Officer

California Highway Patrol

5/30/1960

Special Act Award (Gold)

At approximately 11:45 pm, Officer Usrey was riding with his partner Officer Rummel on a routine patrol duty on US 99 on the Grapevine when they observed a speeding vehicle. Officer Usrey’s partner stopped the vehicle with the intention of issuing a citation. As the officer approached the vehicle, the driver pointed a pistol at Officer Rummel. Instinctively, Officer Usrey acted. He fired a shot through the rear window of the suspect’s vehicle. Simultaneously, the driver fired two shots pointblank at Officer Rummel and Officer Rummel dropped to the pavement. Officer Usrey continued to fire, forcing the driver to take cover behind the front seat thus preventing him from continuing to fire at Officer Rummel. At this point the suspect’s vehicle started to roll down the grade. The lights came on and the suspect’s vehicle sped away. Officer Usrey assisted his wounded partner into the patrol vehicle, fastened their safety belts, and started in pursuit. Officer Usrey gave chase at speeds in excess of 100 miles an hour. Officer Usrey’s ability to maneuver the patrol vehicle in the traffic while keeping close enough to the fleeing vehicle so as to enable his partner to return fire, prevented any innocent victim from being involved. Suddenly the suspect vehicle went out of control, skidded across the roadway and struck a palm tree. Debris from the wrecked vehicle was thrown into the patrol vehicle causing Officer Usrey to lose control. The patrol vehicle rolled over numerous times and after skidding approximately 200 feet on its top, landed upside down in the dividing strip. Both officers, somewhat dazed, scrambled out of the patrol vehicle and began an immediate search of the wreckage of the suspect’s vehicle. They discovered the suspect who had received fatal injuries as a result of the crash, lying face up in a nearby irrigation ditch. By this time other patrol vehicles and sheriff units arrived at the scene and Officer Usrey assisted in the care for Officer Rummel.