1956 – Raymond A. Geiger – Officer – California Highway Patrol

Biographical Info:

Born:  March 16, 1928
Age: 28
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Traffic Collision (Motorcycle)
Date of Incident: August 10, 1956
Weapon Used: N/A
Suspect Info: Not available

State Traffic Officer Raymond A. Geiger had just left his home to report for the graveyard shift when his departmental motorcycle collided head-on with an automobile that was passing on a hill. Officer Geiger, 28, died instantly from the impact. The traffic collision happened so close to Geiger’s home that his wife, who heard the commotion, walked to the scene thinking her husband was handling the investigation. She was intercepted by another officer who was attempting to spare her the sight of the smashed motorcycle that belonged to her husband.

Officer Geiger was assigned to the CHP’s Riverside Area office.

Officer Geiger’s burial site is not known.

1954 – Frank M. Epperson – Officer – California Highway Patrol

Officer Frank M. Epperson

Biographical Info:

Born:  Unknown
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 6 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details:

Cause of Death: Traffic Collision
Date of Incident: July 2, 1954
Weapon Used: N/A
Suspect Info: Not available

State Traffic Officer Frank M. Epperson was attempting to overtake two speeding vehicles and was about to pass a pick-up truck when the truck started a left turn in front of his patrol car. Epperson tried to avoid a collision, but the two vehicles collided, and the patrol car rolled several times before striking a power pole and slamming into irrigation equipment. The 40-year-old patrolman was ejected and died at the scene. Epperson had joined the CHP in 1948, but his duty was interrupted by service in the Korean War. He returned to the Patrol in 1952. Officer Epperson was a Korean War veteran. Officer Epperson was assigned to the CHP’s Indio Area office.

Officer Epperson’s burial site is not known.

1947 – Anthony Oneto – Inspector – United States Border Patrol

Agent Anthony L. Oneto

Biographical Info:

Born: Unknown
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 6 years, 6 months
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details:

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Location: California
Date of Incident: March 11, 1947
Weapon Used: Handgun; .32 caliber
Suspect Info: Executed in 1948

Inspector Anthony Oneto was shot and killed after he and his partner arrested four illegal aliens and the man attempting to smuggle them through Indio, California. The two inspectors had placed the four illegal aliens in the back seat of their vehicle and instructed the suspected smuggler to drive his own car to the Border Patrol office. During the drive, the suspect stopped his vehicle and walked back to Inspector Oneto’s vehicle, which was following the suspect’s vehicle. The man said something to the two inspectors and then produced a .32 caliber handgun and opened fire on the two. Inspector Oneto was killed. Despite being wounded, his partner was able to return fire and wound the suspect. The partner also managed to keep custody of the four illegal aliens until assistance arrived. The suspect was convicted of first degree murder and was executed in the gas chamber October 10, 1948. Inspector Oneto had served with the agency for 6.5 years.

Inspector Oneto’s burial site is not known.

1944 – Arthur Simpson – Officer – Riverside Police Department

Officer Arthur Simpson

Biographical Info:

Born:  Unknown
Age: 34
Tour of Duty: 3 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details:

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 5, 1944
Weapon Used: Handgun; .45 caliber semi-auto
Suspect Info: Committed suicide

On the evening of March 5, 1944, a report was broadcast that U. S. Army Lieutenant Swanson, from the Army Camp Anza, located in Riverside, was wanted by the Army Police. This marked the beginning of a series of shootings on and around the military reservation where eight people were shot, three fatally. Army Lieutenant Swanson forced an Army sergeant to drive through the camp’s gate without lights and without stopping. He then ordered the driver to pull over on the wrong side of the road as a civilian vehicle approached. Lieutenant Swanson then shot the civilian driver of the other vehicle in the side and was in the process of forcing him to drive (with the driver’s wife and infant in the rear seat of the vehicle). Having recently left the Police Station, Riverside Police Officers Cole and Simpson saw the abandoned Army vehicle parked on the side of the road and the civilian vehicle and stopped to investigate. As the officers approached the vehicles, Swanson confronted Officer Cole with an Army issued .45-caliber semi-automatic handgun in hand. Officer Simpson ordered Swanson to put the gun away. Instead, Lieutenant Swanson fired two shots, hitting Officer Simpson in the stomach. Officer Cole returned fire, hitting Swanson. Swanson was taken into custody and transported to the Riverside General Hospital in serious condition. Officer Simpson was also rushed to the County hospital, where he died shortly after his arrival. He had been a member of the Riverside Police Department since April 1, 1941.

