California Highway Patrol, California
End of Watch: Tuesday, February 24, 1998
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 18 years
Badge Number: 9623
Cause of Death: Weather/Natural disaster
Date of Incident: February 24, 1998
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Officer Ricky Bill Stovall was killed when his patrol car was washed off of a roadway in a terrible storm attributed to the El Niño phenomenon.
Officer Stovall and his partner, Officer Britt Irvine, were responding to a call to assist stranded motorists on Highway 166 when the storm washed out the section of roadway they were on. Both officers were killed and several other motorists were washed into the water as well. Their patrol car was found upside down under silt, mud, and debris approximately 100 yards from the roadway.
Officer Stovall had served with the California Highway Patrol for 18 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.