California Highway Patrol, California
End of Watch Thursday, March 9, 1944
Add to My HeroesForest Underwood
Sergeant Forest Underwood was shot and killed by a robbery suspect.
He was writing a parking citation at Sunset Boulevard and Highland Avenue when a taxi cab suddenly stopped next to him. The driver jumped out and yelled that there was a robber inside his cab. The subject jumped out of the cab and fired at Sergeant Underwood. He returned fire but missed the subject. As he lay dying, he was able to write down the license plate and a description of the murderer at the bottom of the citation he had been writing.
The 18-year-old suspect, known as the "Cry Baby Bandit," forced two women to drive him away from the scene. He was arrested two weeks later in San Francisco.
On June 19, 1944, the high school honor student was convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping and sentenced to life in prison plus 26 years without the possibility of parole.
Sergeant Underwood had served with the California Highway Patrol for at least four years. He was survived by his wife and son.
Bio
- Age 41
- Tour 4 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Gunfire
- Weapon Gun; Unknown type
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 20 ReflectionsI read about this hero on July 9, 2023.
Hopefully he has been resting in peace all of these
years and is looking down proudly on his relatives.
"Blessed are the Peacemakers".
Sgt. Randy Keenan ~ (Retired)
City of Alameda, CA Police Department
July 9, 2023
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