Commander Isiah Nelson III
San Francisco Police Department, CA
Commander Nelson was killed when his motorcycle was involved in an accident when he was returning to the station. He is survived by his wife and two children
J.B. Irby
Houston Texas, Police
Officer Irby had stopped a car for a traffic violation and was speaking with the driver when the passenger, Carl Buntion, stepped out of the other side of the vehicle and shot Officer Irby in the chest with a .357. Buntion then walked around the car to where the injuried officer was lying on the ground and fired two more shots into the officer's head.
Buntion attempted to flee the scene but several bystanders witnessed the murder and pursued him on foot. One bystander, Richard Castillo, picked up Officer Irby's weapon and held it on Buntion while another bystander, Elmore Breaux, used the radio on Officer Irby's motorcycle to call for help.
Buntion had just been released from a 17 year prison sentence two months prior to murdering Officer Irby (early release program) . His twin brother, Kenneth, had been killed in a shootout with Houston Police Officers in 1971, but it is not known if this was a motive in the attack.
It took a jury 34 minutes to convict Buntion of Capital Murder of a Police Officer.
Officer Patrick O. Briggs
Phoenix Police Department, AZ
Officer Briggs was killed while in pursuit of a speeding motorist. Another vehicle pulled out in front of his motorcycle, causing him to lose control and crash. Officer is survived by his parents and two siblings.
Officer Michael W. Burson Sr.
Orlando Police Department, FL
Officer Burson was killed when he lost control of his motorcycle and slid into the path of an oncoming vehicle. At the time of his death he was escorting the widow of another police officer to her husband's funeral. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Patrolman John T. Miller
Del Rio Police Department, TX
Officer Miller was killed when he was struck on his motorcycle by a drunk driver while he was pulling out of the police station. He is survived by his parents.
Officer Roy Eugene Thurman
Honolulu Police Department, HI
Officer Thurman was killed in a motorcycle accident while on patrol. His motorcycle struck a guard rail as he attempted to avoid colliding with a vehicle that had turned in front of him.
October
24, 1990
Constable (Gérald) Vernon Maurice Breese
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Age: 37
Constable Breese was stationed in Penticton, British Columbia. He was responding to a report of stabbing incident. While enroute his motorcycle was hit broadside by another vehicle. He suffered severe cerebral injuries. He was taken to hospital. He died 5 months after the accident from complications.
Sergeant Robert Michael Watts
Kansas City Police Department, MO
Sergeant Watts was killed when his police motorcycle was struck while he responded to a house fire call. He was not dispatched to the scene, however, he was nearby and responding with lights and sirens when a driver made a U-turn in front of him, causing the collision.
Ventura Motor Ofc. James C. O'Conner
California Highway Patrol
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," Hayward said. 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, officials said.
Three officers managed to swerve, but O'Connor was struck head-on and thrown 60 feet, his helmet knocked loose by the impact, the CHP said. He was dead on arrival at Santa Ynez Valley Hospital.James Christopher O'Connor was remembered by friends and fellow officers at his funeral services as a friendly man with a dry wit and a calm manner. The six-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol often helped officers with less experience, said Sgt. Dane Hayward, O'Connor's good friend and his supervising officer. O'Connor also assisted motorists in changing tires and doggedly pursued accident investigations. But O'Connor was known most for his motorcycle prowess, Hayward said in his eulogy. "There was a standing line that he might not be able to get out of the parking lot in a car without hitting something, but put him on a cycle, and he could get across the Grand Canyon on a tightrope," Hayward said. It was that grace on the motorcycle that made his death so ironic, Hayward said.
Sergeant James T. Blair
Pittsburgh Police Department, PA
Sergeant Blair was killed when his motorcycle was struck by a van. The driver of the van was charged with vehicular homicide and three other violations in connection with the incident. Sergeant Blair is survived by his wife and two sons.