Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Oregon
End of Watch Tuesday, July 23, 1985
Add to My HeroesGerald G. Chirrick
Sergeant Gerald Chirrick, Corporal Virgle Knight, and Special Deputy Ronald Terwilliger were killed in a helicopter crash while conducting a marijuana eradication operation.
The helicopter crashed after striking power lines as it took off from the parking area of the Canton Creek Campground in the Umppqua National Forest.
Sergeant Chirrick was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. He had served with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for 16 years and had previously served with the Reedsport Police Department. He was survived by his wife, two sons, daughter, mother, and siblings.
Bio
- Age 44
- Tour 16 years
- Badge 103
- Military Veteran
Incident Details
- Cause Aircraft accident
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EOW: July 23, 1985
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