Archives: Fallen Officers

Ronald R. Wainscott

On January 12, 1931, Officer Ronald Wainscott, 27 years old, was responding to an emergency fire call when his vehicle broadsided a Cadillac Victoria Coupe in the intersection of Haley Street and De La Vina Street. The devastation was heightened by the high rate of speed both vehicles were traveling at as they entered the intersection.

Officer Wainscott and an occupant of the Cadillac were transported to Cottage Hospital where they later died of their injuries. The call Officer Wainscott was responding to was later determined to be a false alarm.

Richard Philpott

Officer Richard Philpott and his partner, Officer Charles Fife, received instructions over the Oakland Police Headquarters phone to proceed to a residence to patch up a family disturbance. They were met by a large crowd of neighbors and the family of the man of the household. The wife told the officers that her husband had been acting strangely that day and had beaten her. Her son said that his father was in the barn next to the house and that he had a shotgun. He said that the shotgun wasn’t loaded though.

The officers proceeded to the barn to address the man. As they stepped through the door, the information regarding the unloaded shotgun proved erroneous. Philpott was struck in the face by the shotgun blast. He fell to the ground, unconscious. Fife fired six rounds at the suspect, incapacitating him.

Philpott was rushed to Merritt Hospital, blinded and with almost 50 buckshot penetration wounds to his head. He died of his wounds the next day on January 7. He was survived by his wife and stepdaughter and stepson.

Perman C. Calderwood

At about 6:30 p.m. on December 22, 1930, Henry Krause, owner of Bear Malt Supply Company was alone in his store when two bandits entered. While one held Krause at gunpoint, the other raided the cash register of $35.00. The two fled on foot. Grabbing his own revolver, Krause pursued the robbers, eventually overtaking one. The robber feigned surrender, then as Kraus lowered his gun, fought back.

Deputy Calderwood was on his way home and happened to come upon the scuffle. He ran to the scene trying desperately to separate Krause and the suspect. A moment later the other bandit returned and fired a shot into Krause’s back and again disappeared. As Krause was shot he released his hold on the suspect, who drew out a knife and stabbed Calderwood, leaving the blade imbedded in his back.

Both suspects escaped but were eventually apprehended.  Robert O’Neill and William Hudson were convicted of first-degree murder and hanged at the Folsom Prison gallows.

Benjamin Mushaney

Sergeant Benjamin W. Mushaney, 30 year-old motorcycle officer, was shot in the chest with a rifle bullet while responding to a landlord-tenant dispute in the 1300 block of Hollister Street. The shooting occurred at 11:20 in the morning and involved a female tenant attempting to obtain a $2.00 refund from the suspect, the landlord.

As Mushaney approached the front portion of the home, the suspect fired at him from an open window. The soft-nosed bullet struck Mushaney in the chest, who then stumbled around the side of the house and collapsed, mortally wounded. The suspect then shot the female tenant, striking her in the back. The gunman barricaded himself in the residence and continued to shoot at responding officers and residents in the area. Officers from several jurisdictions arrived at the scene and eventually administered tear gas into the home. The suspect was ultimately shot and killed by officers as he fled the home on foot, still firing at officers.

Mushaney was one of the most popular and best liked officers on the San Fernando Police Department.

Edgar J. Combs

Edward J. Combs, 33, member of Kern Unit (Bakersfield), California State Highway Patrol, was injured fatally in a late night motorcycle accident. His motor turned over on the Golden State Highway (99) near Famosa, a tire blew out at a rail crossing, he was thrown 70 feet. He died early the next morning.

The accident occurred at the railroad-highway crossing 21 miles north of Bakersfield about 11:30 p.m. The motorcycle’s front tire exploded when it struck the tracks and the traffic officer volplaned more than 70 feet through the air and struck the pavement head first, fracturing his skull. He died about five hours later.

Combs had been employed with the Kern unit of the state system for about nine months. He was born in Missouri and lived in Bakersfield for the past 10 years. He was survived by his wife and two sons.