Larry L. Wetterling

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA

Felonious

End of Watch March 9, 1973

Age 30

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Badge 5966

The Vigil Panel 111 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 232

Incident

Officer Larry Wetterling was shot and killed when he stopped to help a motorist with a flat tire on Interstate 15. He did not know that the motorist was a convicted felon with a stolen car. The felon shot Officer Wetterling and fled in his patrol car. A few miles away, he crashed into an embankment and then ran to a nearby gas station, where he shot and killed the attendant. During a police search, the suspect shot and killed Lieutenant Alfred Stewart of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department and wounded a civilian ride-along. A passerby, who witnessed the shooting, shot and wounded the suspect. The suspect was convicted of three counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. His conviction was later overturned and commuted to life. He died in prison in 2014. Officer Wetterling had served with the California Highway Patrol for six years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, parents, and two sisters. A portion of I-15 was renamed the CHP Larry L. Wetterling and San Bernardino Sheriff's Lieutenant Alfred E. Stewart Memorial Highway.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, two daughters, parents, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-A63C0261
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.
Officer Wetterling gave the California Highway Patrol 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Wetterling.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department California Highway Patrol

Location Sacramento, CA

Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 9, 1973

Tour of Duty 6 yrs

Age 30

Badge Number 5966

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; .38 caliber

Offender Sentenced to life

Officer Larry L. Wetterling 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.

California Highway Patrol

of 233 officers

30.5% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious