California Rangers

CALIFORNIA STATE RANGERS

California State Police Division

Memorial to Our Fallen Comrades

Those Who Have Paid the Ultimate Price

Those who chose to wear the shield of a California State Police Officer were a unique breed of men and women. They often stood alone against adversity. During the many years that I wore the shield. We were often called upon to answer the call as; S.W.A.T., Riot Control, Water Rescue, Prisoner Transport, Couriers and Executive Protection. In those days we did not have the luxury of seperate units deticated to specific duties in which to responed to the call, it was the job of all Troopers to do the job, regardless of the duty. I never knew a Trooper that failed to answer the call; be it a car load of fully armed Black Panthers, an armed robber, or a car load of Brown Berets' bent upon blowing up the Governors residence. I know about this one first hand, because I was the Trooper on duty at the Governors residence, when a car load of Brown Berts with a case of dynamite. Were bent up on blowing up the residence. The Commander of the Los Angeles Company Office stated the position of the CSP in response to a request for him to write a letter of support of the proposed presentation of an award which was being presented to a Trooper for "Heroism," in the face of over whelming odds.
"There are no heros among the members of the California State Police. Whatever they are called upon to do - they do - it is their duty. They do it without consideration of reward or recompense."

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Robert Vincent O'Connor
California State Police - San Francisco Company Office
March 9, l958

State Police Officer Robert V. O'Connor was a passenger in a state police vehicle driven by State Police Officer, Daniel M. Murphy. The two officers had completed a patrol of state property in San Jose and were returning to San Francisco on the Eastshore Freeway when a motorist driving in the opposing lane of traffic lost control of his vehicle, skidded 52 feet, jumped a divider strip and skidded another 30 feet before crashing into the state police vehicle. Murphy sustained major injuries and O'Connor died just minutes after the crash which also killed the motorist. Officer O'Connor, 30, had served five years with the state police and had been a policeman with the city of Hayward before coming into to state service.

Robert V. O'Connor
Date of Birth: Unk
Date Appointed: Unk
Fell in line of duty: March 9, l958

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Sgt. Elias S. Enriquez
California State Police - Bakersfield Sub-Station
January 23, 1974
State Police Sergeant Elias S. Enriquez was patrolling the California Aqueduct in the afternoon when he apparently slipped, fell into the canal and drowned. Investigators believe he was walking along the concrete lining of the canal and wrapping illegal fishing line around his hand which he had retrieved from the canal, when he fell into the water. Sergeant Enriquez was 32.

Elias S. Enriquez
Date of Birth: Unk
Date Appointed: Unk
Fell in the line of duty: January 23, 1974

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Ofc. David A. Jack
California State Police
October 21, 1974
Los Angeles Company Office

State Police Officer David A. Jack was assigned to the Dispatch Center in the Los Angeles Company Office at 1st and Broadway. He was on the first watch when his body was discovered in the office doorway by one of the CSP patrol officers. Jack's service revolver was still in his holster and he had apparently been ambushed by a gunman who shot the State Police officer once in the temple. Officer Jack was rushed to the hospital but died just hours later. The 21-year-old State Police officer had been appointed to the State Police service only seven months earlier.
I was on duty at the Governors residence in Pacific Palasades when the shooting took place. All CSP weapons of .38 cal were collected to eliminate them as suspects in the shooting. The ballistics test on the bullet revealed that it came from a LAPD service revolver. The revolver in question was taken from the body of the LAPD officer, after he had been shot. The CSP issued a wanted poster for the killer of Officer Jack. About three years later, the gun was discovered during a routine traffic stop in a West LA suburb. The suspect was charged with murder of the LAPD Officer and Officer Jack. He was convicted of murdering the LAPD Officer, but only the gun could be tied to the Officer Jack Slaying.

David A. Jack
Date of Birth: 1953, age 21
Date Appointed: abt. March 1974
Fell in the line of duty: October 21, 1974