MENU
SEARCH“The officers who lost their lives were very young and had families just like many of our officers do today,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said in a statement. “We honor the memory of the Newhall officers regularly and vow that their sacrifice and that of their loved ones will never be forgotten.”
It's acknowledged as one of the bloodiest gun battles in California history.
Four young California Highway Patrol officers were killed on April 6, 1970, in a tragic standoff, now known as the “Newhall Incident.” Among the fallen officers, all in their early 20s, were Walter C. Frago, Roger D. Gore, James E. Pence Jr. and George M. Alleyn.
Monday marked the 45th anniversary of the incident as CHP officials commemorate the officers statewide.
"The officers who lost their lives were very young and had families just like many of our officers do today," CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said in a statement. "We honor the memory of the Newhall officers regularly and vow that their sacrifice and that of their loved ones will never be forgotten."
A lot has changed in the Santa Clarita Valley since then, but the memory of the fallen four still resonates with the officers of the CHP, the Santa Clarita Valley Signal reports. Their deaths led to massive reforms for the department and significantly changed how CHP operates.
Farrow said the incident "forever changed many of the CHP’s officer safety policies, procedures and training regimens."
Related Articles:
Five Gunfights That Changed Law Enforcement
He Who Ignores History
What were the top videos published by POLICE in 2025? Many covered tactics and officer safety, while others came from booth visits at IACP in Denver, Colorado. In case you missed these, here are the top 10 videos.
Read More →
A new integration partnership will enable Flock Safety hotlist alerts and license plate recognition (LPR) searches directly in Coreforce’s Real-Time Crime Center (RTCC) and Digital Evidence Management System (DEMS) platform.
Read More →
Ballistic Armor Co. secured a new commitment that will accelerate its multi-year transition from a third-party tactical equipment retailer to a premium innovator and U.S. manufacturer of advanced protective systems.
Read More →
The US Police & Fire Championships is now open to all employees – sworn, civilian, administrative, technical, and support staff – who work directly for an eligible public safety agency.
Read More →
How can officers better “watch the hands”? Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association, shares some tips.
Read More →
What steps can officers take to stay safer during felony or high-risk vehicle stops? Here are 10 tips from Mike Willis, Law Enforcement National Training and Program Director for the US Deputy Sheriff's Association.
Read More →
Amped FIVE empowers you to advance your investigations with confidence and precision, from the crime scene all the way to the courtroom.
Read More →
A Burbank Police Department K-9 was fatally shot over the weekend by a passenger who fled on foot from a traffic stop. The armed suspect was killed in a shootout with officers.
Read More →
In this video, learn about how InVeris provides training to law enforcement, including customized augmented reality scenarios. The augmented reality system can scan up to 10,000 square feet of real-life environments and create a curriculum based on those spaces.
Read More →
Learn about Polaris Government & Defense in this video as POLICE visits their show booth to discover their side-by-sides and the advantages they provide for agencies.
Read More →