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Incident
Chief Copeland succumbed to injuries received three days earlier when he was struck by a train while investigating a call of a suspicious character at the Eastside warehouse at 2000 hours. The train was moving without lights when it struck him, causing major injuries.
Chief Copeland had served as Chief on three separate occasions and had been in law enforcement for 20 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
20 years. You could have gone home.
Chief of Police Copeland gave the Kennewick Police Department 20 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Kennewick community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Chief of Police Copeland.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Kennewick Police Department has lost 4 officers; 2 of them lost to accidents.
Charles is one of 111 officers lost to accidents in WA, 32.6% of the 340 remembered there.
Charles is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Charles 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 1933, 1 officer in WA was lost to accidents, the 30th heaviest of 70 years on record. The heaviest was 1968, with 5.
In 1933, 77 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 31st heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1933, 94 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 29th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Charles was 66. Of the 92 lost to accidents in WA whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 46.3; the middle age was 38. Charles had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Charles was 66. 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 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Charles was 66. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Charles had served 20 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 3.6% of these deaths in WA; November holds the most, 15.3%. Sundays: 18.9%.
April holds 7% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Sundays: 14%.
April holds 7% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 14%.
How
Accident deaths account for 50% of all 4 deaths at Kennewick 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 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Kennewick Police Department has 4 officers remembered here, Charles among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 30-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Kennewick Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
