Roll of Honor
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
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-66815F26- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 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
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer David W. Copleman is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 719 of 1,837 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At California Highway Patrol, 151 of 233 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 64.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David W. Copleman's cause is highlighted.
How David W. Copleman Compares
Offender Outcome
Not available
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. David W. Copleman is highlighted in Apr.
Others Who Wore This Badge
232 officers from California Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
