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Incident
Officer Claire Connelly succumbed to injuries sustained the previous day when she was struck by a drunk driver.
During the early morning of Sunday, July 11, 1998, Officer Connelly was investigating a traffic collision on a roadway in the city of Riverside when she was struck by a drunk motorist. The drunk driver’s vehicle then collided with a parked tow truck, injuring the tow truck driver. Officer Connelly suffered head, pelvic, and abdominal injuries. The tow truck driver, who suffered knee and other moderate injuries as a result of the collision, was able to use Officer Connelly’s police car radio to call for help. A 34-year-old woman was later arrested for felony drunk driving and hit-and-run.
Officer Connelly was removed from life support on July 12, 1998, becoming the Riverside Police Department’s first female police officer to die in the line of duty.
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
You barely got started.
Police Officer Connelly gave the Riverside Police Department 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Riverside community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Connelly.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Riverside Police Department has lost 15 officers; 14 of them killed feloniously.
Claire is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Claire is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Claire is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1998, 1 officer at Riverside Police Department was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 12 years on record. The heaviest was 1971, with 2.
In 1998, 11 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 15th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1998, 78 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 89th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1998, 80 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 91st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Claire was 30. Of the 14 killed feloniously at Riverside Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 35; the middle age was 32. Claire had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Claire was 30. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Claire had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Claire was 30. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Claire had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Claire was 30. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Claire had served 1.5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
July holds 14.3% of these deaths at Riverside Police Department; November holds the most, 14.3%. Sundays: 35.7%.
July holds 8.1% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 15.8%.
July holds 9.3% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
July holds 9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 93.3% of all 15 deaths at Riverside Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 7.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 9.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was automobile, in 4.4% of these deaths.
Her people
Riverside Police Department has 15 officers remembered here, Claire among them.
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John Baird
Dec 15, 1912
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Del MacIntyre
Jul 1, 1917
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Clinton Burtner
Dec 4, 1938
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Edward A. Bertino
Feb 3, 1940
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Arthur Simpson
Mar 5, 1944
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Leonard A. Christiansen
Apr 2, 1971
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Paul C. Teel
Apr 2, 1971
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William C. Prettyman
Dec 12, 1973
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Larry Eugene Walters
Nov 13, 1974
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Dennis Charles Doty
May 13, 1982
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Philip N. Trust
May 13, 1982
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Claire Nicole Carolyn Connelly
Jul 12, 1998
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Charles D. Jacobs, III
Jan 13, 2001
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Ryan Patrick Bonaminio
Nov 7, 2010
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Michael Daniel Crain
Feb 7, 2013
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 57-W
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