Officer Keith M. Giles was patrolling on the graveyard shift and stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation shortly after 2 a.m. Giles was standing on the left side of the stopped vehicle when a passing car drifted over the edge of the roadway and struck the patrol officer. killing him almost instantly. The errant driver apparently dozed off and may have been driving under the influence of alcohol. Officer Giles, 34, was a four-year member of the CHP.

Deputy Edward Schrader was hired by Riverside County Sheriff on February 20, 1973. He employed with this department for 17 months. Deputy Schrader was assigned to the Elsinore Station.

Deputy Schrader attended the Riverside Sheriff’s 55th Basic Academy in the fall of 1973. He began his career with Riverside County Sheriff and did not work for any other agency. Deputy Schrader received numerous commendations from citizens while employed with this department.

On July 11, 1974, Deputy Schrader responded to a family disturbance call in Rancho California. A man and wife were arguing over custody of their children. The wife called the Elsinore Station for assistance. When Deputy Schrader arrived, he talked to the wife about the disturbance. Deputy Schrader was informed by a neighbor that the husband (suspect) was hiding. When Deputy Schrader tried to locate the suspect, he was “surprised” by the suspect. The suspect eventually got Deputy Schrader’s gun and shot him. Deputy Schrader was killed instantly.

Deputy Schrader was survived by his wife, Sheryl. They did not have children. Deputy Schrader was also survived by his parents, one brother and two sisters. Deputy Schrader was born in Lynwood, California.

Officer Ralph D. Percival had just completed writing a citation to a traffic violator and was returning to his motorcycle when he was struck and killed by a drunk driver. The 44-year-old patrol officer was a 17-year CHP veteran and had worked most of his career out of the Redwood City Area office.

Officer Michael L. Edwards was kidnapped and murdered on Saturday, May 11, 1974. He was a member of the Los Angeles Police Department’s 77th Street Division.

Officer Gerald N. Harris was directing traffic at an intersection in Bakersfield when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver. The impact of the collision threw Harris onto the car’s hood and shattered the vehicle’s windshield. A passenger riding in the front seat pushed Harris’ body back through the windshield, off the hood and flung him to the pavement before fleeing the scene. The 36-year-old patrol officer sustained a broken leg and other injuries and his condition did not appear life-threatening. He subsequently required special medical treatment and the president of Continental Telephone in Bakersfield volunteered his company’s private jet to fly Officer Harris to specialists in San Francisco, but Harris died from an embolism. Officer Harris was a seven-year member of the Patrol. The hit-and-run driver was apprehended and served 12 months in the county jail.