The night Officer Bill Bean died, Tuesday, Feb. 9, his brother Brandon and his mother were standing outside the officer's home frantically trying to get information about Bean's condition after learning about a shooting incident. Brandon said, "I turned and looked at the sky and I saw a falling star. One that burned brightly and streaked across the sky. That is my brother. he will burn brightly for eternity."
Bean died that night, fatally shot during a traffic stop. He was trying to talk to a "wanted subject" when he was gunned down. He was flown to UC Davis Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Deputy Chief Albert Najera said that Bean had been wearing "body armor" but a bullet entered through an arm hole and hit him behind his left shoulder.
The incident began when Bean and his partner, Officer David Hogge, spotted a man they were looking for driving alone. They signaled the driver to pull over. The driver did pull over briefly but then drove off. He continued along at about 25 mph with the police car, being driven by Hogge, close behind. Larry Gibbs, deputy chief of investigations, stated that a short time later, the driver pulled over for a second time.
Hogge stopped the police cruiser, and Bean got out of the passenger side and walked toward the car. At that point the driver started firing and Bean was hit, Gibbs reported. Hogge returned fire and tried to chase the suspect on foot.
More than five hours after the shooting, police arrested Dundell Wright, 35, on suspicion of homicide. He is a parolee facing a return trip to prison because of a parole violation. Police found Dundell under an air-conditioning unit in the backyard of a house near the incident. A 9 mm pistol believed to be the weapon used in the shooting was found nearby.
Approximately 5,000 fellow officers, friends and state and local dignitaries crowded into the Trinity Life Center on Tuesday, Feb. 16, for Bean's funeral service.
The service, which was projected at two hours, but ran more than three hours, was punctuated by the sorrowful cry of bagpipes and a bugler who played "Amazing Grace."
Gov. Gray Davis called Bean "a genuine American hero," and Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna Jr. offered his condolences as they presented flags to Bean's parents.
Bean was described by speakers as an eager and determined young man who doggedly pursued his goals, eventually winning over those around him.
Officer Lloyd Davis said of his colleague, "Super nice guy. You couldn't help but like him . . . He was very energetic."
Bean joined the Placer County Sheriff's Department in May 1991 and stayed until April 1995, when he joined the Sacramento Police Department.
Bean is survived by his mother, Kim Toms; father, Bill Bean Sr.; brothers, Chris and Brandon Bean; stepmother, Pam Bean; stepfather, Nick Toms; fiancee, Carrie Heimann; and three stepsisters.
Bean died that night, fatally shot during a traffic stop. He was trying to talk to a "wanted subject" when he was gunned down. He was flown to UC Davis Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Deputy Chief Albert Najera said that Bean had been wearing "body armor" but a bullet entered through an arm hole and hit him behind his left shoulder.
The incident began when Bean and his partner, Officer David Hogge, spotted a man they were looking for driving alone. They signaled the driver to pull over. The driver did pull over briefly but then drove off. He continued along at about 25 mph with the police car, being driven by Hogge, close behind. Larry Gibbs, deputy chief of investigations, stated that a short time later, the driver pulled over for a second time.
Hogge stopped the police cruiser, and Bean got out of the passenger side and walked toward the car. At that point the driver started firing and Bean was hit, Gibbs reported. Hogge returned fire and tried to chase the suspect on foot.
More than five hours after the shooting, police arrested Dundell Wright, 35, on suspicion of homicide. He is a parolee facing a return trip to prison because of a parole violation. Police found Dundell under an air-conditioning unit in the backyard of a house near the incident. A 9 mm pistol believed to be the weapon used in the shooting was found nearby.
Approximately 5,000 fellow officers, friends and state and local dignitaries crowded into the Trinity Life Center on Tuesday, Feb. 16, for Bean's funeral service.
The service, which was projected at two hours, but ran more than three hours, was punctuated by the sorrowful cry of bagpipes and a bugler who played "Amazing Grace."
Gov. Gray Davis called Bean "a genuine American hero," and Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna Jr. offered his condolences as they presented flags to Bean's parents.
Bean was described by speakers as an eager and determined young man who doggedly pursued his goals, eventually winning over those around him.
Officer Lloyd Davis said of his colleague, "Super nice guy. You couldn't help but like him . . . He was very energetic."
Bean joined the Placer County Sheriff's Department in May 1991 and stayed until April 1995, when he joined the Sacramento Police Department.
Bean is survived by his mother, Kim Toms; father, Bill Bean Sr.; brothers, Chris and Brandon Bean; stepmother, Pam Bean; stepfather, Nick Toms; fiancee, Carrie Heimann; and three stepsisters.
