Officer Herbert F. Dimon was pursuing a speeding car in East Los Angeles when his motorcycle collided at an intersection with a motorist who ignored or did not see the red light or hear the siren. Dimon was wearing a safety helmet, but the impact, and the indequate protection from the helmets worn in 1959, caused a basal skull fracture. The 28-year-old officer later died during surgery to repair his injuries.

As a result of his accident, recommendations into redesigning the crash helmet began. Those recommendations included considering designing the crash helmet with shock absorbing padding and extending the full length of the plastic shell to give protection further down on the rear of the head.

Officer Dimon had graduated from the Academy just four months earlier. Only hours before his death, he had received a letter from a citizen he cited a few days earlier, stating:

“I have received citations before, but none of which reflected so adversely on my driving habits or ability. I assumed that I was pretty good driver. Your genuine concern for my safety and the safety of others on the freeway, and your remark you hoped you could help me improve my driving habits, started me doing some very serious thinking.” The citizen further declared that he had established some driving rules for himself and conforming to them had been a wonderful experience.” He concluded by saying, “I feel you will be pleased to know that your work is not all in vain.”

Officer Robert B. Heberlie was patrolling on Rosemead Boulevard when a vehicle suddenly turned left, striking Herberlie’s motorcycle broadside. killing the 31-year-old patrol officer. The motorist was charged with felony drunk driving and manslaughter. Heberlie had joined the CHP only seven months earlier after leaving the Los Angeles Police Department. The El Monte Area office was his first CHP assignment.

Officer Joseph F Johnston, Jr. was pursuing a traffic violator on Rosemead Boulevard when the suspect suddenly crossed two lanes of traffic without signaling and turned left in front of the patrolman. Johnston struck the left front side of the vehicle and he died a short time later. The motorist was charged with manslaughter. Officer Johnston, 31, had just been appointed to the Patrol the previous March and the El Monte Area was his first assignment.

Deputy Harold Reis was assigned to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Norwalk Station at the time of his death. Deputy Reis was en route to a call when the radio car he was driving was hit broadside by another vehicle.

Joseph L. Carlock, a 65-year-old San Diego auto mechanic, was sentenced to life in prison for the slaying of Lt. Donald J. Gillis, 45, on Sept. 20, 1958. Carlock was convicted by a jury of first-degree murder and sentenced by Superior Judge William A. Glen.

Gillis, a veteran Los Angeles County sheriff’s lieutenant, was killed in the Laguna Mountain recreation area, about 50 miles east of San Diego, where he was spending a weekend camping with his wife, Leatha.

Carlock, a retired naval air station employee, was said by police to have been “apparently intoxicated” at the time.

San Diego County Coroner A.E. Gallagher said Carlock drove into the Gillis’ camp area in search of a deer hunting party from which he had become separated.

The coroner said witnesses told him that Gillis tried unsuccessfully to help Carlock locate his friends, then told him, “Get into your car and sleep it off. We’ll help you find your party in the morning.”

As Gillis headed back to his parked station wagon, Carlock took a rifle from his car and fired two shots into the air.

The Los Angeles officer went back, disarmed Carlock and headed back to his station wagon again.

When he faced in Carlock’s direction again, according to the police report, Carlock grabbed a second rifle from his car and fired, a bullet striking Gillis in the chest. He died almost instantly.

Investigators said Carlock claimed he fired the shot in self-defense, in that he saw Gillis holding the rifle, headed toward him.

Gillis had been with the sheriff’s department for 20 years and was assigned to the Firestone substation.