officer Keller. He was attentive and made every effort to understand. There were other occasions when we called Torrance Police in reference to our child and on occasion, it would be Officer Keller…so, we got to know him a little.
One day, I was sitting deep in thought about our kid, when I heard a knock at my door…and there stood Officer Keller. I hadn’t called him…but there he was. He said that he had been thinking about me and was wondering how things were.
We talked for a while as I filled him in, and he said he would stay in touch…and he left. Well, he couldn’t stay in touch because two days later, he was shot and killed.
Officer Keller’s kindness at a truly rough time for our family will never be forgotten. This old Marine knows a good man when he sees one. His kind are few and far between and will be greatly missed.
Semper Fi, Officer Keller, and thanks.
JIM DAVIS
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