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.
Archives: Fallen Officers
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.
Thomas C. Bissett
Officer Thomas C. Bisset was patrolling on his regular beat in Chico when he suffered a paralyzing stroke. Bisset’s condition improved and he appeared close to recovery when a second stroke took his life. Bisset was 42 years old and a 10-year veteran of the CHP. Prior to joining the Patrol, he had been a peace officer in Gridley.
Edward J. Moore, Jr.
Patrolman Edward J. Moore Jr. was shot and killed on Jan. 15, while arresting a robbery suspect. He had just gotten off duty and was still in uniform when he spotted the suspect. He patted him down and confiscated a .32 caliber handgun.
As he was handcuffing the man, the suspect grabbed the gun and shot him in the chest several times.
Moore was able to chase the suspect for about a block before collapsing. Other officers responding to the scene arrested the suspect. Moore was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries eight days later after contracting pneumonia.
Moore had been in law enforcement for 10 years.
His wife and two children survived him.
Floyd A. Russell
Officer Floyd A. Russell, 35, was chasing a speeder on Pomona Valley Boulevard when he was struck by an automobile that turned in his path without signaling. Russell was thrown from his motorcycle and died a few hours later. Reckless-driving charges were filed against the motorist.
James H. Nerison
Paul T. Lee
Lieutenant Lee was shot and killed by a robbery suspect.
Lieutenant Lee and another officer went to a apartment to question
a woman as to the whereabouts of a wanted man. Another man who was
in the apartment, an ex-convict wanted for several robberies,
apparently thought the officers were after him and opened fire as
soon as the door was opened. The suspect escaped in his
vehicle.
On Febuary 4, 1933, the suspect and his partner were killed in a
gun battle with police in Los Angeles.
Rudolph G. “C.A.” Vejar Sr.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Rudolph “Cookie” Vejar was assigned to Sheriff’s Headquarters at the time of his murder. It is unclear whether Deputy Vejar was off-duty or working undercover at a speakeasy. At dawn, two men held Vejar and four others hostage while they demanded the night’s receipts. The owner told them that the money had already been collected. But the robbers did not believe him and one held his bare foot to a lighted match to obtain the truth. The victim screamed and was pistol-whipped. During the commotion, Deputy Vejar drew his revolver and shot one robber dead while the second suspect shot Vejar in the mouth. Mortally wounded, Vejar returned fire, hitting the suspect in the chest.
Clarence Jensen
On October 16, 1932, Traffic Officer Clarence Jensen and his partner were monitoring traffic on Milpas Street when they noticed a violation. Both officers attempted to stop the vehicle which accelerated quickly turning the traffic stop into a pursuit. As speeds reached 65 mph Officer Jensen’s motorcycle began to wobble. Officer Jensen lost control of the motor and it jumped 30 feet and slid an additional 166 feet.
Officer Jensen was transported to Cottage Hospital where he died of his injuries two days later.
Sadly, it was on January 12, 1931 that Officer Jensen was one of the first officers to arrive at the accident which killed his co-worker Officer Ronald Wainscott.