David W. Copleman
Agency patch
Officer

David W. Copleman

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA
Accident
End of Watch April 6, 1985
Age 27
Badge 10503
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Copleman was killed in an automobile accident while pursuing a speeding motorist in Ventura County. During the pursuit an oncoming van swerved to avoid traffic, colliding head-on and killing Officer Copleman. The motorcycle driver was eventually apprehended and charged in connection with Officer Copleman's death.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Copleman served with the California Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Copleman.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 6, 1985
Age 27
Badge Number 10503
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Accident

David is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1985, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

David was 27. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

California Highway Patrol has at least 120 officers remembered here, David among them.

Across the years

Officer David W. Copleman

California Highway Patrol · End of Watch April 6, 1985

Where the Name Is Cut

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