Archives: Fallen Officers
Alvin Foss
Officer Alvin Foss, 23, was preparing to go on duty when his revolver fell from its holster, struck the concrete floor, and discharged a round that struck the officer in the head. The weapon apparently fell on the back of the handle, jarring the firing pin firmly enough to trigger the fatal bullet. Foss joined the CHP a year earlier and had recently transferred to duty on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge from Los Angeles.
Jesse M. Ream
Officer Jesse M. Ream was riding his motorcycle in pursuit of a traffic violator on February 28, 1950, when he struck another vehicle that was making a U-turn in front of him. Ream was dead on arrival.
Clayton H. Yearick
Elbert J. Hall
George Gustave Bredenberg Jr.
In 1949, Turlock Police Department lost three officers in a tragic vehicle accident.
While they were responding to a prowler call, Officers Joe E. Kerley, 61, Glenn E. Winans, 39, and George G. Bredenberg Jr., 37, struck a train while traveling in the dense fog.
Officers Kerley and Winans died at the scene. Officer Bredenberg Jr. died 51 hours later from his injuries.
The impact was so great that it derailed the refrigerator car and broke the train’s wheels on the opposite side. Bredenberg was in the back seat, which is the reason he wasn’t killed instantly.
Bredenberg’s shift began at midnight, and Kerley and Winans’ shift ended at midnight. This prowler call came in right before midnight and Officer Bredenberg went with the other officers to assist with the call. They had planned on dropping Officer Kerley off at his home right after this call.
Officer Kerley’s wife died in 1945. He was survived by his son Joe E. Kerley Jr. and two brothers, Albert of San Diego, and Will of Oklahoma.
Officer Glenn E. Winans was survived by his wife, Ruby, and four children Glenn D. Winans, 20, Dale Winans, 19, Dara, 11 and Nina, 8.
Officer George G. Bredenberg Jr. was survived by his wife, Mildred D. Bredenberg, and two sons Jack R., 3, and George G. III, 5 months.
Glenn E. Winans
In 1949, Turlock Police Department lost three officers in a tragic vehicle accident.
While they were responding to a prowler call, Officers Joe E. Kerley, 61, Glenn E. Winans, 39, and George G. Bredenberg Jr., 37, struck a train while traveling in the dense fog.
Officers Kerley and Winans died at the scene. Officer Bredenberg Jr. died 51 hours later from his injuries.
The impact was so great that it derailed the refrigerator car and broke the train’s wheels on the opposite side. Bredenberg was in the back seat, which is the reason he wasn’t killed instantly.
Bredenberg’s shift began at midnight, and Kerley and Winans’ shift ended at midnight. This prowler call came in right before midnight and Officer Bredenberg went with the other officers to assist with the call. They had planned on dropping Officer Kerley off at his home right after this call.
Officer Kerley’s wife died in 1945. He was survived by his son Joe E. Kerley Jr. and two brothers, Albert of San Diego, and Will of Oklahoma.
Officer Glenn E. Winans was survived by his wife, Ruby, and four children Glenn D. Winans, 20, Dale Winans, 19, Dara, 11 and Nina, 8.
Officer George G. Bredenberg Jr. was survived by his wife, Mildred D. Bredenberg, and two sons Jack R., 3, and George G. III, 5 months.
Joe E. Kerley
In 1949, Turlock Police Department lost three officers in a tragic vehicle accident.
While they were responding to a prowler call, Officers Joe E. Kerley, 61, Glenn E. Winans, 39, and George G. Bredenberg Jr., 37, struck a train while traveling in the dense fog.
Officers Kerley and Winans died at the scene. Officer Bredenberg Jr. died 51 hours later from his injuries.
The impact was so great that it derailed the refrigerator car and broke the train’s wheels on the opposite side. Bredenberg was in the back seat, which is the reason he wasn’t killed instantly.
Bredenberg’s shift began at midnight, and Kerley and Winans’ shift ended at midnight. This prowler call came in right before midnight and Officer Bredenberg went with the other officers to assist with the call. They had planned on dropping Officer Kerley off at his home right after this call.
Officer Kerley’s wife died in 1945. He was survived by his son Joe E. Kerley Jr. and two brothers, Albert of San Diego, and Will of Oklahoma.
Officer Glenn E. Winans was survived by his wife, Ruby, and four children Glenn D. Winans, 20, Dale Winans, 19, Dara, 11 and Nina, 8.
Officer George G. Bredenberg Jr. was survived by his wife, Mildred D. Bredenberg, and two sons Jack R., 3, and George G. III, 5 months.
Robert T. Mackie
Marlin Leroy Evans
Officer Marlin Evans and his partner were questioning a burglary suspect on July 17, 1949, when the suspect pulled a gun and shot Evans. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at Seaside Hospital.