Roll of Honor
Incident
Officer Robert Suess was killed when a drunk driver struck his police motorcycle on Baldwin Avenue at the Southern Pacific tracks in El Monte. Shortly after 5:00 p.m., a driver went through a red light, ran another car off the road, and then struck Officer Suess head-on. He was thrown 85 feet and pinned beneath the car that hit him. He died instantly. The 41-year-old woman that struck him suffered injuries that left her completely paralyzed. She was convicted of manslaughter and drunk driving and sentenced to 10 years probation. Officer Seuss was a United States Army veteran and had served with the California Highway Patrol for nine months. He previously served with the Vallejo Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and two-year-old son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-C2BC6DF2- 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 Suess gave the California Highway Patrol 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California, 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
Robert W. Suess served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Officer Robert W. Suess 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. Robert W. Suess's cause is highlighted.
How Robert W. Suess Compares
Offender Outcome
10 years probation
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert W. Suess is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert W. Suess 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.
