MENU
SEARCHAn off-duty California Highway Patrol officer was killed Sunday morning, while attempting to stop a suspect who had stolen his Ford pickup truck. James Magdaleno, a CHP officer from Visalia, was in Las Vegas for his bachelor party.
An off-duty California Highway Patrol officer was killed Sunday morning, while attempting to stop a suspect who had stolen his Ford pickup truck.
James Manuel Magdaleno Jr., 33, and Felix Brandon Cruz, 31, were loading their belongings into a 2009 Ford F-150 in the valet area of the Flamingo shortly before 11 a.m. Sunday. Magdaleno, a CHP officer from Visalia, was in Las Vegas for his bachelor party to celebrate his upcoming wedding, reports the Fresno Bee.
While the two men loaded the truck, 29-year-old James Robert Montgomery jumped into the driver's seat and began to drive away.
Magdaleno chased the vehicle on foot, shouting that he was a police officer. He caught up with the truck when it stopped for traffic and jumped into the bed, with Cruz. He continued to yell at Montgomery to stop.
Montgomery blew through several red lights, struck construction cones, and was hit by a Ford Escape near the Flamingo and Valley View intersection. Magdaleno was thrown from the truck and killed. Cruz was transported to the hospital with critical injuries, reports KTNV.
Discover how one police department cut crime nearly in half using smarter patrol data. This whitepaper breaks down the real-world strategy behind a 46% drop in vehicle thefts, improved officer safety, and stronger community visibility.
Read More →
Thumbnail for video series POLICE Topics, Tactics & Tips with a yellow headline that reads When Do You Transport a Wounded Officer Instead of Waiting for EMS?
Read More →
In this video, hear from Dustin Mowery, a product specialist at Team Wendy, as he discusses how to best use a patrol vehicle for cover.
Read More →
Whether your department is focused on improving transparency or rebuilding community confidence, this ebook offers real examples and practical strategies to help. Learn how data-driven insights and modern fleet technologies can strengthen accountability, support officer safety, and enhance public trust.
Read More →
While a patrol vehicle offers some cover protection when taking fire, remain mobile and don’t stick to one piece of cover indefinitely. Dustin Mowery, of Team Wendy, shares what he teaches about using vehicles as cover.
Read More →
Recruit Officer Jon-Marques Psalms, 30, reportedly suffered a medical emergency after completing a training exercise on Wednesday August 20, 2025, at the Academy.
Read More →The webinar titled “Beyond the Plate: Real-Time Video Intelligence for Police Operations” will show how pairing LPR data with live camera feeds delivers faster, safer, and more coordinated responses on everything from stolen vehicles to active BOLOs.
Read More →
A great bicycle officer has a strong service mentality, paramount knowledge of laws, a thirst for new knowledge, and someone who can adapt to change easily. If this describes you, your agency's bicycle unit might be a good fit.
Read More →
You need to train like an elite athlete for the life-and-death challenge you may some day face on the job.
Read More →
