Ernest H. Philbrick
Agency patch
Police Officer

Ernest H. Philbrick

Oakland Police Department — Oakland, CA
Accident
End of Watch February 11, 1929
Age 32
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
The Vigil Panel 56 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Police Officer Ernest Philbrick was killed in a motorcycle crash while he and two other traffic officers attempted to stop a traffic violator on 14th Street near Seminary Avenue. As the three officers sped up 14th Street a vehicle slowed to let the first officer pass, not realizing there were two more officers following. The driver began to turn onto Seminary Avenue when he collided with Officer Philbrick. The vehicle they were attempting to stop was never located. Officer Philbrick had served with the Oakland Police Department for six years and had just been assigned to the Motorcycle Squad three weeks before the crash. He was survived by his expectant wife and two children from a previous marriage. His wife had gone to a hospital shortly before the crash to give birth to their child.

Survivors

He was survived by his expectant wife and two children from a previous marriage.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtn82gnwh1p9ze17ks2rb
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 Ernest. 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.
Police Officer Philbrick gave the Oakland Police Department 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Philbrick.

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

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Oakland, Alameda County, CA
Platform Identity opd.alameda.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch February 11, 1929
Tour of Duty 6 yrs
Age 32
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Ernest 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 1929, 118 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Ernest was 32. 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. Ernest had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

February holds 7.2% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.

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

Oakland Police Department has 54 officers remembered here, Ernest among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Police Officer Ernest H. Philbrick

Oakland Police Department · End of Watch February 11, 1929

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 40-E

↑