Roll of Honor
Incident
Captain Carl Summers was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver while conducting an investigation. While officers engaged in a foot chase with an auto theft suspect, Captain Summers remained behind with the stolen vehicle and the police cars on State Route 83 one mile north of Lodi. When the officers returned to the scene of the stop, they found his body in the roadway next to the vehicles. Investigation revealed that the suspect, who had fled on foot, was part of a car theft ring. When he had failed to return with the stolen truck, two other members of the ring went to look for him. When they located the truck, they observed Captain Summers standing next to it. They intentionally struck him with their vehicle's side-view mirror. Despite being critically injured, Captain Summers was able to fire two shots and struck the truck. The truck was found a short time later, and the suspects were arrested. Captain Summers slipped into a coma and succumbed to his injuries five days later. Both suspects, age 24, were charged with murder. One was convicted of aggravated vehicular homicide and sentenced to 2 to 5 years. The driver was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 6 to 25 years. He received an additional 10 years for motor vehicle theft. Captain Summers was a United States Air Force veteran and had served with the Lodi Police Department for 7 years. He was survived by his wife and daughter. A stretch of State Route 83 has been renamed Captain “Smokey” Carl Edward Summers Memorial Highway.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-OH-DBEA4695- 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.
Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Carl. Claim this record.
This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.
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.
Captain Summers gave the Lodi Police Department 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the Lodi 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
Carl Edward Summers served in the Other (1966â1970) before joining law enforcement.
Captain Carl Edward Summers 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 OH, 572 of 991 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 57.7% of this state's fallen. That is 3.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Carl Edward Summers's cause is highlighted.
How Carl Edward Summers Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 25 years
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Carl Edward Summers is highlighted in Dec.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Carl Edward Summers was killed by automobile.