Fred J. Kowolowski
Agency patch
Officer

Fred J. Kowolowski

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA
Accident
End of Watch December 26, 1938
Age 29
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
The Vigil Panel 75 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer Fred Kowolowski was killed in a motorcycle accident while on patrol in Santa Clara County. Officer Kowolowski was driving around a sharp bend of the highway. A vehicle in front of him had started to move onto the highway but stopped partially blocking the traffic lane. Officer Kowolowski was unable to swerve and was thrown from his motorcycle. He was taken to Gilroy Hospital and succumbed to his injuries. Officer Kowolowski had served with the California Highway Patrol for a year and a half and was assigned to San Benito County. He was survived by his parents, two brothers, and sister. His brother was a Deputy Sheriff.

Survivors

He was survived by his parents, two brothers, and sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtpj0x099jxhyt92xvc10
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 Fred. 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

You barely got started.
Officer Kowolowski gave the California Highway Patrol 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer Kowolowski.

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

Agency

Type Highway Patrol
Location Sacramento, CA
Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 26, 1938
Tour of Duty 1 yrs 6 mo
Age 29
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

Fred is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.

33,917 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 1938, 89 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 15th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Fred was 29. 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. Fred had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

December holds 8.9% 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

California Highway Patrol has at least 120 officers remembered here, Fred among them.

Across the years

Officer Fred J. Kowolowski

California Highway Patrol · End of Watch December 26, 1938

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 47-E

↑