The suspect was convicted of four counts of first degree murder and sentenced to death. On July 7, 1944, he hanged himself with a bed sheet from a ceiling radiator in his hospital room where he was still being treated for his bullet wounds.

Officer Simpson’s burial location is not known.

1940 – Edward A. Bertino – Officer – Riverside Police Department

Officer Edward A. Bertino

Biographical Info:

Born:  Unknown
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: February 3, 1940
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Prosecution outcome not known.

During the early morning hours of February 4, 1940, gunfire from an ambush brought about the death of Riverside Police Department Officer (Traffic Officer) Edward A. Bertino, and critically wounded his partner, Officer Homer Stricklin. The suspect, Alfred Guerrero, had an extensive record with the police. During an argument with his mother on the evening of February 3rd, Guerrero told his mother he would shoot the police if she were to call them. It was later reported he had been drinking alcohol during much of the day. Guerrero’s mother called the Riverside Police Department from a neighbor’s home, warning them that her son had a gun. Officers Stricklin and Bertino drove to the residence in response to the mother’s call. Arriving at the house, both officers exited their patrol car and approached the front of the house. Seeing a shadow in the bushes near the front of the house, Officer Bertino called on Guerrero to throw down his gun and step out of the bushes. Instead, Guerrero opened fire, his first bullet fatally wounding Bertino in the stomach. The wounded officer attempted to return fire, but was unable to obtain a clear view of his assailant. Since the officers were plainly outlined by the light from a nearby kitchen window, Guerrero siezed the opportunity to shoot again, and the next bullet struck Officer Stricklin in the right hand, knocking his pistol from his grip and paralyzing his right arm. Officer Bertino attempted to take cover behind the patrol car, however, the next shot fatally wounded him in the head. Officer Stricklin managed to get back to their patrol car where he radioed for help. When additional officers arrived at the scene, Deputy Chief Roy Thomas kicked in a window and made entry into the house. However, Guerrero had already fled. Later in the morning, officers located Guerrero at the home of Felix Breceda, where he again fled away on foot. Guerrero was later taken into custody by Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputies Perez M. Hayden and Archie Veldenas as he fled the city over the old Mission Boulevard bridge, the murder weapon still in his possession. Traffic Officer Bertino had been a member of the Riverside Police Department since 1920. He was appointed in May of that year and assigned as a traffic officer in October. He lived at 3463 Walnut Street, Riverside, with his wife, Willma Bertino, and their three children, Kenneth, Marylin, and Billy. He was the son of Mary and William Bertino, of Santa Monica.

Officer Bertino’s burial location is not known.

1938 – Clinton Burtner – Officer – Riverside Police Department

Officer Clinton Burtner

Biographical Info:

Born: Unknown
Age: Not available
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details:

Date of Incident: November 27, 1938Cause of Death: Traffic Collision (Motorcycle accident)
Weapon Used: N/A
Suspect Info: Received probation – Driving offense

Officer (Traffic Officer) Clinton Burtner had been a Motorcycle Officer for the City of Riverside for eight years as of November 27th, 1938. He was on-duty that day, riding his motorcycle northbound on Main Street through the intersection at 8th Street (now University Avenue) when another vehicle traveling westbound on 8th Street failed to stop for a red traffic signal light. The other vehicle struck Officer Burtner with such force that it jammed his motorcycle against the front of the car and pushed it twenty feet before the car stopped. The crash guard on the motorcycle protected Officer Burtner’s legs, but his head struck the other vehicle’s radiator hood ornament, fracturing his skull. Officer Burtner was rushed to nearby Riverside Community Hospital, where he remained in a coma until he died eight days later as a result of his injuries on December 4th, 1938. The woman driving the vehicle that struck Burtner was issued a citation for reckless driving by the California Highway Patrol sergeant who investigated the traffic collision.  She was not formally booked (there were no RPD officers around to investigate the crash because they had all gone to the hospital). When Officer Burtner passed away, the criminal complaint against the “at fault” driver was changed to “negligent homicide.” A warrant was issued for the driver’s arrest and she immediately posted bail. She later pled guilty to the negligent homicide charge and was granted formal probation without any jail time served. Her driver’s license was also revoked. Clinton Burtner was the 65th traffic collision fatality in California for 1938 when he died in December.

