On the evening of Friday, September 9, 1977, 29-year-old Tacoma Police Officer Larry Frost was killed while on duty. Frost and a partner had responded to a vandalism call at the Food King at 3510 South 56th Street. While his partner spoke with store personnel, Frost searched the surrounding area for the suspect and, at about 8:43 PM near South 64th Street and South Tacoma Way, encountered David Ace Milford and attempted to arrest him.

A struggle followed; Milford, described as larger than Frost, struck the officer and knocked him to the ground, took Frost’s service revolver and shot him multiple times in the chest and neck. Milford fled, discarding the weapon and stripping off his clothes. Officers found him a short distance away in a parking lot in the 6600 block of South Tacoma Way, lying naked and feigning unconsciousness. Frost was taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where he died. He had served with the Tacoma Police Department for seven years and was survived by a son and daughter.

Milford was arrested and later found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a mental hospital. Does anyone have additional details about Officer Frost’s life or the investigation that could help preserve his memory?