Archives: Fallen Officers

David R. Henderson

Officer David R. Henderson was killed when his motorcycle collided with an automobile driven by a motorist who pulled into his lane of traffic after deliberately passing a bus that had stopped to load and unload passengers. Henderson, 33, joined the CHP in 1942 after serving two years with the Burbank Police Department. He had also previously served as a Deputy Fish and Game Warden with the County of Los Angeles.

Lewis Gregg

Officer Lewis W. Gregg collided with a vehicle that turned suddenly in front of the motorcycle officer without signaling. Gregg was killed almost instantly. The 40-year-old patrol officer had joined the CHP two years earlier after previously working as a clerk in the traffic court in the city of San Diego.

John A. Reed

Officer John A. Reed had activated his red light and siren and begun his pursuit of a speeding automobile when he collided with a vehicle that turned left in front of his motorcycle. Reed was critically injured and died the following day. The 35-year-old patrol officer had joined the CHP in 1941 after prior service as a state police officer in Sacramento.

Wallace J. Muscovich

Officer Wallace J. Muscovich was off duty and walking on Franklin Street near 10th on April 16, 1944 when he heard a gunshot. He saw a man run out of a second-hand clothing store, stop, turn, and fire a round at the proprietor. The proprietor fell to the ground. The shooter ran south on Franklin followed by a young woman. Muscovich commandeered a passing car, jumped on the running board, and gave chase. He lost sight of the woman, but followed the suspect to a hotel, and confronted him in the second floor hallway.

Muscovich, described as a crack shot, fired three times at the armed suspect and dropped him. The suspect was able to fire twice at Muscovich, hitting him both times. The officer and the suspect were transported to Highland Hospital, and Oakland P.D. officers conducted an intense search for the female.

Investigators soon established that the suspect had attempted to rob the clothing store, and that his female accomplice was an escapee from a state institution.

Muscovich received massive blood transfusions from his brother officers. He hovered between life and death for a week, finally succumbing to his wounds on April 23. He was survived by his wife and 8-year-old son.

A native of Vilna, Poland, Muscovich was appointed to the Oakland Police Department as an “emergency patrolman” in June 1943; that is, he was a replacement for a regular officer who had been called into service for the war effort. He was a former professional wrestler who went by the name of “Ivan Managoff.”

Forest Underwood

Sergeant Forest M. Underwood was shot and killed by a criminal wanted for kidnapping and robbery. Underwood, 41, was writing a parking citation when a taxi abruptly pulled along side. The driver jumped out, shouting excitedly that a robber was inside his cab. The suspect immediately opened fire, felling Underwood with two shots. Though mortally wounded, the patrol officer returned fire but his shots missed his assailant. While he lay dying, Underwood noted the license number of the getaway car and a description of the murderer at the bottom of the parking citation he had been writing.

Forrest C. Gerken

Officer Forrest C. Gerken was on motorcycle patrol nearing the intersection of Oak Grove Avenue and the Bay Shore Highway when the driver of a pickup truck turned across the corner of an intersection and crashed head-on into the patrolman. Officer Gerken was killed instantly. Gerken had entered the Patrol in 1942 and died just two days before his 46th birthday. He served on the Bay Bridge prior to transferring to San Mateo. Officer Forrest Gerken’s son is retired CHP Officer Cliff Gerken (3778).