Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Earl Scott was shot and killed while making a traffic stop Northbound Highway 99 south of Hammett Road in Salida at approximately 4:30 AM.
Officer Scott stopped a vehicle that he had observed speeding on northbound Highway 99. Officer Scott approached the vehicle and obtained the registration card from the driver. As Officer Scott walked back to his patrol car the suspect opened fire, fatally shooting him in the head.
A passing motorist, who was also heading north, saw the officer falling to the ground and the suspect's car speeding away. The witness exited the freeway and turned around, returning to the scene where he called authorities on a cell phone. When backup officers arrived they were able to identify the suspect's car by the registration that was still in Officer Scott's hand.
The officers were able to find the suspect by identifying the car. He was arrested and charged with murder, although he claimed that his car was stolen and he hadn't committed the crime. The suspect had an extensive criminal record, including arrests for robbery and assaulting a police officer. In August 2010 he plead guilty to Officer Scott's murder and was convicted and sentenced to life in prison plus three years without the possibility of parole; he cannot appeal this conviction as part of the plea agreement.
Officer Scott had served with the California Highway Patrol for five years. He is survived by his father, stepmother, and sister. His father and two uncles retired as sergeants from the California Highway Patrol. One of Officer Scott's cousins currently serves as a sergeant with the California Highway Patrol.
Survivors
He is survived by his father, stepmother, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-4D7BD8DF- 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 Scott gave the California Highway Patrol 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Scott.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Earl Harwood Scott is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At California Highway Patrol, 71 of 233 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earl Harwood Scott's cause is highlighted.
How Earl Harwood Scott Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life plus three years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl Harwood Scott is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl Harwood Scott was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
232 officers from California Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
