Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer John Bailey was struck and killed by a drunk driver while conducting a traffic stop on I-15, north of Oak Hill Road in Hesperia.
He had approached the stopped vehicle on the passenger side to speak with the driver. As he did so, another vehicle traveled onto the shoulder at a high rate of speed and struck Officer Bailey's motorcycle, the stopped vehicle, and the officer.
The vehicle struck with such force that the stopped vehicle was pushed back into the freeway and overturned. All three parties were flown to a local hospital where Officer Bailey succumbed to his injuries.
The suspected drunk driver was taken into custody at the hospital and charged with felony driving under the influence. On July 27th, 2007, he plead guilty to gross vehicular manslaughter and agreed to receive the maximum sentence of 10 years in state prison.
Officer Bailey was a veteran of the United States Army and the California National Guard and had just returned from serving a tour of duty in Iraq during the War on Terrorism. He had served with the California Highway Patrol for 11 years and was assigned to the Rancho Cucamonga office.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two daughters, two sons, parents, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-07A8E4F1- 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 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.
Officer Bailey gave the California Highway Patrol 11 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Thank you 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
John Bailey served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Officer John Bailey 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. John Bailey's cause is highlighted.
How John Bailey Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 10 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John Bailey is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John Bailey was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
232 officers from California Highway Patrol are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
