1938

January 01, 1938 Patrolman Charles G. Cannon Ohio Highway Patrol, OH Patrolman Cannon was killed in a motorcycle accident while patrolling US Route 42 in Cedarville, Ohio. He was stationed at Springfield at the time.

February 13, 1938 Thomas Jack Tubre Highland Park Police Department, TX Motorcycle Accident

February 20, 1938 Officer Harly G. Mason Orlando Police Department, FL Officer Mason was killed in a motorcycle accident on Orange Avenue. He had been with the agency for one year.

April 23, 1938 Officer Ernest T. Wessells Metropolitan Police Department, DC Officer Wessells was killed in a motorcycle accident at Piney Branch and Butternut Streets, NW, while responding to a call that turned out to be a false alarm. He had been with the agency for seven years and was survived by his wife and child.

May 9, 1938 Patrol Officer Alvie C. Emmelman Indianapolis Police Department, IN Officer Emmelman was killed in a motorcycle accident near the Belt Railroad and Kentucky Avenue.

May 31, 1938 Patrolman Melvin Williams New York City Police Department, NY Officer Williams was killed in a motorcycle accident while assigned to the Motorcycle Unit

June 1,1938 Officer Norris Vinton McMackin Inglewood Police Department, CA Officer McMackin succumbed to injuries received 40 minutes earlier in an automobile accident on La Brea Avenue at about 2330 hours. He was attempting to stop a car for speeding when his motorcycle hit either an object in the roadway or streetcar tracks, causing him to be thrown from the motorcycle. The vehicle he was attempting to stop was never found.

June 05, 1938 Officer Richard T. Conklin Metropolitan Police Department, DC Officer Conklin was killed in a motorcycle accident near Georgia Avenue and Butternut Street. The wheels on the motorcycle struck a streetcar track and he was thrown from the bike.

June 07, 1938 Patrolman Joseph Leroy Moon Corpus Christi Police Department, TX Patrolman Moon was killed in a motorcycle accident while in pursuit of a speeding motorist. He had been with the agency for one year and was survived by his wife and two children.

June 19, 1938 Trooper Vincent C. Vosbein New Jersey State Police, NJ Trooper Vosbein succumbed to injuries received in a motorcycle accident one year earlier while on duty in Raritan Borough. He had been with the agency for one year

July 10, 1938 Capt. E. L. Shryver CHP - Sonoma  Captain E. L. Shryver was directing traffic on U.S. Highway 101 in Sonoma County when he was struck by a vehicle and thrown under the trailer it was pulling. Shryver, 46, battled his injuries for two months before he succumbed. A veteran motorcycle officer with 13 years experience, he had recently qualified as district inspector and was first on the promotional list. Shryver was also an expert pistol shot and represented the CHP at several national pistol matches.

July 15, 1938 Lawson L. Rhodes South Carolina Highway Patrol, SC Motorcycle Accident

August 23, 1938 Trooper Martin J. Kerins New York State Police, NY Trooper Kernis was injured when his motorcycle blew a tire and he was thrown to the pavement and stuck his head. Trooper Kernis died two days later from the injury.  Trooper Kernis had been with the agency for five years.

September 18, 1938 Patrolman Albert Mathiasen St. Cloud Police Department, MN Patrolman Mathiasen was killed in a motorcycle at 12th Avenue and 7th Street while on patrol.

October 18, 1938 Trooper Lewis R. Boone Tennessee Highway Patrol, TN Trooper Boone died while operating a motorcycle in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee

November 12, 1938 Trooper Charles Gearhiser Tennessee Highway Patrol, TN Trooper Gearhiser died while operating a motorcycle in Dyer County

November 20, 1938 Officer Earl Vickery East Point Police Department, GA Officer Vickery was killed in a motorcycle accident while chasing a violator. During the chase he was thrown from the motorcycle into the path of a moving trolley. He was not wearing a helmet as they were not required or considered a piece of safety equipment at the time.  Officer Vickery had been with the agency for three years.

December 23, 1938 Earl W. Kanning San Antonio Police Department, TX Motorcycle Accident

December 26, 1938 Officer Fred J. Kowolowski California Highway Patrol, CA Officer Fred J. Kowolowski was rounding a sharp bend on a rural road in Santa Clara County when his motorcycle collided with an automobile. The 17-year-old driver of the other vehicle said he had turned from a side road and, seeing the motorcycle coming, stopped. The 29-year-old patrol officer died only hours later. Kowolowski was a former deputy sheriff in Modoc county before he joined the Patrol in 1937.