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Incident
Patrolman Dennis Gonzales was killed when he was struck by a hit-and-run driver while making a traffic stop on I-8, just east of the Fairmount Avenue exit. The 18-year-old suspect later turned himself in, claiming he did not know he struck anyone. The man pleaded guilty to misdemeaner manslaughter was sentenced to 30 days. Patrolman Gonzales had served with the San Diego Police Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
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.
Patrolman Gonzales gave the San Diego Police Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Gonzales.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
San Diego Police Department has lost 38 officers; 8 of them lost to accidents.
Dennis is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Dennis is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Dennis is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1979, 1 officer at San Diego Police Department was lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1979, 4 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 83rd heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 1979, 70 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 48th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1979, 88 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 41st heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Dennis was 25. Of the 8 lost to accidents at San Diego Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 37.3; the middle age was 33. Dennis had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 10 years.
Dennis was 25. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35. Dennis had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Dennis was 25. 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. Dennis had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Dennis was 25. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Dennis had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
June holds 12.5% of these deaths at San Diego Police Department; December holds the most, 25%. Mondays: 62.5%.
June holds 8.6% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 14.6%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
June holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 21.1% of all 38 deaths at San Diego Police Department, the 2nd 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 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
San Diego Police Department has 38 officers remembered here, Dennis among them.
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Emery E. Campbell
Aug 27, 1913
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Oliver S. Hopkins
Jul 2, 1915
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Walter B. Holcomb
Oct 21, 1918
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Joseph S. Lee
Mar 19, 1921
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Charles R. Harris
Apr 3, 1927
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Robert Lee Powers
Jun 16, 1928
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Robert B. McPherson
Sep 19, 1929
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Edward J. Moore
Jan 15, 1933
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Thomas Albert Keays
Nov 20, 1937
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Henry J. Goodrich
Sep 7, 1940
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Robert F. Bowers
Dec 12, 1955
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Harry Kay, Jr.
Mar 11, 1957
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Michael John Bushman
Nov 25, 1963
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Robert L. Everitt
Dec 7, 1964
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James P. Lewis
Dec 29, 1970
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Freddie Joel Edwards
Oct 7, 1971
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Denis W. Allen
Apr 2, 1977
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Archie Calvin Buggs
Nov 4, 1978
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Michael T. Anaya
Apr 11, 1979
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Dennis Glenn Gonzales
Jun 25, 1979
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Ronald R. Ebeltoft
Jun 6, 1981
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Harry Keith Tiffany
Jun 6, 1981
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Kirk Leland Johnson
Feb 20, 1983
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Kimberly Sue Tonahill
Sep 14, 1984
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Timothy J. Ruopp
Sep 16, 1984
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Thomas Edward Riggs
Mar 31, 1985
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Jerry Lee Hartless
Jan 31, 1988
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Ronald Wayne Davis
Sep 17, 1991
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Gerald Kieffer Griffin, Jr.
Apr 25, 2003
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Terry William Bennett
Jun 26, 2003
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Christopher Alan Wilson
Oct 28, 2010
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Jeremy Nicholas Henwood
Aug 7, 2011
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Jonathan Matias De Guzman
Jul 28, 2016
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Jason Paul Zdunich
Jun 10, 2019
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Daniel Gene Walters
Apr 23, 2020
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Ryan Park
Jun 4, 2021
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Jamie Huntley-Park
Jun 4, 2021
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Austin Machitar
Aug 26, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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