James E. Pence, Jr.

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA

Felonious

End of Watch April 6, 1970

Age 24

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Badge 6885

The Vigil Panel 106 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 232

Incident

Officer James Pence, Jr., was one of four California Highway Patrol officers who was slain in an incident that became known as the Newhall Incident. Officer Pence had served with the California Highway Patrol for two years. He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter. He is buried in Suisun-Fairfield Cemetery, Fairfield, Solano County, California. A portion of I-5, between Rye Canyon Road and Magic Mountain Parkway, in Los Angeles County, was renamed the "California Highway Patrol Officers James E. Pence, Jr., Roger D. Gore, Walter C. Frago, and George M. Alleyn Memorial Highway" in their honor. On the night of April 5th, 1970, two subjects shot and killed California Highway Patrol Officers James E. Pence, Jr., Roger D. Gore, Walter C. Frago, and George M. Alleyn at the junction of Henry Mayo Drive and The Old Road in Valencia. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) officers in the Newhall area were notified by radio that a handgun brandishing had occurred on US 99 in the Gorman area north of their location. Officer Roger Gore and Officer Walter Frago informed dispatch that they were staked out in the area of Castaic Junction and US 99. A short time later, they spotted the vehicle traveling south on the freeway. The officers notified dispatch and their backup officers that they were following the vehicle as it continued south. The officers intended to make a vehicle stop when the gunman reached the area of Valencia Boulevard, where Officer James Pence and Officer George Alleyn were positioned. The vehicle instead exited the off-ramp at Henry Mayo Drive at The Old Road, just north of Valencia, and pulled into the parking lot of J's Coffee Shop. After activating their red lights and drawing their weapons, Officer Gore ordered the suspects to exit the car with their hands up. They failed to comply, and the order was given again. Finally, the driver got out of the car and was told to lean against the left fender in order to submit to a search. The passenger still did not

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-80137BD4
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 Pence gave the California Highway Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Pence.

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

Agency

Department California Highway Patrol

Location Sacramento, CA

Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 6, 1970

Tour of Duty 2 yrs

Age 24

Badge Number 6885

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Gun; Unknown type

Offender Committed suicide

Officer James E. Pence, Jr. 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.

California Highway Patrol

of 233 officers

30.5% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious