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Incident
Lieutenant Charles Bricker succumbed to injuries sustained two days earlier when the patrol car he was riding in struck a train at an unguarded crossing on 4th Avenue at 3rd Street.
He and another officer were responding to a robbery at a local gas station when the car struck a coal car in the darkness. He suffered a fractured skull and broken hip in the accident and died two days later.
Lieutenant Bricker had served with the Huntington Police Department for 22 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
22 years. You could have gone home.
Lieutenant Bricker gave the Huntington Police Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Huntington community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Lieutenant Bricker.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Huntington Police Department has lost 8 officers; 2 of them lost to accidents.
Charles is one of 54 officers lost to accidents in WV, 23.3% of the 232 remembered there.
Charles is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Charles is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1940, 1 officer in WV was lost to accidents, the 8th heaviest of 47 years on record. The heaviest was 1922, with 2.
In 1940, 67 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 59th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1940, 107 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 9th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Charles was 51. Of the 46 lost to accidents in WV whose age is recorded, half were between 26.3 and 46.3; the middle age was 33.5. Charles had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Charles was 51. 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. Charles had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Charles was 51. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Charles had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 13% of these deaths in WV; November holds the most, 16.7%. Sundays: 20.4%.
January holds 7.7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 14%.
January holds 8.1% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 25% of all 8 deaths at Huntington Police Department, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 23.3% of all 232 deaths in WV, 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 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Huntington Police Department has 8 officers remembered here, Charles among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 28-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
7 officers from Huntington Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
