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Incident
Sergeant Oliver Hopkins was killed when his police motorcycle was intentionally struck by a suspect in a pickup truck at the intersection of 20th Street and M Street. Upon being hit, his motorcycle got stuck under the truck, and he was dragged more than a block. He succumbed to injuries while in surgery three hours later. The suspect was later arrested by the chief of police and subsequently sentenced to two years. Sergeant Hopkins had been promoted to sergeant the previous day, and he requested to stay on motorcycle patrol. He had served with the San Diego Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, children, and parents.
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.
Sergeant Hopkins gave the San Diego Police Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Hopkins.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
San Diego Police Department has lost 38 officers; 27 of them killed feloniously.
Oliver is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Oliver is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Oliver is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1915, 1 officer at San Diego Police Department was killed feloniously, the 4th heaviest of 24 years on record. The heaviest was 1981, with 2.
In 1915, 12 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 10th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1915, 152 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 26th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1915, 157 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 29th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Oliver was 47. Of the 27 killed feloniously at San Diego Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28.5 and 37; the middle age was 33. Oliver had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Oliver was 47. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Oliver had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Oliver was 47. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Oliver had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Oliver was 47. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Oliver had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 7.4% of these deaths at San Diego Police Department; June holds the most, 22.2%. Fridays: 14.8%.
July holds 8.1% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15.1%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 71.1% of all 38 deaths at San Diego Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 18.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 9.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.4% of these deaths.
His people
San Diego Police Department has 38 officers remembered here, Oliver 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 64-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
37 officers from San Diego Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
