James Christopher O'Connor
Agency patch
Officer

James Christopher O'Connor

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA
Accident
End of Watch November 15, 1990
Age 34
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Badge 10404
The Vigil Panel 136 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Officer James O'Connor was killed when his motorcycle was struck head-on by another vehicle. Officer O'Connor and three fellow officers were returning from a motorcycle training session in Santa Maria. Officer O'Connor was riding in the left rear position of a box formation with the other officers on California 154 outside Santa Ynez when a car veered into the path of the motorcyclists. Three officers managed to swerve, but Officer O'Connor was struck head-on and thrown 60 feet, his helmet knocked loose by the impact. He was transported to Santa Ynez Valley Hospital where he died from his injuries. The 78-year-old driver of the car was not cited in the incident. Officer O'Connor had served with the California Highway Patrol for eight years and was assigned to Ventura.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife, who was also a California Highway Patrol Officer, and three stepdaughters.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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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

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Officer O'Connor gave the California Highway Patrol 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the people of California. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Officer O'Connor.

— 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 November 15, 1990
Tour of Duty 8 yrs
Age 34
Badge Number 10404
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

The Sacrifice · Accident

James 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
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1990, 66 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 64th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

James was 34. 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. James had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

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

When

November holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Thursdays: 14%.

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, James among them.

Across the years

Officer James Christopher O'Connor

California Highway Patrol · End of Watch November 15, 1990

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 15-W

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