Officers Gayle W. Wood and James F. McCabe were on air-traffic patrol, making their last run before quitting at dusk when their CHP helicopter crashed and burned near Castaic Lake on Interstate 5. The helicopter struck a power line support that apparently was not visible in the approaching darkness. Officer Wood, the 41-year-old pilot, was a 10-year veteran of the Patrol and had been a CHP pilot for five years. Officer McCabe, the 34-year-old observer, had been a member of the Patrol for seven years and a helicopter observer for six months.

Officers Gayle W. Wood and James F. McCabe were on air-traffic patrol, making their last run before quitting at dusk when their CHP helicopter crashed and burned near Castaic Lake on Interstate 5. The helicopter struck a power line support that apparently was not visible in the approaching darkness. Officer Wood, the 41-year-old pilot, was a 10-year veteran of the Patrol and had been a CHP pilot for five years. Officer McCabe, the 34-year-old observer, had been a member of the Patrol for seven years and a helicopter observer for six months.

On Monday, August 7, 1978, Sergeant Darlon “Dee” Dowell became the first Ventura police officer killed in the line of duty.

On August 6, four men tried to rob a businessman making a night deposit at the Bank of America on Victoria Avenue. The robbery was interrupted and the four suspects fled; two were apprehended immediately but Robert K. Lee, 22, and Keith Kuhne, 20, escaped.

The next day a team of seven Ventura police officers served arrest and search warrants on the two outstanding suspects. Sergeant Dowell, Detective Don Bales, Detective Carl Handy, and Officer Gary McCaskill approached the front door of the suspects’ house at 154 N. Olive while Sergeant Art “A. J.” Farrar, Detective John Leach, and Officer Don Arth set up a perimeter around the residence. Officers entered the home and were detaining Kuhne in the living room when Lee fired a shotgun from a darkened hallway, fatally wounding Sergeant Dowell. Lee then ran through the house, crashed through a rear window, and was shot and killed by pursuing officers.

At the time of his death, Sergeant Dowell, 32, was a nine-year veteran of the Ventura Police Department. We will remember him as a dedicated police officer, devoted husband, and loving father to his two young children.

The City of San Buenaventura named Dowell Drive, the location of police headquarters, in Dee’s honor in 1979.

Officer Nicholas Paul Cecchetti was killed with a single bullet to his side which penetrated his heart killing him almost immediately while serving a narcotics search warrant August 3, 1978. The murderer was arrested shortly thereafter and was charged with first-degree murder. A change of venue was granted and the trial was held in Fresno County where the murderer was convicted and sentenced to life without parole.

Officer Cecchetti left behind his wife Cathy, sons Nicholas Jr. and Brandon and also his brother Michael and sister Julianne along with his parents, Julio and Meredyth Cecchetti.

His funeral was held at the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Stockton and was attended by over 1,200 mourners, which included police officers from all across the nation and state.

Officer Checchetti was born and raised in Stockton. He graduated from Lincoln High School, San Joaquin Delta College and late California State University Sacramento with a degree in Public Administration.

The family feels a sense of peace knowing his name rests alongside other officers from California who had fallen since statehood was granted.

Officer Ward E. Washington was killed when a truck blew a tire and the driver lost control, hurtling the truck off the Pomona Freeway and striking Officer Washington as he was having lunch at an outdoor restaurant. Ironically, Washington, 39, had been assigned to reduce truck accidents by inspecting the vehicles in truck yards and on the roads for safety violations.

Officers Harold F. Horine and William F. Leiphardt, Jr., both 39 years old, were partners working out of the Baldwin Park Area office. Horine and Leiphardt were investigating a roadside crash involving an abandoned vehicle when a passing tractor and trailer swerved onto the shoulder, smashed into the abandoned car, and rammed it into the patrol officers. Horine and Leiphardt were both killed instantly. Officer Horine had been a member of the Patrol for 10 years, and Officer Leiphardt had 12 years of service with the CHP. The truck driver was charged with felony drunk driving and manslaughter.

Officers Harold F. Horine and William F. Leiphardt, Jr., both 39 years old, were partners working out of the Baldwin Park Area office. Horine and Leiphardt were investigating a roadside crash involving an abandoned vehicle when a passing tractor and trailer swerved onto the shoulder, smashed into the abandoned car, and rammed it into the patrol officers. Horine and Leiphardt were both killed instantly. Officer Horine had been a member of the Patrol for 10 years, and Officer Leiphardt had 12 years of service with the CHP. The truck driver was charged with felony drunk driving and manslaughter.

Deputy Wally Hannan was assigned to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Carson Station at the time of his death. While driving code-3 on Avalon Boulevard en route to assist a fellow deputy, a vehicle turned in front of Deputy Hannan. He swerved to avoid the other car, lost control of the patrol car and collided with a metal utility pole. Deputy Ernie Archuleta, who was Deputy Hannan’s partner, was severely injured in the collision and medically retired.