California Highway Patrol – Santa Fe Springs
September 23, 2005

Officer David M. Romero, a 23-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol, was stopped at a red light on his department motorcycle when he was rear ended by a another vehicle. Officer Romero was flown to Los Angeles Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the vehicle was later arrested and charged with DUI of a controlled substance. Officer Romero was 47-years old and survived by his wife Sandra, three children, Austin, Windsor, and David, ages 20, 17, 8 and two stepchildren, Victor and Vanessa, ages 17.

Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement – Department of Justice
September 24, 2005

On the early morning of September 24, 2005, Special Agent William Garvey was involved in a fatal traffic accident. Special Agent Garvey was based out of the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement Los Angeles Regional Office and had completed an operation in San Luis Obispo when he was returning home in his state issued vehicle. Special Agent Garvey lost control of the vehicle when it crashed. Special Agent Garvey was 56-years old and survived by his wife Gail, daughter Natalie Garvey-DeLeon, son-in-law Franklin DeLeon and two grandchildren.

Tulare County Sheriff’s Department
October 6, 2005

Deputy Kevin Elium and Chaplain Leo Sorenson were responding to a call for back-up when they were involved in a traffic accident in Porterville. The investigation revealed that the radio car’s lights and sirens were on when Deputy Elium attempted to pass another car and lost control, slamming into a tree. Both men were pinned in the vehicle and once freed, were airlifted to University Medical Center where Deputy Elium later died. Chaplain Sorenson suffered major injuries to his ribs and chest. Deputy Elium was 34 years old and a five-year veteran of the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department. He is survived by his two children, 10 and 13.

Rocklin Police Department
October 9, 2005

Twenty-nine year old Officer Matthew Redding was assisting Citrus Heights police in a “high risk” traffic stop early on October 9. He was setting up cones to block a lane of traffic when he was hit by an alleged drunk driver who fled the scene. Eric Dungan was later arrested on suspicion of DUI of alcohol and felony hit-and-run driving. Officer Redding was taken to Sutter Roseville Medical Center where he died from his injuries. Officer Redding was a five-year veteran of the Rocklin Police Department and survived by his parents, brother and girlfriend of two years.

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department
October 11, 2005

Deputy Daniel Lobo, a second motor officer, and a deputy in a radio car, were responding, Code 3, to a traffic collision. The first motor swerved out of the way of a car that pulled out of a driveway but Deputy Lobo stuck the back of the car and was thrown 40 to 50 feet from his motorcycle. The driver of the car was not cited and an investigation is still in process. Officer Lobo is survived by his wife and three daughters, ages 13, 10, and 11 months.

Riverside City Fire Department
November 5, 2005

On November 5, 2005, Riverside City Fireman Eduardo Teran collapsed and went into full arrest while fighting a house fire. Fireman Teran succumbed to the fatal heart attack at the scene of the fire. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined the fire to be arson and are aggressively pursuing the case. Fireman Teran was a 15-year veteran. He is survived by his wife and 13-year old daughter.

California Highway Patrol – Valley Division Headquarters
November 17, 2005

On the afternoon of November 17, 2005, CHP Officer Andy Stevens was shot and killed while making a traffic stop in Yolo County. Officer Stevens pulled over the vehicle, which fled the incident. A citizen used Officer Stevens’ car radio to call for assistance. The following day, Brendt Anthony Volarvich of Roseville California, and Gregory Zielesch of Woodland California were arrested for Stevens’ murder. Also arrested was Lindsey Jan Montgomery for harboring and suspicion of homicide. Volarvich’s father, Dennis Volarvich was a former Los Altos police officer who resigned from the department, committed suicide after a standoff with police. He was suspected of robbing a bank. Officer Stevens was 37-years old and a 16-year veteran of the CHP. He is survived by his wife Michelle.

California Highway Patrol – Fort Tejon
December 21, 2005

Erick Manny was killed in a single vehicle accident when he swerved to avoid hitting a truck that cut him off during a high speed pursuit on Interstate Five near the Grapevine. Officer Manny’s vehicle rolled down an embankment and came to rest on the Grapevine exit off-ramp. Officer Manny was able to radio a description of the vehicle he was pursuing referring to it as a “failure to yield.” There was no further communications after that statement. Officer Erick Manny was 35-years old and a four-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol. He is survived by his wife, Ronian and two children, Toran, his 11-year old son, and Teagan, his eight-year old daughter.

