Archives: Fallen Officers

Robert L. Shultz

On April 21, 1958, Deputy Sheriff Robert Shultz, 35, was shot and killed while on duty in the Dana Point area. Patrol Deputies Ed Johnson and Robert Shultz stopped an old converted school bus from Arizona on information it contained a mentally disturbed father threatening his wife, daughter and two sons.

After stopping the northbound bus in Dana Point, Deputy Johnson talked the father into putting his weapon down and leaving the bus. As Deputy Johnson was talking with the father outside the bus, Deputy Shultz was fatally shot once through the heart by the older of two sons inside the bus. Deputy Johnson was also shot twice, critically. The father returned to the bus and a gunfight ensued with the one critically wounded officer.

After a period of firing by both sides, the Deputy collapsed from his two initial wounds but not before radioing for assistance. On the arrival of assisting officers, the father was found dead, wounded three times by the officer’s bullets and once, through the head, by his own. The older son was found with five wounds from the Deputy’s weapon and died at the hospital. The younger son was found dead with one round through the top of his head from the father’s weapon.

The second Orange County Deputy Sheriff had given his life as a result of gunfire. His partner still carries two .22 caliber slugs located in inaccessible parts of his back and hip.

Robert Vincent O’Connor

State Police Officer Raymond V. O’Connor was a passenger in a state police car driven by State Police Officer, Daniel M. Murphy. The two officers had completed a patrol of state property in San Jose and were returning to San Francisco on the Eastshore Freeway when a motorist driving in the opposing lane of traffic lost control, skidded 52 feet, jumped a divider strip and skidded another 30 feet before crashing into the state police vehicle. Murphy sustained major injuries and O’Connor died just minutes after the crash which also killed the motorist. Officer O’Connor, 30, had served five years with the state police and had been a policeman with the city of Hayward before returning to state service.

Robert W. Suess

Officer Robert W. Suess was patrolling on Baldwin Avenue in the city of El Monte when a drunk driver speeding in the opposite direction careened through a red light, ran another car off the road, then abruptly swerved over the center line and struck Suess’ motorcycle. Witnesses said the 28-year-old officer had no chance to avoid the crash and was killed instantly. The driver was charged with manslaughter and felony drunk driving. Suess had served as a police officer with the Vallejo P.D. before joining the Patrol only nine months earlier.

David A. Horr

Los Angeles county Sheriff’s Department Deputy David Horr was assigned to the Montrose Station at the time of his murder. On December 7, a day noted for infamy, Deputy David Horr responded to a disturbance call in La Crescenta during the evening hours. The house was lit but no one answered Deputy Horr’s knock so he went to the back door and tried again. His efforts were met with deadly force. A 16-gauge shotgun blast felled him. His immediate concerns were for his fellow deputies as he told them to take cover, he could manage alone. Deputy Horr was rushed to a local hospital with wounds to his stomach and hand. His assailant surrendered after deputies surrounded the house. The weapon was found in the attic and an empty shell was in the suspect’s pocket. Deputy Horr died two months later.

Russell G. Grower

On February 2, 1958, Ontario Detective Russell Grower, a Pomona Police Detective, and a Monte Vista Police (now Montclair) Detective, took one of their private vehicles to Soquel Canyon in Chino Hills to follow-up a tip on a gang of tire thieves. At 2:15 p.m., Detective Grower knocked on the door and was met by the suspect. When Grower identified himself, the suspect attempted to close the door. As Grower advanced, the suspect shot him in the forehead. Unable to capture the fleeing suspect, the detectives transported Grower to the nearest hospital. Detective Grower had already lost his battle for life. The suspect was later captured and prosecuted for murder.

Camile E. Madere

Officer Camile E. Madere was patrolling on his motorcycle through the city of Stanton. Madere was about to overtake and pass another vehicle, when a tractor and semi-trailer pulled out of a driveway into the path of the officer and the vehicle he was going to pass. Both the patrolman and the motorist applied brakes in an attempt to avoid colliding with the truck. Madere’s motorcycle skidded under the truck killing the 35-year-old patrol officer instantly.