Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Steve May succumbed to injuries sustained seven years earlier when his patrol car was rammed by a suspect in a stolen vehicle.
The suspect had rammed two Stanislaus County deputies earlier in the evening as they investigated the vehicle's license plates. The man fled into Modesto, where he was located and followed by a Modesto police officer.
As the driver began to flee from the officer he ran a stop sign at the intersection of South Santa Cruz and Mono Drive and crashed into Sergeant May's patrol car. The collision knocked the suspect's vehicle into a nearby house, which collapsed onto him and killed him. Sergeant May's vehicle was pushed into a tree, causing him to suffer a fractured skull and other injuries.
Sergeant May never regained consciousness and succumbed to his injuries seven years later.
Sergeant May had served with the Modesto Police Department for 23 years at the time of the crash.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-315FAF5D- 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
23 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant May gave the Modesto Police Department 23 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Modesto community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant May.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Steven Edward May 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 Modesto Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Steven Edward May's cause is highlighted.
How Steven Edward May Compares
Offender Outcome
Deceased
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Steven Edward May is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Steven Edward May was killed by automobile.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Modesto Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
