Fortuna Police Department, California
End of Watch: Sunday, March 12, 1967
Age: 32
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 8 months
Badge Number: 64
Cause of Death: Vehicular assault
Date of Incident: March 12, 1967
Weapon Used: Automobile; Alcohol involved
Suspect Info: Convicted of manslaughter
Officer Ray Mills was assisting another officer who had stopped a car on Northbound Highway 101 just north of Fortuna when he was struck and fatally injured by a drunk driver.
After hitting Officer Mills, the drunk driver continued without stopping. Additional officers pursued the drunk driver until he was arrested about one mile north of the scene. Officer Mills was transported to Redwood Memorial Hospital where he died at approximately 3:37 a.m.
The 22-year-old driver was charged with drunk driving, hit-and-run, and manslaughter. A year later a jury convicted him only of misdemeanor manslaughter.
Officer Mills had served with the Fortuna Police Department for just over a year and a half. He was survived by his wife and two children.