The night Officer Bill Bean died, Tuesday, Feb. 9, his brother Brandon and his mother were standing outside the officer's home frantically trying to get information about Bean's condition after learning about a shooting incident. Brandon said, "I turned and looked at the sky and I saw a falling star. One that burned brightly and streaked across the sky. That is my brother. he will burn brightly for eternity."
Bean died that night, fatally shot during a traffic stop. He was trying to talk to a "wanted subject" when he was gunned down. He was flown to UC Davis Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Deputy Chief Albert Najera said that Bean had been wearing "body armor" but a bullet entered through an arm hole and hit him behind his left shoulder.
The incident began when Bean and his partner, Officer David Hogge, spotted a man they were looking for driving alone. They signaled the driver to pull over. The driver did pull over briefly but then drove off. He continued along at about 25 mph with the police car, being driven by Hogge, close behind. Larry Gibbs, deputy chief of investigations, stated that a short time later, the driver pulled over for a second time.
Hogge stopped the police cruiser, and Bean got out of the passenger side and walked toward the car. At that point the driver started firing and Bean was hit, Gibbs reported. Hogge returned fire and tried to chase the suspect on foot.
More than five hours after the shooting, police arrested Dundell Wright, 35, on suspicion of homicide. He is a parolee facing a return trip to prison because of a parole violation. Police found Dundell under an air-conditioning unit in the backyard of a house near the incident. A 9 mm pistol believed to be the weapon used in the shooting was found nearby.
Approximately 5,000 fellow officers, friends and state and local dignitaries crowded into the Trinity Life Center on Tuesday, Feb. 16, for Bean's funeral service.
The service, which was projected at two hours, but ran more than three hours, was punctuated by the sorrowful cry of bagpipes and a bugler who played "Amazing Grace."
Gov. Gray Davis called Bean "a genuine American hero," and Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna Jr. offered his condolences as they presented flags to Bean's parents.
Bean was described by speakers as an eager and determined young man who doggedly pursued his goals, eventually winning over those around him.
Officer Lloyd Davis said of his colleague, "Super nice guy. You couldn't help but like him . . . He was very energetic."
Bean joined the Placer County Sheriff's Department in May 1991 and stayed until April 1995, when he joined the Sacramento Police Department.
Bean is survived by his mother, Kim Toms; father, Bill Bean Sr.; brothers, Chris and Brandon Bean; stepmother, Pam Bean; stepfather, Nick Toms; fiancee, Carrie Heimann; and three stepsisters.
Bean died that night, fatally shot during a traffic stop. He was trying to talk to a "wanted subject" when he was gunned down. He was flown to UC Davis Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Deputy Chief Albert Najera said that Bean had been wearing "body armor" but a bullet entered through an arm hole and hit him behind his left shoulder.
The incident began when Bean and his partner, Officer David Hogge, spotted a man they were looking for driving alone. They signaled the driver to pull over. The driver did pull over briefly but then drove off. He continued along at about 25 mph with the police car, being driven by Hogge, close behind. Larry Gibbs, deputy chief of investigations, stated that a short time later, the driver pulled over for a second time.
Hogge stopped the police cruiser, and Bean got out of the passenger side and walked toward the car. At that point the driver started firing and Bean was hit, Gibbs reported. Hogge returned fire and tried to chase the suspect on foot.
More than five hours after the shooting, police arrested Dundell Wright, 35, on suspicion of homicide. He is a parolee facing a return trip to prison because of a parole violation. Police found Dundell under an air-conditioning unit in the backyard of a house near the incident. A 9 mm pistol believed to be the weapon used in the shooting was found nearby.
Approximately 5,000 fellow officers, friends and state and local dignitaries crowded into the Trinity Life Center on Tuesday, Feb. 16, for Bean's funeral service.
The service, which was projected at two hours, but ran more than three hours, was punctuated by the sorrowful cry of bagpipes and a bugler who played "Amazing Grace."
Gov. Gray Davis called Bean "a genuine American hero," and Sacramento Mayor Joe Serna Jr. offered his condolences as they presented flags to Bean's parents.
Bean was described by speakers as an eager and determined young man who doggedly pursued his goals, eventually winning over those around him.
Officer Lloyd Davis said of his colleague, "Super nice guy. You couldn't help but like him . . . He was very energetic."
Bean joined the Placer County Sheriff's Department in May 1991 and stayed until April 1995, when he joined the Sacramento Police Department.
Bean is survived by his mother, Kim Toms; father, Bill Bean Sr.; brothers, Chris and Brandon Bean; stepmother, Pam Bean; stepfather, Nick Toms; fiancee, Carrie Heimann; and three stepsisters.
Bio by: Josephine
