FRIENDS   OF   MINE

 PEACE OFFICERS KILLED

THEY ARE PART OF MY LIFE
 AND I
A PART OF THEIRS.


KNOWN TO BUT A FEW, HERE ARE THOSE I'VE KNOWN,
SOME AS BROTHERS, SOME AS BEST FRIENDS, SOME AS PARTNERS.

THE PRICE IS HIGH, YET WE CONTINUE TO DO OUR DUTY,
THEY DO IT FOR ME AND I DO IT FOR THEM:

  "WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO IT, FOR EACH OTHER"

"ALL GAVE SOME AND SOME GAVE ALL"

UNITED STATES ARMY

 


SP4  Michael Baker
U.S. Army - 287th MP Co.
West Berlin, West Germany
Killed:  July 4, 1976
East Germany

Military Policeman Michael Baker was assigned to the 287th MP Co. West Berlin, West Germany in 1974.
While on active duty as a Military Policeman, Michael Baker had several assignments. These included Patrol 66, "Charlie Check Point"  and later, the Traffic Accident Investigator Specialist.  Michael Baker was also assigned "other special required and necessary duties."  These involved several "escorts" into and out of East Berlin as well as East Germany.  According to U.S. Army C.I.D. and the EAST GERMAN COMMUNIST Government:  On July 4th 1976, Michael Baker was traveling W/B on the East German Autobahn when his vehicle, for "reasons undetermined,"  left the road, exiting to the right shoulder and collided with a tree.  He died a few hours later at an EAST GERMAN hospital. Cause of death:  Massive chest injuries.  No further information would be provided by the U.S. Army.
  

CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL


Traffic Officer Loren D. Scruggs
CHP - Santa Maria

Loren D. Scruggs  

CHP- Santa Maria
Date of Birth: Unk.
Date Appointed: Unk.
End of Watch: April 23, 1971

Officer Loren D. Scruggs, 35, had stopped a car for a registration violation, when another driver parked across the road and approached him to ask directions. While Scruggs was answering his questions, the young man suddenly pulled a gun and shot the patrol officer point blank in the head. The killer fled but was found later - a suicide. Scruggs was a nine-year veteran of the CHP and had served his entire career in Santa Maria, where he had also attended high school and college.

 

 


James C. O'Conner


CHP - Ventura
Date of Birth: July 9, 1956
Date Appointed: December 23, 1982
End of Watch: November 15, 1990

More than 700 law enforcement officers throughout California gathered in Camarillo to pay tribute to a 34-year-old Ventura County CHP officer who was killed November 15, 1990, when a car struck his motorcycle. James O'Connor died as he and three fellow officers were returning from a motorcycle training session in Santa Maria.  CHP officials said "A few minutes later, his ride was over."  O'Connor was riding in the left rear position of a box formation with the other officers on California 154 outside Santa Ynez when a car veered into the path of the motorcyclists. O'Connor joined the CHP in late 1982 and was assigned to western San Fernando Valley.  He worked there with his wife, Carla, also a CHP officer, until he was transferred to Ventura County in August, 1989.  Carla O'Connor and her three children Evelyn Bittner, 10, Elaine Bittner, 11, and Elizabeth Bittner, 15, were joined by about 100 friends and relatives at the St. Mary Magdalen Church for the funeral services.
 


  Rick B. Stovall
CHP- Santa Maria
Date of Birth: February 14, 1959
Date Appointed: August 21, 1980
End of Watch: February 24, 1998



  Britt T. Irvine
CHP- Santa Maria
Date of Birth: January 31, 1958
Date Appointed: May 26, 1983
End of Watch: February 24, 1998

Officers Britt T. Irvine and Ricky B. Stovall died Tuesday, February 24, 1998, when their cruiser dropped off a section of SR 166 that washed out by the Cuyama River east of Santa Maria. The officers had been dispatched to rescue a stranded motorist.

Rick Stovall, 39, was an 18 year veteran of the California Highway Patrol.  He joined when he turned 21.  His father was a major influence on his life which was evident as he chose to follow in his footsteps.  Stovall, a native of Crescent City, is survived by his wife, Lynn; daughter, Alyssa; son, Riley; and parents, Mr. & Mrs. Bill Stovall.  His father is a retired CHP officer in Santa Maria.

Britt Irvine graduated from the CHP Academy in Sacramento when he was 25 years old. He spent 15 years on patrol and showed his dedication and desire to serve by re-instating after a short career break. Irvine is survived by his parents, Joe and Maxine Irvine; two stepsons, Michael and Jarrod Zacarias, and stepdaughter, Stacie Spotanski.

At the officers' funeral, speakers struggled to express what the two meant to them as tears flowed during the two hour service.  Color portraits of the officers were surrounded by flowers.
 


Deputy William R. Brundage
ID Number 495
SANTA BARBARA COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF
 Santa Maria
Date of Birth: November 20, 1945
Date Appointed: 1969
End of Watch: November 18, 1998

 

Deputy  William Brundage died in an automobile collision November 18, 1998, near New Cuyama. He was on his way to work as resident Deputy at the New Cuyama Sub Station. He was born November  20, 1945, in Stoneham, Massachusetts.
He served with distinction in the United States Marine Corps in the Republic of South Vietnam as a Door Gunner and was awarded the Purple Heart.  He was Honorably discharged as Sergeant.  

Deputy Brundage joined the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department in 1969, and became a resident of Santa Maria that same year.  He earned his bachelor of science degree from the University of California Santa Barbara.  He worked in patrol and was a member of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department Special Emergency Team, (SWAT). After his assignment as a bailiff in the Santa Barbara County Superior Courts in Santa Maria for many years.  He was recently reassigned to the sheriff's substation in New Cuyama.

Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Walli Brundage of Santa Maria; stepdaughter Pam Alley of Cheshire, Oregon; stepsons Edward Leon Joiner, and Rodney Joe Joiner, sister Gail Fath of Peterborough, New Hampshire; brother David Brundage of Austin, Texas; parents Russell and Dorothy Brundage of Revere, Massachusetts; and five step grandchildren.

Bill was one of my few friends. He was a big brother and always watched out for me. His heart was made of gold and was a soft touch inside, even though he tried to hid it.  I loved him very much and will always have great thoughts and crazy memories of him, in that Bill will always be alive.  I miss him very much.

If you did not know "Brundage" you missed knowing a good man.  Our world is a lesser place without "Wild Bill".
 

LOS  ANGELES  POLICE DEPARTMENT

Los Angeles Police Department

Police Officer III Louis Villalobos

Cause of Death: Training accident (SWAT)
End of Watch: March 17, 2000
Date of Incident: March 16, 2000
Time of Incident: 1500 hours
Age: 52
Tour of Duty: 30 yr
Suspect Info: n/a
Weapon Used: No weapon

Officer Louis Villalobos died a day after falling off a catwalk while performing an advanced SWAT training exercise at the United States Marine Corp base in Camp Pendleton, California. During the training exercise, Officer Villalobos slipped off of the 10-foot high catwalk. He sustained serious head injuries and died the next day. He had been with the agency for 30 years and had been a member of the SWAT  team for 17 years. He is survived by his parents and four children.


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