Reprinted from The Sacramento Bee
February 26, 1982

Two Highway Patrol searchers who were killed while responding to reports of a downed military helicopter apparently were victims of a hoax, authorities said Thursday.

California Highway Patrol rescue pilot George R. Carey, 46, and observer Kenneth L. Archer, 43, died Wednesday night, when their chopper crashed while they searched Harper Dry Lake, 30 miles from Barstow, said fellow officer Charlie Page. The cause of the crash was not known.

Military officials in the area 125 miles northeast of Los Angeles reported no aircraft missing Thursday and said none reported any problems Wednesday night.

“It appears like it may have been a hoax,” San Bernardino County sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Mahoney said of the reported military helicopter crash.

“The original report – we got three, to the CHP, the Fire Department and the Sheriff’s Department – came in from truck drivers who had monitored a CB call,” Mahoney said. “The report was that there was a military helicopter crashed and four people were injured . . . near Black Canyon.”

Sheriff’s ground crews searched all night for the military chopper and were joined by two helicopters at daylight, but found nothing.

“We have not found anything. All local (military) aircraft are accounted for,” he said.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Kenneth Ell was assigned to the Lennox Station at the time of his death. Deputies Ell and Thomas Hart confronted an armed felonious assault suspect in the darkness. When the suspect drew a handgun and pointed it at Deputy Ell, Deputy Hart opened fire. After the ensuing confusion and escape of the suspect, Deputy Ell was found on the ground, dead of a gunshot wound to the head. Subsequent investigation proved the bullet had come from his partner’s revolver.

Officer Lloyd M. Lund was riding his police motorcycle southbound on the 405 Freeway when he was pushed by a gust of wind making him lose control of his vehicle on October 30, 1981. Lund steered left attempting to regain control and flipped his motorcycle onto its left side. Lund was fatally injured when he struck the freeway fence divider.

Deputy Michael Wilson, 31, and his training officer, Deputy Chris Hill were involved in a fatal accident. Their patrol car was hit head-on by a speeding drunk driver. Mike Wilson died as a result of his injuries, Hill was seriously injured.

Deputy Wilson had been with the Sheriff’s department only six weeks when he was killed. He and his training officer Chris Hill, were on their way to Lake Isabella, and an 18 year old woman with a car load of kids, hit him head on. The driver was intoxicated.

The small patrol car was no match for the Cadillac she was driving. The impact was so great that the steering wheel was driven into Wilson’s chest. He also suffered massive head injuries which were ultimately the cause of death. He was conscious for the hour and fifteen minutes it took them to extricate him from his vehicle with the jaws of life. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Kern Medical center in Bakersfield Ca. The irony of this incident is Dep. Wilson wasn’t scheduled to be on duty. Being a rookie, he wanted to make a good impression on his commanding officers. So when the request was made for someone to go and pick up a transfer in Lake Isabella, he offered to go. It was the last of the many good and honorable things he would do.

Deputy Wilson was survived by his wife, Rhonda Wilson-Shirley. Daughters Kelly Wilson Jackson and Kristen Wilson Jones, his parents Jack and Lois Wilson, brothers Tom Wilson and Doug Wilson.

Officer Johnny R. Martinez and his partner Officer James Szabo were clearing debris obstructing the San Bernardino Freeway in East Los Angeles when a vehicle pulled alongside the two officers and the three occupants opened fire at point-blank range. Martinez, 33, was fatally wounded and died the next day. Szabo, 27, who was wearing a bullet-proof vest, received a neck wound and recovered. An intense manhunt ensued for the killers. One of the suspects and a companion later was killed in a shoot-out in Salt Lake City. Officer Martinez was a four-year member of the CHP.

During the early morning of July 4, 1981, Officer John R. Hissong II, was dispatched to a disturbance/vandalism at the Ramada Inn in north Fresno. Upon arriving Hissong was directed to the rear of the motel where the incident was supposed to have taken place.

While investigating, and prior to assisting officers arrival, Hissong located the suspect who immediately fled on foot across the motel property. Hissong gave chase and captured the suspect after running only 150 feet at which time he apparently suffered a heart attack and collapsed with the suspect pinned under him.

Assisting officers arrived about this time and pulled Hissong off the suspect. Hissong was unconscious and had labored breathing and immediate aid was summoned. The assisting officers administered CPR when his breathing stopped within a minute of his collapse, but they were unable to revive him.

Paramedics arrived and continued the CPR until Hissong was taken to St. Agnes Medical Center less than two miles from the scene. CPR and other efforts were attempted for more than 2 1/2 hours without his ever regaining consciousness. He was pronounced dead at approximately 6:30 a.m. after all hopes of any response were apparent.

Hissong joined the Fresno Police Department on March 1, 1979, with prior service with the Weld County Sheriffs Department in Colorado. He left that department as a patrol sergeant and had been named the Outstanding Young Law Enforcement Officer of 1978 by the Weld County Chamber of Commerce.

On joining the Fresno Police Department, he attended the Butte Police Academy in Chico, California. After the academy he was assigned to the field operations division (patrol) where he worked at the time of his death.

Hissong was the recipient of numerous commendations, and because of his past experience and strong personality, he was an inspiration to many of his fellow officers who prospered from his friendship, and feel deeply the pain of his loss.

Hissong’s funeral was held on July 8, 1981. Those in attendance, along with his family and friends, were members of the Fresno Police Department and outlying agencies; more than 300 uniformed officers.

Hissong’s survivors include his wife, Suzanne; daughter, Hilary, 4-years-old; son, Jonathon, 11-months-old; mother Mrs. Jack Hissong; brother, James; and sister, Patty.

In the late afternoon of June 27, 1981, Oakland officers were sent a second time to a residence regarding a boyfriend-girlfriend dispute. Officers Michael Faulkner and Dennis Dutra arrived at the scene and learned that the disturbing party was gone. Faulkner began a search of the area. Dutra learned where the subject resided and passed the information to Faulkner by radio. Dutra placed the girlfriend in his vehicle and proceeded over to the suspect’s residence.

As Dutra pulled onto the street where the suspect resided, he saw Faulkner’s car stopped in the middle of the street. Faulkner had a shirtless male stopped at the rear of his vehicle. The girlfriend of the suspect pointed to him and made a positive identification.

At that point, the subject began to walk hurriedly away from Faulkner. While doing so he reached inside his pants and began to pull out a large handgun. He spun around and began to fire on Faulkner. Faulkner and Dutra returned fire. The suspect fell to the ground, dead. Dutra looked over and saw Faulkner on the ground. He went to his aid and saw that he had suffered a serious gunshot wound to the head.

Faulkner, a 9-year veteran of Oakland Police Department, died of his wound while enroute to the hospital. He was survived by his wife and three children.