California Highway Patrol, California
End of Watch: Sunday, October 20, 1946
Age: 52
Tour of Duty: 30 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: October 20, 1946
Weapon Used: Automobile; Alcohol involved
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 1 year
Officer William Reardon was struck and killed by a drunk driver while monitoring traffic.
Officer Reardon was standing near his motorcycle on U.S. Highway 99 near Newhall when the incident occurred. Officer Reardon's wife was close-by and witnessed the accident.
The car, which had no brakes, was being driven by a 23-year-old woman. She was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to one year in jail, fined $500.00, and given three years probation. Her boyfriend, a passenger, and owner of the car, was charged with public drunkenness after he interfered with officers at the scene. He was sentenced to six months in jail; the stiffest penalty ever given for public drunkenness.
Officer Reardon was a United States Army WWI veteran who had served with the California Highway Patrol for 14 years and previously served with the Glendale Police Department and Los Angeles County Traffic Squad. He is survived by his wife, three sons, and a daughter.