Archives: Fallen Officers

E.L. Shryver

Captain E. L. Shryver was directing traffic on U.S. Highway 101 in Sonoma County when he was struck by a vehicle and thrown under the trailer it was pulling. Shryver, 46, battled his injuries for two months before he succumbed. A veteran motorcycle officer with 13 years experience, he had recently qualified as district inspector and was first on the promotional list. Shryver was also an expert pistol shot and represented the CHP at several national pistol matches.

Leonard Lewis Nelson

Officer Leonard Lewis Nelson and his partner, Officer L.L. Jordan, were working the graveyard shift in Artesia when they stopped a suspected drunk driver at 2:30 a.m. Nelson was administering the sobriety test to the suspect when a vehicle driven by a second drunk driver crashed into the pair. Both the 30-year-old patrol officer and the driver he had been testing were killed.

Owen F. McManus

The Nevada State Journal, April 1, 1938 headline reads, “Sacramento Cop and Tramp are Slain”

On March 31, 1938 Special Officer Frank B. French stopped an armed man identified as Jasper Spees of Pocatello, Idaho who was prowling the railroad tracks east of Sacramento.  Special Officer McManus had just alighted from a passing freight train when he saw Spees level his rifle at French.  McManus raised his revolver at Specs who turned and fired at him.  Although shot twice, McManus returned fire hitting Spees in the head, killing him instantly.  McManus died a short time later in a Sacramento hospital.

Carleton J. Bruce

Chico Police Officer Carleton J. (Dick) Bruce, 36, was shot to death while answering disturbance call at a local restaurant.

The shooting occurred at 7:15 p.m. as Bruce, and Chico PD Officer Tom Jones entered the restaurant to investigate reports that a man was brandishing a .30-.30 rifle. As they entered the restaurant, Elmer Schutrum, 55, suddenly turned and fired on the officers, striking Bruce in the stomach. A brief gunfight ensued between Schutrum and Ofc. Jones until the suspect was grabbed from behind by the owner of the restaurant and the bartender.

Bruce was mortally wounded and died a short time later at a local hospital.

Schtrum was taken into custody. At approximately 8:55 p.m., officers discovered that Schutrum had killed himself in his cell.

E.R. “Ed” Carr

Sergeant E. R. “Ed” Carr, 57, was investigating a stalled vehicle on the Golden State Highway Pass near Fresno when he was struck and killed by a passing automobile. The 17-year-old driver of the automobile claimed he did not see Carr as he walked toward the stalled vehicle, although investigating officers found a lighted flashlight in the patrolman’s hand. Carr was a 12-year CHP veteran and had just been promoted to the rank of sergeant one day before he was killed.