Riverside Police Department, California
End of Watch Sunday, July 12, 1998
Add to My HeroesClaire Nicole Carolyn Connelly
Officer Claire Connelly succumbed to injuries sustained the previous day when she was struck by a drunk driver.
During the early morning of Sunday, July 11, 1998, Officer Connelly was investigating a traffic collision on a roadway in the city of Riverside when she was struck by a drunk motorist. The drunk driver’s vehicle then collided with a parked tow truck, injuring the tow truck driver. Officer Connelly suffered head, pelvic, and abdominal injuries. The tow truck driver, who suffered knee and other moderate injuries as a result of the collision, was able to use Officer Connelly’s police car radio to call for help. A 34-year-old woman was later arrested for felony drunk driving and hit-and-run.
Officer Connelly was removed from life support on July 12, 1998, becoming the Riverside Police Department’s first female police officer to die in the line of duty.
Officer Connelly had served with the Riverside Police Department for 18 months. She is survived by her parents, sister, brother, stepfather, stepmother, grandparents, and nephews.
Bio
- Age 30
- Tour 1 year, 6 months
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Vehicular assault
- Incident Date Saturday, July 11, 1998
- Weapon Automobile; Alcohol involved
- Offender Charged w/ felony drunk driving
Most Recent Reflection
View all 38 ReflectionsI was on shift as a Police Explorer that night. You had just held a the motor vehicle call while taking care of a current call we were on together with Officer Tipre who I was riding along with. Officer Tipre and I went back to the station and I heard the call of officer down. I will never forget that moment in my life. You were a wonderful person to have worked with.
Staff Sergeant (Retired) Engbrecht
RPD Former Police Explorer/ US ARMY
December 28, 2020
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