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Incident
Officer Martin Joyce and Officer Paul Trent were killed when their patrol car collided with a Pierce County Sheriff's Department patrol car occupied by Deputy Sheriff Arthur Varco and Deputy Sheriff Lawrence Bunce. The crash occurred at the intersection of 11th Avenue and Pacific Avenue. The deputies were responding to an accident while the officers were responding to an unrelated attempted suicide. Officer Joyce succumbed to his injuries two days later. The other three officers were killed instantly. Officer Joyce had served with the Tacoma Police Department for eight years.
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.
Officer Joyce gave the Tacoma Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Tacoma community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Joyce.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Tacoma Police Department has lost 12 officers; 5 of them lost to accidents.
Martin is one of 111 officers lost to accidents in WA, 32.6% of the 340 remembered there.
Martin is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Martin 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 1941, 2 officers at Tacoma Police Department were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1941, 4 officers in WA were lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 70 years on record. The heaviest was 1968, with 5.
In 1941, 68 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 54th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1941, 90 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 38th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Martin was 45. Of the 5 lost to accidents at Tacoma Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 43 and 45; the middle age was 44. Martin had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Martin was 45. Of the 92 lost to accidents in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46.3; the middle age was 38. Martin had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Martin was 45. 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. Martin had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Martin was 45. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Martin had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
November holds 40% of these deaths at Tacoma Police Department, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 40%.
November holds 15.3% of these deaths in WA, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 11.7%.
November holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.
November holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 41.7% of all 12 deaths at Tacoma Police Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 32.6% of all 340 deaths in WA, 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
Tacoma Police Department has 12 officers remembered here, Martin among them.
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Minor Cudihee
Jul 30, 1892
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Lloyd M. Kincaid Oct 28, 1918
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William Wickman
Aug 9, 1925
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Paul Andrew Trent
Nov 23, 1941
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Martin J. Joyce
Nov 25, 1941
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Lief Ben Overdahl
Jan 22, 1957
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Larry Leland Frost
Sep 9, 1977
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Craig Alan Nollmeyer
Jan 24, 1985
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Larry W. Walker
Oct 25, 1986
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William Francis Lowry
Aug 28, 1997
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James Gordon Lewis
Apr 27, 2004
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Reginald Jake Gutierrez
Nov 30, 2016
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
11 officers from Tacoma Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
