1940

January 01, 1940 Officer Robert W. Davis Metropolitan Police Department, DC Officer Davis was killed in a motorcycle accident while chasing a speeding automobile. The wheels on his sidecar lifted from the ground, causing his motorcycle to veer into oncoming traffic. Officer Davis had been with the agency for eight years and was survived by his wife and three children.

January 01, 1940 Patrolman Robert Smith South Carolina Highway Patrol, SC Motorcycle Accident

January 16, 1940 Officer Samuel G. Cope California Highway Patrol, CA Officer Samuel G. Cope was patrolling near the city limits of West Covina when an automobile swung into his line of traffic and crashed head-on into Cope’s motorcycle. Initially his injuries were believed to be non-threatening, but complications developed and he died. Cope was a member of the Los Angeles Police Department before joining the CHP in 1935.

January 24, 1940 Trooper Walter B. Otte New Jersey State Police, NJ Trooper Otte was killed in a motorcycle accident while on patrol in Hope Township. He had been with the agency for one year.

February 14, 1940 Delbert Pius Buckman,  Motor Patrolman, Long Beach California Police Department While patrolling on his motorcycle near Anaheim and Linden, Officer Buckman was struck and killed by a hit and run driver.

May 23, 1940 Constable Alfred J. Ferguson OPP Police  Brockville Ontario PC Ferguson was killed when operating his motorcycle on routine patrol, southbound on Hwy. 34 near Vankleek Hill. A vehicle ahead was overtaking a horse and cart and stopped because of an oncoming truck. Constable Ferguson's motorcycle struck the stopped vehicle. He had transferred from the Department of Highway Motorcycle Patrol in 1930.

June 16, 1940 Patrolman Eugene Victor Fuller Shreveport Police Department, LA Patrolman Fuller was killed in a motorcycle accident while responding to an accident call. His motorcycle struck a hole in between two sets of railroad tracks causing him to be thrown to the ground. Patrolman Fuller had been with the agency for three years and was survived by his wife.

July 02, 1940 Constable Donald L. Pickell Ontario Provincial Police -  Mimico PC Pickell was killed on July 2, 1940 while on motorcycle patrol on the QEW.  He was thrown from his motorcycle, crashing heavily to the cement, landing on his head.

July 04, 1940 Officer William F. Malin California Highway Patrol, CA Officer William F. Malin was returning to his beat -a two-lane highway near Los Angeles- after serving on a CHP motorcycle escort team during a parade celebrating Independence Day, 1940.  A speeding motorist cutting through traffic crushed Malin against a walled section of the highway. He had been a member of the Patrol for six years.

July 18, 1940 Police Officer Leo T. Cunningham Oakland Police Department, CA Officer Cunningham was killed in a motorcycle accident while he and his partner were in pursuit of a traffic violator. Officer Cunningham's motorcycle struck an item in the road causing the accident. Officer Cunningham had been with the agency for two years.

September 07, 1940 Officer Henry J. Goodrich San Diego Police Department, CA Officer Goodrich was killed when his police motorcycle struck a vehicle making an illegal U-turn. He was killed instantly upon impact.  He had been with the agency for 13 years and was survived by his wife and two children.

September 13, 1940 Trooper Adrian Cole Mississippi Department of Public Safety, MS Motorcycle Accident

September 13, 1940 Motorcycle Officer Sherman B. Winder St. Joseph Police Department, MO Officer Winder was killed while performing high-speed tests on a motorcycle. During one of the test he was thrown from the motorcycle while traveling at approximately 75 mph. He had been with the agency for 18 years.

September 22, 1940 Officer Maurice W. Owen California Highway Patrol, CA Officer Owen died as a result of a motorcycle accident while on duty

September 25, 1940 Officer William K. Burge Louisville Police Department, KY Officer Burge was killed in a motorcycle accident while on patrol at Taylor Boulevard and Oleanda Avenue. He had been with the agency for 13 years and was survived by his wife and daughter.

October 08, 1940 Holly Ray ANDERSON Waco Police Department, TX Motorcycle Accident

December 22, 1940 Patrolman Joseph Kussius New York City Police Department, NY Officer Kussius was killed in an on-duty motorcycle accident while assigned to the Grand Central Parkway Unit.