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
Related LODD Deaths
Corporal Virgle Dewey Knight, Jr.
Douglas County Sheriff's Office, OR
EOW: July 23, 1985
Special Deputy Sheriff Ronald Henry Terwilliger
Douglas County Sheriff's Office, OR
EOW: July 23, 1985
Most Recent Reflection
View all 11 ReflectionsSgt. Chirrick,
On today, the 32nd anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just as a LEO but for our Country as well when you served with the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.
R.I.P.
USBP
Anonymous
United States Border Patrol
July 23, 2017
Recent LODD Deaths
Police Officer Stephen Carr
Fayetteville Police Department, AR
EOW: December 7, 2019
Sergeant Christopher Brewster
Houston Police Department, TX
EOW: December 7, 2019
Agent Billy Fred Clardy, III
Huntsville Police Department, AL
EOW: December 6, 2019
Sergeant Joshua Voth
Colorado Department of Corrections, CO
EOW: December 4, 2019
Master-at-Arms Oscar J. Temores
United States Navy Security Forces, US
EOW: November 30, 2019
Sheriff John "Big John" Williams, Sr.
Lowndes County Sheriff's Office, AL
EOW: November 23, 2019
Police Officer Rasheen McClain
Detroit Police Department, MI
EOW: November 20, 2019
Investigator Cecil Ridley
Richmond County Sheriff's Office, GA
EOW: November 19, 2019
Deputy Sheriff Stephen Reece
Cheatham County Sheriff's Office, TN
EOW: November 15, 2019