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Incident
Officer Douglas Knutson was killed after being struck by a vehicle while he was assisting a disabled motorist Loop 202, near the Scottsdale Road entrance ramp in Tempe. He was waiting next to his motorcycle when he was struck by the driver who crossed the white line of the entrance ramp to the freeway. He was transported to Maricopa County Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The motorist who struck him was detained and the freeway was closed for several hours after the incident. Officer Knutson had served with the Arizona Department of Public Safety for 12 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- 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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer Knutson gave the Arizona Department of Public Safety 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of Arizona. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Knutson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Arizona Department of Public Safety has lost 31 officers; 15 of them lost to accidents.
Douglas is one of 95 officers lost to accidents in AZ, 28.8% of the 330 remembered there.
Douglas is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Douglas 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 1998, 1 officer at Arizona Department of Public Safety was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 14 years on record. The heaviest was 1983, with 2.
In 1998, 2 officers in AZ were lost to accidents, the 13th heaviest of 56 years on record. The heaviest was 1973, with 5.
In 1998, 84 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 21st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1998, 93 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 31st heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Douglas was 43. Of the 15 lost to accidents at Arizona Department of Public Safety whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 36; the middle age was 33. Douglas had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 5.5 years.
Douglas was 43. Of the 92 lost to accidents in AZ whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 43; the middle age was 34.5. Douglas had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Douglas was 43. 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. Douglas had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Douglas was 43. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Douglas had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 6.7% of these deaths at Arizona Department of Public Safety; October holds the most, 33.3%. Fridays: 13.3%.
January holds 7.4% of these deaths in AZ; November holds the most, 14.7%. Fridays: 14.7%.
January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Fridays: 15.1%.
January holds 8.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15%.
How
Accident deaths account for 48.4% of all 31 deaths at Arizona Department of Public Safety, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 28.8% of all 330 deaths in AZ, 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
Arizona Department of Public Safety has 31 officers remembered here, Douglas among them.
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Louis O. Cochran
Dec 22, 1958
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Paul E. Marston
Jun 9, 1969
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Gilbert A. Duthie
Sep 5, 1970
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James L. Keeton
Feb 5, 1971
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Don A. Beckstead
Feb 7, 1971
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Alan H. Hansen
Jul 19, 1973
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Gregory A. Diley
Dec 2, 1977
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Noah Mack Merrill, Jr.
Dec 11, 1978
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John C. Walker
Nov 30, 1979
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William Harding Murie
Nov 19, 1980
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Thomas Patrick McNeff
Oct 2, 1983
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Richard G. Stratman
Oct 2, 1983
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Bruce A. Petersen
Oct 20, 1987
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Edward Anthony Rebel
Jun 28, 1988
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Johnny E. Garcia
Oct 14, 1989
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John M. Blaser
Aug 31, 1990
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David George Gabrielli
Aug 31, 1990
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Manuel Hurtado Tapia
Jan 8, 1991
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David Jon Zesiger
Jul 3, 1992
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Mark Maynard Dryer
Jul 3, 1993
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Michael Lynn Crowe
Jul 5, 1995
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Robert K. Martin
Aug 15, 1995
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Douglas Edward Knutson
Jan 2, 1998
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Juan Nieblas Cruz
Dec 9, 1998
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Floyd James Fink, Jr.
Feb 18, 2000
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Brett C. Buckmister
Mar 21, 2000
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Bruce Wesley Harrolle
Oct 13, 2008
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Christopher Russell Marano
Dec 17, 2009
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Timothy Allen Huffman
May 6, 2013
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Tyler James Edenhofer
Jul 25, 2018
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Hunter R. Bennett
Feb 4, 2026
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 4-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
30 officers from Arizona Department of Public Safety are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
