Rialto Police Department, California
End of Watch: Monday, March 3, 1986
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 3, 1986
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to death
Sergeant Gary Wolfley was shot and killed after responding to an unknown disturbance at a local gas station.
When he arrived on the scene he observed two men standing next to a gas pump. One of the men immediately began to run and was pursued by Sergeant Wolfley. A struggle ensued behind the service station and the suspect was able to gain control of Sergeant Wolfley's weapon and shoot him.
Sergeant Wolfley's wife, who was with him on a ride along, called for backup. As backup officers were being dispatched, the man took Sergeant Wolfley's gun and ran northbound behind the gas station.
He shot at the first responding backup officer through the cruiser's windshield, but missed the officer. The man then ran and jump through an apartment window and shot the resident in the leg. The resident of the apartment was able to get out as the subject barricaded himself in the apartment. Responding officers from the Rialto, Fontana, and San Bernardino police departments were able to contain the man in the apartment complex. The man later surrendered to police after a night long stand off.
He was convicted of Sergeant Wolfley's murder and subsequently sentenced to death.
Sergeant Wolfley was survived by his wife, who became an officer with the Fontana Police Department one year later.