Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Oregon
End of Watch: Tuesday, July 23, 1985
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: 111
Cause of Death: Aircraft accident
Date of Incident: July 23, 1985
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Corporal Virgle Knight, Special Deputy Ronald Terwilliger, and Sergeant Gerald Chirrick were killed in a helicopter crash while conducting a marijuana eradication operation.
The helicopter crashed after striking power lines as it took off from the parking area of the Canton Creek Campground in the Umppqua National Forest.
Corporal Knight had served with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for seven years. He was survived by his wife, son, parents, and siblings.