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Incident
Detective Monty Conley and Detective Joe Landin were killed when their vehicle was broadsided by another vehicle that ran a stop sign on Avenue 120 in Pixley, California. At 12:40 p.m., the undercover detectives were returning to the sheriff's office headquarters after participating in a narcotics investigation and heading east on Avenue 120. After exiting Highway 99, the driver of a car failed to stop and hit the officers' unmarked patrol car. The force of the impact pushed the patrol car off the road, flinging the car airborne and causing it to roll down the highway embankment. When their vehicle stopped, both Detective Conley and Detective Landin were trapped under their car. They died at the scene. The driver of the vehicle that struck them was convicted of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and sentenced to five years. Detective Conley had served with the Tulare County Sheriff's Office for 12 years and previously served with the Woodlake Police Department.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and father.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Conley gave the Tulare County Sheriff's Office 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Visalia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Conley.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Tulare County Sheriff's Office has lost 16 officers; 10 of them lost to accidents.
Monty is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Monty is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Monty is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1985, 2 officers at Tulare County Sheriff's Office were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1985, 7 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 33rd heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 1985, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1985, 75 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 66th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Monty was 33. Of the 10 lost to accidents at Tulare County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 32.3 and 47.5; the middle age was 34. Monty had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 12 years.
Monty was 33. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35. Monty had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Monty was 33. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Monty had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Monty was 33. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Monty had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 20% of these deaths at Tulare County Sheriff's Office; December holds the most, 20%. Mondays: 30%.
August holds 9.4% of these deaths in CA, more than any other month. Mondays: 14.6%.
August holds 9.5% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.4%.
August holds 9.3% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 62.5% of all 16 deaths at Tulare County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.2% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Tulare County Sheriff's Office has 16 officers remembered here, Monty among them.
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John Nicolas Wren Jul 5, 1889
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Oscar A. Beaver
Aug 6, 1892
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Carl Oscar Johnson
Sep 30, 1951
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Ross Clifford Cochran
Nov 19, 1951
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Vernon Cox
Apr 15, 1965
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Carlos Manuel Magana
Dec 9, 1970
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Monty Lewis Conley
Aug 5, 1985
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Joe Ruiz Landin
Aug 5, 1985
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Michael Robert Egan
May 2, 1989
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Kevin Eugene Elium
Oct 7, 2005
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Kent Minor Haws
Dec 17, 2007
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Greg Hernandez, Jr.
Feb 6, 2009
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Jeremy Wayne Meyst
Dec 24, 2013
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Scott Alfred Ballantyne
Feb 10, 2016
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Frank Gonzalez Holguin, III
Jan 27, 2021
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Randy Hoppert
Apr 9, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 24-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Tulare County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
