California Highway Patrol, California
End of Watch: Friday, December 22, 1978
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 12 years
Badge Number: 4885
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 22, 1978
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Died in prison
Officer William Freeman and Officer Roy Blecher were shot and killed while patrolling together on I-80 in West Sacramento. Their bodies were found after making a traffic stop at approximately 0300 hours. Investigators found a sign of a struggle. Officer Blecher was found with his hands handcuffed behind his back and shot once in the head.
The suspect was eventually apprehended and sentenced to life. He died in prison on April 16, 2016.
Officer Freeman had been with the California Highway Patrol for 12 years. He is survived by his wife and two children.
In 1994, an elevated portion of Interstate 80, known as the Yolo Causeway, was designated the Blecher-Freeman Memorial Causeway, in honor of the fallen officers.