Archives: Fallen Officers

Walter R. Grider

On April 13, 1933, Sgt. Grider was accidentally slain by an armed citizen who was assisting him in the yard search for a burglary suspect.

Jack E. Marks

Officer Jack B. Marks was patrolling on his motorcycle in tandem with Officer Frank Freeman along Foothill Boulevard in Cucamonga. Marks’ wind visor apparently became interlocked with the handlebars on Freeman’s motorcycle and the accidental contact caused both officers to be thrown to the ground. Freeman suffered collar and shoulder injuries, but Marks died before he reached the hospital. Officer Marks, 34, had been a police officer with the city of Colton in l921 and an officer with the county motor patrol squad in 1924. He was made a Highway Patrol officer in 1929 when the county squad merged with the CHP.

John A. Daroux

Officer John A. Daroux was struck by a vehicle that was closely following the patrolman along Auburn Boulevard in Sacramento. Apparently the brakes on Daroux’s motorcycle locked abruptly and the vehicle behind him was unable to slow and avoid striking the motorcycle. The 36-year-old patrolman was rushed to the hospital but died two days later without regaining consciousness. Daroux had served as a sergeant in the army air service in France during World War I.

Ted Davis

Officer Ted Davis, 37, was carrying out the emergency assignment of escorting doctors and nurses through rubble-strewn streets following the 1933 Long Beach earthquake. Davis’ motorcycle struck a hole in the pavement that had been damaged by the quake, throwing him to the ground and killing him instantly.

Federick C. Porter

On March 10, 1933, Special Officer Porter was called upon by Police Chief Webb to fly to Long Beach to provide assistance to those recovering from a major and devastating earthquake. He was to also check the well-being of Santa Monica residents who were working at the Puget Sound Bridge & Dredging Co., which was supplying rock for the breakwater in Santa Monica. He took off in foggy conditions. Witnesses saw his plane close to the ground; it rose and upon coming down knocked its landing gear off. The plane cart-wheeled and burst into flames.

Stephen S. Kent

Officer Stephen S. Kent, 41, was assisting in the pursuit of a suspect sought in three states for bank robbery and kidnapping. Kent stopped the suspect vehicle in Yreka, but as he approached, the suspect opened fire. killing the patrolman instantly. The killer was captured, stood trial and convicted of murder. He was sentenced to death and executed at Folsom Prison in 1936.