San Francisco Police Department, California
End of Watch Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Add to My HeroesNick-Tomasito Birco
Officer Nick Birco was killed when his patrol car was struck by a van being pursued by officers at the intersection of Cambridge and Felton Streets.
The persons in the van had been involved in an earlier robbery of an individual. The victim had accompanied officers during a search of the van and located it a short distance away. As the officers approached it, the van sped away.
The officers pursued the van until it struck the rear quarter panel of Officer Birco's patrol car, causing it to spin around and strike a utility pole. The van then struck two buildings and crashed. Officer Birco had aborted an attempt to lay down spike strips at the intersection and was moving his patrol car when it was struck.
Officer Birco was transported to San Francisco General Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
All four persons were taken into custody. The three occupants of the van were charged with murder, manslaughter, and other charges. The driver was convicted by a jury on September 23rd, 2010, of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, evading police, and gross vehicular manslaughter and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Two other suspects were offered plea deals of 15 years, and the fourth suspect was never charged.
On May 30th, 2014, the California Court of Appeals upheld the second-degree murder conviction but overturned his sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
Officer Birco was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Gulf War. who served with the San Francisco Police Department for five years. He was survived by his parents, two sisters, a brother-in-law, a niece, and two nephews.
Bio
- Age 39
- Tour 5 years
- Badge 612
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Vehicle pursuit
- Weapon Automobile
- Offender Sentenced to life
Most Recent Reflection
View all 438 ReflectionsAlways on our minds
Forever in our Hearts...
Sgt. Sherman Lee Ret.
SFPD/Midnight member for life.
July 26, 2024
Recent LODD Deaths
Border Patrol Agent David Christopher Maland
United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, US
EOW: January 20, 2025
Sergeant Mark Butler
Navasota Police Department, TX
EOW: January 15, 2025
Deputy Sheriff Jesus Vargas
Brazoria County Sheriff's Office, TX
EOW: January 15, 2025
Police Officer II Colton Dale Pulsipher
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, NV
EOW: December 12, 2024
Deputy Sheriff Timothy Corlew
Riverside County Sheriff's Department, CA
EOW: January 8, 2025
Lieutenant Mark Meadows
Irondale Police Department, AL
EOW: January 6, 2025
Senior Investigator John L. Carey
New York State Police, NY
EOW: October 24, 2024
Correction Officer Andrew Lansing
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, OH
EOW: December 25, 2024
Trooper Clay M. Carns
Illinois State Police, IL
EOW: December 23, 2024