Officer Stephen Michael Linen, Jr.

Officer Stephen Michael Linen, Jr.

California Highway Patrol, California

End of Watch Sunday, August 12, 2001

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Stephen Michael Linen, Jr.

Officer Stephen Linen was killed when he was struck by a drunk driver at approximately 6:00 am while making a traffic stop on I-5, north of Leucadia Boulevard, in Encinitas.

He was standing on the shoulder next to his patrol car when another vehicle struck it at a high rate of speed. The impact pushed the patrol car into the roadway and the offender vehicle then struck Officer Linen, throwing him approximately 20 feet onto an embankment.

He was flown to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The 20-year-old driver, who was returning from an evening in Mexico, was arrested and charged with DUI. He was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years.

Officer Linen had served with the California Highway Patrol for seven years. He is survived by his parents and brother.

Bio

  • Age 31
  • Tour 7 years
  • Badge 13812

Incident Details

  • Cause Vehicular assault
  • Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved
  • Offender Sentenced to 10 years

drunk driver, traffic stop

Most Recent Reflection

View all 121 Reflections

It's been over 22 years... yet it still feels like yesterday. I was serving in the Navy as a Military Police Officer at the time of the incident. I had just completed my night shift. I was one of 5 who were first on scene, before Police and EMS. I was holding your feet when we tried to administer aide to you, load you onto the board, walk you down the hill and load you into the Medivac helicopter on I-5. Your memory and sacrifice, live on through me, when I teach fellow officers in my current job as a civilian DoD Police Instructor/ Sergeant in MD. Your honor, courage and commitment to the job and community in which you served, will never be forgotten, as long as I'm able to speak. RIPower Brother, We STILL Have The Watch!!!

Sgt (TRASUP/NLW) Conway Robinson
Office of Naval Intelligence Police Dept

January 30, 2024

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