OFFICER LEO VOLK (Modesto PD) In the early hours of May 21, 1973, Officer Leo “Bobby” Volk, a three-year veteran of the Modesto Police Department, began pursuing a fugitive vehicle. As Volk accelerated westbound on Yosemite Boulevard in pursuit, a car turning from North Conejo Avenue pulled out in front of him. Volk, in an attempt to avoid a collision,,swerved to the left. The right front tire of his patrol car deflated, causing him to lose control. The patrol car skidded south across Yosemite Boulevard into a construction site where it hit a large concrete block. The force of the collision was so severe that the car was thrown into reverse, causing it to accelerate 130 feet backwards before hitting a light pole and coming to rest. The driver of the vehicle Volk was chasing looked back at the battered patrol car, then sped away.
Volk was pinned in the wreckage for 40 minutes before rescue crews could remove him and rush him to the hospital. During that time he regained consciousness but was only able to say “chasing . . . orange GTO”. The driver of the car was never found, and the crime he committed to cause Volk to pursue him remains unknown.
At 7:30 a.m. on May 21, 1973, Officer Leo Robert Volk Jr. died from injuries sustained in the wreck, leaving his wife and toddler son behind. He gained the unfortunate distinction of being the first officer to die in the line of duty in the history of the Modesto Police Department. His badge was retired from service.
Police Officer John Isaacson was killed in an automobile accident on The Sen Bernardino Freeway, in West Covina.
He was traveling on a highway when he swerved to avoid a collision, causing his vehicle to overturn. He was ejected from his vehicle in the accident.
Officer Isaacson had served with the Glendale Police Department for one year. He is survived by his wife and son.
Officer William P. Sniffen was pursuing a speeding motorist on the Nimitz Freeway when the vehicle rear-ended another car that was stopped for a previous collision and then burst into flames. Sniffen lost control and his motorcycle was thrown under the burning vehicle, killing the 31-year-old patrol officer almost instantly. Officer Sniffen was a seven-year member of the CHP and had served previously in San Leandro and Oakland.
Officer Larry L. Wetterling was fatally shot by a motorist he stopped in San Bernardino for suspected drunk driving. After shooting Wetterling. the motorist stole the patrol officer’s car, but rolled over as he raced away. He later killed two other people before he was captured. Officer Wetterling, 30, had been a member of the Patrol for six years and transferred to San Bernardino from Riverside.
Deputy Al E. Stewart of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department had responded to the Cajon Pass to assist CHP Officer Wetterling. As Stewart was searching for this murder suspect, Stewart himself was shot and killed by the same suspect who killed Wetterling.
Deputy Al E. Stewart died on March 9, 1973 in the Cajon Pass just north of the city of San Bernardino. Deputy Stewart had responded to the Cajon Pass to assist CHP Officer Larry Wetterling, who had been fatally shot by a motorist. As Stewart was searching for this murder suspect, Stewart himself was shot and killed by the same suspect who killed Wetterling. Stewart gave his life to assist another officer.
Officer Ray C. Willert, 25, was the only Turlock police officer to die from a criminal act.
Willert was responding to provide back up to a 211 alarm at the Western Union Bank in Turlock. The first two officers on scene found a man matching the description of the suspects in the parking lot next to the Western Union.
Officer Willert was using proper tactics as he approached the other officers. He was using the Western Union building as cover as he approached. As he passed the glass front door of the Western Union, he was shot in the forehead. He fell to the ground instantly. The person in the lot was not involved. The other officers rushed to Officer Willert’s aid and returned fire. Two suspects were taken into custody near the scene, but another managed to escape the scene. Along pursuit ended with the suspect being shot. This individual is serving a life sentence.
One of the bank tellers inside was on the telephone with a local radio staton when the robbery began. The lady on the radio could hear the robbery as it was happening. She heard the teller begging for her life as the suspects were deciding weather or not to kill every person inside the bank, to leave no witnesses. At that moment Ofc. Willert passed the front window and the shooting began. Ofc. Willert saved every person in the Western Union Bank that day.
Officer Willert was survived by his wife, Connie and three-year-old daughter, Wendy.
Officer William D. “Dusty” McKim, assigned to the Coyote Scale Facility near San Jose, was pursuing a commercial vehicle violator when his patrol car crossed the center divider on U.S. Highway 101 and was struck by a truck and trailer. The 50-year-old patrol officer was killed instantly. McKim, a veteran of 19 years service with the CHP, had been assigned to San Jose for 17 years. Before joining the CHP, McKim had been a firefighter with the city of Modesto.
Waldron G. Karp, a thirty-one year old Tustin Police Department Officer, was murdered on January 7, 1973. Patrolman Karp and an Orange County Deputy Sheriff were attempting to disarm and arrest a deranged man who was barricaded in a house. In the exchange of shots Patrolman Karp was fatally wounded. The Deputy, also wounded, survived. The suspect was arrested.
