Roll of Honor
Incident
Detective Terry Fincher was struck and killed by a train at 8:30 am while searching for evidence in an assault case near Esperanza Road and Hickory Drive. Detective Fincher had his back to the oncoming train, and it is believed that he did not hear the train or the yells from another officer. As he stepped off of the track, he was sucked back into the train's path. The impact knocked him down an embankment, where he was found dead moments later. The train was traveling at an estimated 50 mph. Detective Fincher was a United States Vietnam veteran and had served with the Brea Police Department for 16 years, receiving numerous awards, including the Medal of Honor and Police Officer of the Year.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, two sons, two stepchildren, and a grandson.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-902C2606- 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.
Detective Fincher gave the Brea Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Brea community, and 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
Terry Lee Fincher served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Detective Terry Lee Fincher 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 CA, 719 of 1,837 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Brea Police Dept., 1 of 2 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 50% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Terry Lee Fincher's cause is highlighted.
How Terry Lee Fincher Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Terry Lee Fincher is highlighted in May.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
1 officer from Brea Police Dept. are honored on badge.nw.
