Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Stephen Linen was killed when he was struck by a drunk driver at approximately 6:00 am while making a traffic stop on I-5, north of Leucadia Boulevard, in Encinitas.
He was standing on the shoulder next to his patrol car when another vehicle struck it at a high rate of speed. The impact pushed the patrol car into the roadway and the offender vehicle then struck Officer Linen, throwing him approximately 20 feet onto an embankment.
He was flown to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The 20-year-old driver, who was returning from an evening in Mexico, was arrested and charged with DUI. He was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years.
Officer Linen had served with the California Highway Patrol for seven years.
Survivors
He is survived by his parents and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-933622E8- 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 Linen gave the California Highway Patrol 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Linen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Officer Stephen Michael Linen Jr. is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 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 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
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. Stephen Michael Linen Jr.'s cause is highlighted.
How Stephen Michael Linen Jr. Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Stephen Michael Linen Jr. is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Stephen Michael Linen Jr. was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
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