Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Sgt Dan Hale was my training officer. I actually was riding with him on that dark day after my shift ended. I called home to check on my girls & they weren’t home. So he dropped me back at the station. It was a few hours later that Officer Elbert Hill knocked on my door to give me the tragic news!!! It’s been 47 years ago but his memory lives on. He was a man of integrity that lived his wife & family!

Margaret McGill
SAPD

July 31, 2024

Gone but NEVER forgotten Officer Hale! Thank you for watching over everyone at Station 31!!!!!

Deputy Bryan Atkinson, Santa Ana Police
Santa Ana Police Department

November 12, 2023

Uncle Dan, Hard to believe its been 44 years.

Rob Esterly
Dan was my Uncle

November 20, 2021

On this day 44 years ago, you were taken from your family. This day never gets easier, not even after all this time. I love you, Dad.

Barbara Hale
Dan's Daughter

November 12, 2021

Happy heavenly birthday, Uncle Dan. I miss you and think of you often.

Debbie Duncan
Niece

August 12, 2021

Happy heavenly birthday. I miss you and think of you often.

Debbie Duncan
Niece

August 12, 2021

Remembering my uncle on his birthday. Happy heavenly birthday. I think about you often. I remember so much of you. I can’t believe it’s been almost 45 years since you’ve been gone. I love and miss you.

Debbie Duncan (Moss)
Neice

August 12, 2021

Remembering you on your birthday, Dad. You are missed. You are loved.

Barbara Hale
Dan’s Daughter

August 12, 2021

43 years ago today, you were taken from us. Not a day has gone by that I haven't thought about you, Dad. 43 years and you'd think I could write this reflection without tearing up! You will always be remembered and I will also stand in honor with my family on the thin blue line. I know if you read this, a # wouldn't make sense...but trust me, it's a thing now! Love you, Dad! #BlueLivesMatter

Barbara Hale
Dan's Daughter

November 12, 2020

I can hardly believe that it has been over 40 years since Dan died, but I remember that day like it was yesterday. My wife and I came home from dinner and I turned on my scanner to see what was going on in the city. It was almost totally silent which was very unusual. Then I heard one of our dispatchers say something about the shooting scene. Within a couple of minutes of that I received a telephone call from the station asking me to come in. At that point someone told me that Dan had been killed. Dan and I had become friends over the previous several months. We worked the same team and he had gone with me on my boat a couple times and we had plans to go out again. Four years ago I moved to Reno Nevada and shortly after I met Charles Lacy who worked with Dan when he was with Bart P.D. Small world. I still think of Dan quite often. Blue Lives Matter.

Reserve Lt. Jerry Nisker
Santa Ana Police Department

September 13, 2020

I was the seven-year-old little girl at his funeral. I remember that day, all the tears, all the blue uniforms, the never-ending line of cars. I prefer to remember how I would get dressed up and jump on daddy's lap and convince him that my dress was so pretty that we should go out to dinner...and he'd given in every time! My dad is remembered every day.

Barbara Hale
Dan's daughter

July 10, 2020

Dan, you are not forgotten. Can't believe it has been 42 years since we last spoke. You coming onto swings, and me coming off days. Thanks for being a good partner, friend, and locker mate. Can't believe we stuffed both our gear into that little locker but the department hired so many people, so quickly, they ran out of locker space. Miss your friendship and mentorship. Until we meet again,

Gary Labb, Retired Detective
Santa Ana Police Department (1975-2005)
Covina Police Department (1974-1975)

November 12, 2019

Rest in peace Officer Hale.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 19, 2019

Fortyone years ago tonight, one of the saddest nights in the history of Santa Ana PD. Rest in Peace Dan. You are not forgotten my friend...

Detective Gary Labb (Retired)
Santa Ana Police Department

November 13, 2018

Rest In Peace Brother. We honor you on the 40th anniversary of your E.O.W. Thank you and your family for your service and sacrifice. You will not be forgotten.

Officer Mike Robinson, (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA

November 12, 2017

Dan was the Corpral for my team. He lost his life while I was on days off so he was incharge of my team.
I noticed the first thread is his nephew looking for Dan's service revolver. Dan had replaced the revolver with a dept issue 9mm. That weapon was picked up and used by one of the purpitrators. It was placed into evidence and most likely destroyed at a later date.
Dan's revolver may still be in his family.
REST EASY MY BROTHER.

Allan Weiss, Sergeant (retired)
SAPD. Dan's Sgt.

October 7, 2017

Once again I come to this page while thinking of my uncle DAN.. Have been here many of times with good memories of him and his family, wondering if all are ok and what there lives have been like, Really I'm on the east coast and our family doesn't stay in touch with others on the west coast and vise versa. Why who knows. But what I would enjoy more than anything in the world is to find/recover my uncles service revolver, from what I hear his partner was given this revolver, whats so special about it besides being my uncles is his dad also had the exact same model I was told, his dad bought two of them that day one for himself and one for his son Dan. I am a collector of handguns and would cherish owning his gun. I have contacted the santa anna police dept and with great respect the helped me search for his partners name, but to know avail, they say records for that kind of stuff weren't kept. They even posted a ad in the police depts. monthly newspaper and got no response. I have been searching for this over twenty years and help would be greatly appreciated. I'm legit and honest when I say I'm his uncle. Aunt J, or anyone else who may know or has this you have any clue on his service revolver where about contact me thru site. Aunt J my mon said you read my previous post. but that was years ago, she also stated, that you don't come here too often as it still hurts, totally understand. In time we will all be together again. Hey and thanks for the whipped cream pie and that delious lasagna.

Robert Esterly 2nd
Dans uncle

July 4, 2017

Does anyone have information about Officer Hale's wife and children. His wife is my Grandma's long lost sister and I can't find anything after Officer Hale's death. Any help would be appreciated.

Krystal Lodygowski

September 21, 2016

"When a good man is hurt, all who would be called good must suffer with him.”

Euripides

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

November 12, 2015

Dan,
I attend the OC Peace Officer's Memorial every year for my Brother and I never miss an opportunity to walk by your plaque on the wall of this beautiful Memorial in Tustin. As each officer's name adorns those walls, I was grateful to see that someone had left a rose on yours this year. You will not be forgotten; a Hero so brave...

Lorie P 6/1/15

June 1, 2015

Dan, although I came onto the Santa Ana Police Department a few years after your tragic death, I certainly know officers who worked with you and who responded to the scene of your shooting. During my 23 years of service with S.A.P.D., every time I went 10-8, the details of what happened to you that night on Western Street was never far from my thoughts. Your life, work and your ultimate sacrifice, at the hands of a coward, will never be forgotten by your fellow S.A.P.D. officers. RIP Dan.

#1453
S.A.P.D.

January 16, 2015

I remember Officer Dan Hale only after his death. I attended a training seminar in Orange County and one of the instructors at H.B.P.D. handed out a xeroxed photograph that I will never forget. We had all learned the story of Officer Hale's death but the photo was one that has stuck with me, even tho' I received a Medical retirement in 1987...it hung in my locker...it was Dan Hale's daughter; a picture of the family in the first row at his memorial, his draped casket a few feet away. The girl, maybe 4, 5, 6 years of age turned to one of the family and was reported to have asked, "Is my Daddy in there?" Prior to each shift, I looked at that picture and thought to myself, "Please Lord, not today, I am not ready for my child to ask that question..." Dan, its 2014, I've never forgotten the pic or what its meant..continue to Rest in Peace, Brother... RE #275 ESPD 1970-1987

Richard Estrada - Retired
El Segundo P.D.

May 19, 2014

Thank you for your service Officer Hale. You will always be remembered.

Yolanda Bautista-Traffic Division
SAPD-Traffic

November 12, 2013

I was close to Dan in high school and early college in the 1960’s. Back then his dream was to be a history teacher and he hadn’t yet felt the calling to go into law enforcement. But I’m not surprised that he chose law enforcement, as he was always one of the “good guys.” Even as a teen Dan stood out as a model of integrity and strong character. I’m sure these traits made him an exemplary police officer.

Dan always had a smile on his face and was easy going. He was just a nice, nice person and a good man. He had such a positive outlook on life and looked forward to the opportunities ahead. He was hard-working and determined to excel in life. How sad that his life was cut short.

I remember donating for his memorial many years ago. I hope that it was built and serves as an ongoing reminder of Dan’s service and sacrifice. His memory will live on. The world lost a good man when it lost Dan. We will never forget you, Dan. R.I.P.

Margaret Doss White
Friend

May 6, 2013

Dan and I joined SAPD upon leaving Bay Area Rapid Transit PD in 1975. I encouraged Dan to accompany me on the adventure to Santa Ana. Dan was shift supervisor, and we both felt the need to be Challenged and Santa Ana PD offered all that we desired and more.

Dan's Badge was#550 and I followed with Badge #551. The two of us were assigned to Area "C", Dan team #7 and I team #6. We both tested for Senior Ofc. II and promoted together. I still remember the conversations we enjoyed while walking to work
after arriving at his apt following my drive from Carson.

Judy and the kids had not arrived as of yet, so we spent more time with each other pending the relocation of his family. Dan was truly a jewel and was always a thoughtful person and fair mined to all.

This was a tremendous loss to me as a friend and an absolute loss to the Santa Ana Police Dept. and the citizens of the City of Santa Ana. Less not we forget!

Senior Ofc. Elbert "Moon" Hill
SAPD Brother In Arms

April 25, 2012