He is buried in Olivewood Cemetery.

1925 – Ross A. Gardner – Inspector – United States Border Patrol

Biographical Info:

Born: UnnownAge: 25
Tour of Duty: 10 months
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Motorcycle accidentLocation: California
Date of Incident: October 27, 1925
Weapon Used: N/A (Traffic Collision)
Suspect Info: N/A

Inspector Gardner was killed in an on-duty traffic collision while returning to Elsinore, California, from San Diego, California, for a temporary duty assignment. He was riding a government issued motorcycle which had taken to San Diego to get repaired. He struck the rear of a stalled vehicle which was parked in a traffic lane and which had no lights on during darkness. Inspector Gardner had been with the agency for ten months.

Inspector Gardner’s burial locaton is not known.

1921 – Theodore Crossley – Special Deputy – Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

Special Deputy Theodore Crossley

Biographical Info:

Born:  Unknown
Age: Not available
Tour of Duty:  Reserve Deputy
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 22, 1921
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Not available

Riverside County Sheriff Franklin Pierce Wilson commissioned Theodore Crossley as a Special Deputy. Special Deputy Theodore Crossley was the owner of Crossley Garage and Auto Sales, located at 11th and Main Street in Riverside. He sold the Mitchell Touring Car. Crossley had been a reserve deputy sheriff for a number of years and had frequently been called upon for special assignments. On September 22, 1921, Deputy Crossley was called upon by Deputy Henry F. Nelson to assist in the apprehension and arrest of two grand theft suspects in the Bellville (later to be known as “Belltown”) area of Riverside County. Crossley drove one of his motor cars with Deputy Nelson along with a citizen informant to the area and while in the performance of his duties was shot to death. As the deputies approached the wanted suspects, without warning, one of the suspects opened fire on the deputies, first striking Deputy Nelson in the head. Deputy Crossley, still in the motorcar, was shot in the back. He died instantly. On September 26, 1921, the minutes of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors reflected action that was taken for a reward for the murderers of Deputies Nelson and Crossley. Crossley was survived his widow, who he married on June 6, 1917. Deputy Crossley was born in New York City, New York.

Special Deputy Crossley’s burial site is not known.

1921 – Henry F. Nelson – Deputy – Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

Deputy Henry F. Nelson

Biographical Info:
Born: Unknown
Age:  47
Tour of Duty:  14 years
Badge Number:  Unknown

Incident Details:
Cause of Death:  Gunfire
Date of Incident:  September 22, 1921
Weapon Used:  Gun, unknown type
Suspect Info:  Executed in 1922

Deputy Henry Nelson was employed with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for fourteen and a half years. He was hired on January 7, 1907, and worked out of the Riverside Station. Deputy Nelson’s law enforcement career was with the Riverside Sheriff’s Department and he did not work with any other law enforcement agencies. On September 22, 1921, Deputy Nelson and Deputy Theodore Crossley went to investigate a report of hay theft in Bellville (a settlement north of Riverside also known as “Bell Town.”). When they arrived at the scene, one suspect began shooting at the two deputies. Both deputies were killed. Two suspects were later captured. Deputy Theodore Crossley was the owner of a car dealership, which was located at the corner of Eleventh and Main Streets. He was deputized by Riverside County Sheriff F. P.Wilson after he was elected. Deputy Nelson was survived by his wife and three children. He was also survived by his mother and three brothers. Deputy Nelson was born in Andover, Illinois.

It is unknown where Deputy Nelson is buried.

1913 – Grant C. Alexander – City Marshal – Corona Police Department

City Marshal Grant C. Alexander

Biographical Info:

Incident Details:Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 22, 1913
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Not available

Corona City Marshal Grant C. Alexander was shot and killed while investigating suspicious persons. He was survived by his wife. No other details are known.

Unknown burial location.

Born: Unknown
Age: Unknown
Tour of Duty: Unknown
Badge Number:  Unknown

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