Garfield County Sheriff's Office, Washington
End of Watch: Thursday, September 26, 1968
Age:
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit
Date of Incident: September 26, 1968
Weapon Used: Automobile
Suspect Info: Not available
Deputy Birdsell and Officer Eugene Jennings, of the Pomeroy Police Department, were killed during a vehicle pursuit west of Clarkston. During the chase the suspect failed to negotiate a curve and the vehicle ran up an embankment. As the two patrol cars came around the corner the vehicle came off of the embankment and landed on top of Officer Jennings' patrol car. Deputy Birdsell's patrol car then crashed into the back of Officer Jennings patrol car. Deputy Birdsell was killed instantly and Officer Jennings succumbed to his injuries the following day.