Samuel G. Cope Sr.
Agency patch
Officer

Samuel G. Cope Sr.

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA
Accident
End of Watch January 16, 1940
Age 41
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
The Vigil Panel 76 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Samuel Cope succumbed to injuries he received in a motorcycle crash on October 19, 1939, in West Covina. While traveling on Holt-Garvey Highway (present-day Interstate 10), a vehicle turned onto the highway from Sunset Avenue, hitting him. Officer Cope suffered from internal injuries and passed away at St. Vincent Hospital in Los Angeles. Officer Cope had served with the California Highway Patrol for four years and previously served with the Los Angeles Police Department for 10 years.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtmrrn8z5p0djhn3654xb
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Samuel. 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 never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Cope gave the California Highway Patrol 14 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Cope.

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

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 16, 1940
Tour of Duty 14 yrs
Age 41
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Samuel is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1940, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Samuel was 41. 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. Samuel had served 14 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

California Highway Patrol has at least 120 officers remembered here, Samuel among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Officer Samuel G. Cope Sr.

California Highway Patrol · End of Watch January 16, 1940

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 62-W

↑