Santa Clara Police Department, California
End of Watch Tuesday, January 11, 1966
Add to My HeroesWilliam L. Rickabaugh
Police Officer Bill Rickabaugh was killed when he rode into a steel cable that had been strung across the entrance to a construction zone for the San Tomas Freeway.
He had observed two boys trespassing and riding a motorcycle on what is now the San Tomas Expressway, near Monroe Street and Los Padres Boulevard. Officer Rickabaugh rode his motorcycle up a dirt ramp and collided with a metal cable that had been stretched between two posts. The cable impacted his chest.
A citizen began CPR on Officer Rickabaugh, who was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Officer Rickabaugh was a U.S. Navy veteran and is buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery. He survived by his wife and two children.
Bio
- Age 28
- Tour 5 years
- Badge 39
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Motorcycle crash
Most Recent Reflection
View all 17 ReflectionsRest in peace hero.
J.R.
January 11, 2023
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