Officer Michael J. Faulkner of the Oakland Police Department was killed on June 27, 1981, while responding to a domestic disturbance. He and his partner, Officer Dennis Dutra, had been dispatched to the same residence twice that day for a boyfriend-girlfriend dispute. The male suspect left before the officers arrived; Dutra took the female involved to the suspect’s residence while Faulkner searched the area.

As Dutra arrived at that residence he observed Faulkner’s patrol car stopped in the street and Faulkner confronting a shirtless man near the rear of the car. The female positively identified the man. When the suspect began to walk away, he produced a large handgun and opened fire. Both officers returned fire; Faulkner was struck in the head and later died en route to the hospital. The suspect was also killed at the scene.

Faulkner, a nine-year veteran, was survived by his wife and three children. Anyone with information about Officer Faulkner or who knew him is asked to come forward.