On Saturday, January 14, 1978, Officer Jay Warren Jackson #154 was working as a patrol officer for the West Covina Police Department. At approximately 0232 hours, another patrol officer for the West Covina Police Department attempted to conduct a vehicle stop at Orange Avenue and Garvey Avenue South. The driver of the vehicle failed to yield and a pursuit ensued. Officer Jackson joined the pursuit as it traveled on the eastbound I10 freeway. The suspect exited at Holt Avenue and spun out just north of Garvey Avenue South. The suspect exited his vehicle and hid behind it. The suspect opened fire on responding officers, including Officer Jackson as he approached. Officer Jackson was shot and fatally wounded by the suspect. The suspect was killed by return fire from officers at the scene. It was later learned that the suspect fled from a psychiatric care facility and made suicidal threats to his family and friends.

Officer Jay Jackson was raised in West Covina and attended West Covina schools. He served in the United States Army for three years, receiving an honorable discharge in 1971 as a sergeant (E-5). Officer Jackson previously served four years as a police officer with the City of Azusa, working in the patrol division as a training officer.

Officer Jackson was 29 years old. He was cremated and his ashes were scattered at Lake Cachuma in Santa Barbara County.

Officer William B. Wolff, III was returning to his vehicle after making an enforcement stop along the San Bernardino Freeway when he was struck and killed by a drunk driver. The force of the impact was such that Wolff was thrown over the vehicle he cited and killed instantly. The 32-year-old patrol officer had joined the CHP four years earlier and had served in the Baldwin Park Area since graduating from the Academy. The motorist who killed Officer Wolff was charged with felony drunk driving.

Deputy Dee Hurdle was assigned to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Lynwood Station at the time of his murder. When his regular partner called-in sick, Deputy Hurdle teamed up with Deputy Sheriff Trainee Johnny Brown. They were on patrol when they noted suspicious movements and something being thrown from a vehicle with two occupants. The deputies circled around and approached the vehicle from the front. At that point, the vehicle had only one occupant. As the deputies exited their patrol car to investigate, a man appeared from behind the suspect car, firing at them. The deputies returned fire. Although the suspects escaped temporarily, one of them was wounded in the exchange of gunfire. Deputy Hurdle, although wearing a ballistic vest, was shot in the shoulder, the bullet deflected down into his chest. He died from his wound. Deputy Brown was hit in the leg and shoulder. A large containment of the area was established by deputies responding to the call for assistance. The suspects were apprehended (one as the result of assisting deputies following the blood trail from his wounds). The two suspects were subsequently arrested and charged murder of a police officer and possession of PCP.

Daniel A. Hale, was a thirty-one year old Santa Ana Police Officer who died of a gun shot wound inflicted on November 12, 1977. Officer Hale, a ten year veteran of the department, had responded to a burglary in progress call at a local residence. While searching the interior of the house he was shot by the suspect(s). Both subjects were shot by other officers and died of their wounds.

Officer Hale is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Lynn Lewis was assigned to the Lynwood Station at the time of his death. Deputy Lewis was en route home from a Chief of Police Conference in which he was a volunteer. He died in a fatal traffic collision when he lost control of his car and struck a freeway directional standard.

Officer George W. Redding responded to an accident call where a vehicle had crashed into a telephone pole. Redding had just gotten out of his patrol car when a passing vehicle struck the downed telephone support cable causing it to snap and whip across the road. The flying cable struck the patrol officer, wrapped around his ankles and hurled him into the air before throwing him to the ground. Officer Redding, 43, was killed almost instantly.

A Memorial posted on Highway 273 between mile markers 6.50 and 10.50 in Shasta County will forever honor him. His son, Mark, is now a CHP Officer in the Redding area, having joined the Highway Patrol in 1985.

Investigator Dierkes was struck and killed by a drunk driver. The drunk driver crossed the center line and struck his department vehicle head-on.
Investigator Dierkes had been with the agency for almost three years and was survived by his wife.