William Clarence Dodge
Agency patch
Traffic Officer

William Clarence Dodge

King City Police Department — King City, CA
Accident
End of Watch October 2, 1926
Age 26
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 5 mo
Gender Male

Incident

Traffic Officer William Dodge was killed in a motorcycle accident while pursuing a traffic violator. Officer Dodge was on patrol and began chasing a speeding vehicle on the city's main street, Broadway, which also served as US Hwy 101. A vehicle driven by a local woman did not see Officer Dodge and turned in front of him causing a collision. He died a short time later at the local hospital. There is no record of prosecution; it was ruled an accident. Officer Dodge had served with the agency for nearly one and half years. He was survived by his wife and son, who was born the day after Officer Dodge died, brother, and two sisters. In June 1997, a flag pole and plaque were dedicated to Officer Dodge's memory with his son and 99-year-old widow were in attendance. They presented Officer Dodge's badge to the department and it is now on display in the lobby of the King City Police Department.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and son, who was born the day after Officer Dodge died, brother, and two sisters.

In Our Keeping

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

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

You barely got started.
Traffic Officer Dodge gave the King City Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the King City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Traffic Officer Dodge.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location King City, Monterey County, CA
Platform Identity kpd.monterey.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 2, 1926
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 5 mo
Age 26
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident
Weapon Automobile

The Sacrifice · Accident

William is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1926, 68 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 54th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

William was 26. 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. William had served 1.4 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 14.9%.

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. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 6.9% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

Where

Traffic Officer William Clarence Dodge

King City Police Department · End of Watch October 2, 1926

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 52-W

Others Who Wore This Badge

0 officers from King City Police Department are honored on badge.nw.

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