Roll of Honor
Stephen Clay Starch
Incident
Border Patrol Agent Stephen Starch died after he fell 150-feet into a ravine while tracking suspected illegal aliens in the Tecate Peak area in San Diego County, California. After losing radio contact with him, other agents began a search of the area involving air support from the United States Customs Service and United States Coast Guard. Agent Starch was located at the bottom of the ravine along Cottonwood Creek with severe head trauma. Agents immediately began CPR but were unable to revive him. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Agent Starch had served with the United States Border Patrol for two years and was assigned to the El Cajon Station.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FED-C3446B99- 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.
Border Patrol Agent Starch gave the United States Department of Justice 2 years.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Border Patrol Agent Starch.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Border Patrol Agent Stephen Clay Starch 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 DC, 454 of 1,419 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 32% of this state's fallen. That is 1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol, 46 of 68 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 67.6% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Stephen Clay Starch's cause is highlighted.
How Stephen Clay Starch Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Stephen Clay Starch is highlighted in Jun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
67 officers from United States Department of Justice - Immigration and Naturalization Service - United States Border Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