California Highway Patrol – Santa Cruz
December 31, 2005

During the late evening hours of December 31, Lt. Michael Walker and Sgt. Mike Redel responded to a traffic collision on State Road 17 in the Santa Cruz Mountains. A CalTrans worker arrived to assist and parked behind the CHP vehicle. An oncoming driver lost control of his vehicle, hitting the CHP vehicle which then struck Lt. Walker, who was initiating a flare pattern. Lt. Walker later passed away at Dominican Hospital in Santa Cruz. The driver of the vehicle also succumbed to his injuries. Lt. Walker was a 24-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol and was 47-years old. He is survived by his wife, Michelle and two daughters, nine-year old Amanda and seven-year old Jennifer.

East Palo Alto Police Department
January 7, 2006

On the afternoon of January 7, Officer Richard May and a 14-year old Police Explorer were responding to a reported fight at a taqueria. When they arrived at the incident, Officer May followed the suspect, who was on foot, with his radio car. The suspect attempted to scale a fence and Officer May continued the pursuit on foot when the suspect turned and fired upon Officer May. The Explorer remained in the radio car, and was able to make the first call of “officer down” and provided a good description of the suspect which was credited with helping to apprehend the suspect. The suspect, Alberto Alvarez, was a known gang member and was on parole after serving 16-months in prison on drug and weapons charges. The Explorer Scout had been in the program for 18-months and logged over 650 hours in a radio car. Officer May had been a police officer for ten-years and a two-year veteran with the East Palo Alto Police Department. He is survived by his wife Dianna and three daughters, aged nine, 13, and 17.

California Highway Patrol – Modesto
February 17, 2006

In the early morning hours of February 17, 36-year old Officer Earl Scott was preparing to write a citation during a traffic stop on Highway 99 in Stanislaus County near Ripon when he was shot and killed. Later in the day, Columbus Junior Allen II walked into the Stockton, CA Police Department in connection with the shooting. Allen was later arrested. Officer Scott was a six-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol and prior to that, he was a reserve police officer with the Modesto California Police Department. He is survived by Bill and Terrie Scott (his father and stepmother), his sister, Lena Scott Tate and his grandmother, Margaret Whitney. Scott’s father and two uncles are retired from the California Highway Patrol and his cousin is a Sergeant in the CHP’s Stockton Office.

Los Angeles City Fire Department
February 23, 2006

On February 23, Fireboat Pilot Paul Zuliani passed away after a lengthy battle with duty-connected cancer. He was a 31-year veteran of the Los Angeles City Fire Department and is survived by his wife Barbara, whom he had first met in kindergarten, daughters Danielle, Tracey and Reina, his son Philip, grandchildren Camille and Anthony, his sister Diane, and his brothers Matt and Jim. Fireboat Pilot Zuliani was stationed at Fire Station 49 in the San Pedro Harbor.

California Highway Patrol – Rancho Cucamonga
February 25, 2006

Officer Gregory “John” Bailey was en route to his home in Victorville after completing his shift. Officer Bailey was on Interstate 15 where he made traffic stop on his CHP Motorcycle. A vehicle, driven at a high rate of speed by a drunk driver, hit the CHP motorcycle, the vehicle involved in the traffic stop (a Ford Ranger), and Officer Bailey. The DUI driver hit with such force, that the Ranger overturned and landed in the freeway lanes. The DUI driver reportedly had a blood alcohol level of more than twice the legal limit. Officer Bailey was 36-years old and just short of ten-years as a member of the California Highway Patrol. He is survived by his wife Teresa, daughters Hanna, 10; Megan, 8; and sons Jared, 6; and Dylan, 5.

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
March 13, 2006

While on duty at Parlin Fork Conservation Camp on March 13, Captain Patrick Henry, suffered a fatal heart attack. Captain Henry was transported to Mendocino Coast District Hospital in Fort Bragg, where he was pronounced dead. Captain Henry was 54-years old and a 23-year veteran of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. He is survived by his wife, Michelle, and four children, tom, Joe, Jehremy and Ariel.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – Lancaster Station
March 23, 2006

During the evening of March 23, Deputy Pierre Bain was pursuing a speeding car when he entered an intersection on a green light. Another vehicle along side Deputy Bain veered into his lane, and despite attempting to avoid the vehicle, it hit the motorcycle, which went down and eventually hit several trees on the side of the road. Deputy Baine suffered massive injuries and full cardiac arrest. He was 45-years old and a 14-year veteran of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department; He is survived by his wife and three daughters from a previous marriage.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department – Inmate Reception Center
March 28, 2006

At 6:00 AM on March 28, Long Beach Police responded to a person down report. Officers discovered Deputy Maria Rosa suffering from gunshot wounds. Deputy Rosa was transported to a local hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. At this time, it appears that robbery was the motive and Long Beach Homicide Detectives assisted by Los Angeles Sheriff’s Homicide Detectives are seeking two possible suspects seen riding bicycles in the area. One unidentified bicycle has been found near the scene. Deputy Rosa was 30-years old and five-year veteran of the LASD. She is survived by her two brothers and one sister.

Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department
March 30, 2006

Deputy Paul Wilms accidentally shot and killed himself while cleaning his gun at the Industry Sheriff Station’s Youth Center. Deputy Wilms was the All American Soap Box Derby Race director, Youth Activities League member, and a founding member of the Vital Intervention and Directional Alternatives (VIDA) program for at-risk youth. He was 38-years old and a 17-year veteran of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Wilms is survived by his wife, Gina, and two children, 11-year old Jazmyne and seven-year old Kyle.

Oceanside CA Fire Department
April 10, 2006

Captain Kurt Krebbs was found dead at his home from an apparent heart attack after he failed to appear for his scheduled shift. Firefighters from another engine went to his home when Capt. Krebbs failed to show up and found him. Krebbs was 45-years old and a 17-year veteran of the Oceanside Fire Department. He started his career with the Santa Fe Fire Department and was not married.

Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department
July 14, 2006

On the morning of July 14, Deputy David S. Piquette was killed after colliding with a big rig truck hauling cement. It is believed that the collision was caused by a stove that had fallen from another vehicle. Piquette’s car spun across several lanes of traffic in the vicinity of the stove and collided with the big rig. Firefighters worked for an hour and a half to free Deputy Piquette. Deputy Piquette was a ten-year veteran of the department and had worked at the Century Sheriff’s Station and at the Inmate Reception Center at the Jail. He is survived by his wife Shawna and three-year old twins, Justin and Jordan.

San Francisco Police Department
July 26, 2006

In the early morning of July 26, Officer Nick Birco, was killed when his patrol car was struck by a vanload of robbery suspects being chased by other officers. Officer Birco’s vehicle was struck in the rear quarter panel as the suspects’ van sped through an intersection. The impact of the crash caused Birco’s vehicle to spin 360 degrees, hit a curb and land on its side. Other officers arrived and administered CPR. Officer Birco was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The suspects were arrested after their vehicle hit two other buildings and two additional cars. Officer Birco was 39-years old and is survived by his parents, Tomasito and Zenalda Birco, Sister Holly Birco, sister and brother-in-law Christine and Mike Bryant and their three children. During his five-year career with the San Francisco Police Department, Officer Birco received a Police Commission Commendation, 11 Captain Complimentary awards and two letters from citizens impressed with his level of service and professionalism.

U.S. Forest Service
August 4, 2006

On the evening of August 4, 2006, Terry Wayne Jacobs and Andrei Pantchenko were piloting a Sikorsky CH-54 helicopter under contract to the U.S. Forest Service. The pilots were was in the process of conducting its second dip, refilling the aircraft’s water tanks while fighting the Titus Fire, when the crash occurred. Witnesses claimed they saw a large piece fall off the helicopter which was later identified as the tail rotor gearbox with three of the four tail rotor blades attached to the hub. The morning of the crash, the helicopter went through a series of maintenance and flight tests and the evening before the number one engine was replaced. Jacobs is survived by his finance Lucette Evans and his sister Sandra Santrock. He was 48-years old, from Wofford Heights in Kern County California and served two tours in Vietnam. Andrei Pantchenko was 38-years old and from Burns, Oregon. He was originally from Russia.

Los Angeles City Fire Department
August 4, 2006

On August 4, 2006, Brent Harris passed away after a two-year battle with cancer. Firefighter Harris was 39-years old and a 17-year veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department. He was station at Fire Station 48 as an Active Apparatus Operator. Brent is survived by his wife, Lori, and his children, Russell, Jacob, Adam, Corben and Bailey. The Harris’ were active in the Mission Hills Church.

California Highway Patrol – Oakland
August 6, 2006

Officer Brent Clearman was investigating a minor traffic accident on the 66th Avenue on-ramp of Interstate 880 in Oakland at 10:30 p.m. on August 5, 2006. He was standing on the far left side of the on-ramp when a passing vehicle struck him. He was admitted to Highland Hospital in critical condition and early Sunday morning succumbed to his injuries. Officer Clearman, who was 33-years old, had served 12-years in the Marines, two tours in Iraq, and was a decorated sharpshooter, is survived by his wife Cathy, a CHP dispatcher. He was an officer with the California Highway Patrol for less than two years.