| March 12, 1980
Officer Danny Dean Richmond Beaumont Police Department, TX Officer Richmond was killed when a pickup truck hit his motorcycle head-on. Officer Richmond was escorting an oversized truck on Highway 90. The traffic at the intersection they were passing through stopped to let the truck pass when a truck slammed into a stopped pickup truck which intern crashed head-on into Officer Richmond’s motorcycle, killing him. Officer Richmond had been with the agency for eight years and was survived by his wife and two children. |
| June 20, 1980
Sergeant Patrick Don Vegas Bakersfield Police Department, CA The last time a Bakersfield officer was killed while on duty was nearly 28-years earlier. A couple of the officers in the room were on duty when Vegas, 35, was struck down on his motorcycle at the intersection of White Land and Wible Road. Vegas was responding to a traffic accident when a car driven by a 16-year-old juvenile collided with Vegas’ motorcycle. Vegas was pronounced dead at San Joaquin hospital about a half hour later.Vegas, an 11-year veteran, was well liked and respected in the department. A Bakersfield native, Vegas was a graduate of Bakersfield high school, he also attended Bakersfield College. Vegas served in the army from 1966 to 1969, assigned to the infantry. During that time he served in combat in Vietnam, was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. |
| October 28,
1980
Patrol Officer James Anthony Smith Tucson Police Department, AZ Officer Smith was killed in a motorcycle accident after another vehicle struck the rear of his patrol motorcycle near Speedway Boulevard and Plumer Avenue. The impact caused his motorcycle to veer into oncoming traffic where he was struck head-on by another car. Officer Smith was survived by his wife and son. |