Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer James Collard drowned while attempting to rescue the occupants of a capsized boat off of Del Monte Beach. Officer Collard and another officer had responded to the area of the newly constructed Holiday Inn after receiving word that a boat was in distress in the surf. Once they arrived the boat capsized and both occupants were thrown into the water. Both officers immediately entered the water in an attempt to reach the victims but were unsuccessful. Two Coast Guardsmen were able to pull Officer Collard and the other officer to shore and began CPR. They were able to revive the other officer but Officer Collard could not be revived. One of the boating victims also drowned while the second survived. Officer Collard was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Monterey Police Department for 3-1/2 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his four children, parents, and four siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-ABFABB67- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Police Officer Collard gave the Monterey Police Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Monterey community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James Edward Collard served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Police Officer James Edward Collard is one of 10,095 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,588 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 Monterey Police Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. James Edward Collard's cause is highlighted.
How James Edward Collard Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. James Edward Collard is highlighted in Apr.
Incident Location
Military Service
James Edward Collard served in the U.S. Army before joining law enforcement.
Visit James Edward Collard’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Monterey Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
