WAStateC.O.P.S.

05/29/2026

Washington State EOW 05/29

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05/29/1985: Officer Michael Erdahl, Washington State Department of Corrections

Officer Erdahl was shot and killed in his home and then his home was set on fire and destroyed. Erdahl served as a Community Corrections Officer at the Bremerton Office and had been threatened by a recent parolee. Although the case has not been solved, it is believed by the investigating agency that his murder was a result of his duties as a correctional officer.

For more on Officer Erdahl: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/88951303/michael-s-erdahl

05/28/2026

Washington State EOW 05/28

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05/28/1936: Inspector Charles Flachs, INS (Blaine)

On May 28, 1936, Edward McMullen, a Canadian fugitive, arrives on a bus from Vancouver at the Blaine Port of Entry. Using the alias James Arthur Fraser, he tells U.S. Immigration Inspector Charles Michael Flachs that he has inadvertently left his identification papers behind in Vancouver.

Inspector Flachs, dissatisfied with McMullen's evasive statements, refers him to Customs Inspector Leroy J. Pike for further inspection. Fearing he will be arrested and deported, McMullen pulls a pistol from his pocket and starts shooting. Inspector Pike is unarmed and desperately wrestles with the gunman. The scuffle ends when McMullen is critically wounded by a bullet from his own gun. After the melee, Inspector Flachs is found dead on the floor, a bullet through the heart. McMullen shot himself through the left eye and died 2 days later.

US Marshal Artis Chitty was involved in the apprehension of Inspector Flach's murderer; Chitty himself was an LODD on 08/22/1940.

For more on the murder of Inspector Flachs: https://historylink.org/File/9852

05/27/2026

Washington State EOW 05/27

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05/27/1931: Marshal George Warring, Mabton PD

George Warring served 6 years for the Police Force, dying in the line of duty at age 53. Marshal Warring was responding to a report of a domestic disturbance, where a man threatened to shoot his wife for pouring out his Whiskey.

Marshal Warring and the man were friends, so Marshal Warring did not feel threatened by this man, even though the wife warned him that her husband was armed and serious. As Marshal Warring attempted to talk to his friend and calm him down, the suspect fired off his shotgun through the door, fatally wounding Marshal Warring. The suspect was convicted of Marshal Warring's murder and hung for the crime. Marshal Warring was survived by his wife and daughter.

For more on Marshal Warring: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/20864208/george-thomas-warring

05/26/2026

Washington State EOW 05/26

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05/26/1945: Trooper Thomas Hanlin, Washington State Patrol Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation (Deming)

Trooper Hanlin passed away from injuries sustained 18 months after flipping his paddy wagon on the Mount Baker Highway near Deming. His injuries were first considered minor bruises, but a later diagnosis revealed he suffered from a major head injury.

For more on Trooper Hanlin: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1118260987008882&set=a.627960359372283

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we pause to remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to others. 🇺🇸💙

For many families, “Never Forget” is more than a phrase — it’s a promise. A promise that the lives, service, and sacrifice of our fallen heroes will continue to be honored and remembered.

At Concerns of Police Survivors, we carry that promise with us every day as we stand beside surviving families and co-workers.

Today, we’d like to ask:
What does “Never Forget” mean to you? 💙🖤

05/24/2026

Washington State EOW 05/24

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05/24/1979: Inspector Kenneth Ward, U.S. Treasury Dept. (Lynden)
05/24/1985: Trooper Glenda Thomas, Washington State Patrol Washington State Patrol Memorial Foundation (U District - Seattle)
05/24/2015: Patrolman James Bennett, Housing Authority of New Orleans (LA) PD

*On May 24, 1979, Artie Baker, an escapee from a California prison, and his companion Marie Ferreboeuf arrive from Canada at the Lynden border crossing. Baker's car is selected for a routine inspection. Baker and Ferreboeuf are referred to U. S. Customs Inspector Kenneth G. Ward for further examination.

Baker had been serving a life sentence for the 1972 robbery and murder of an elderly couple in Fresno. He had been hiding in Humboldt County, California, with a group of militant radicals called the Wellspring Communion, an offshoot of the Symbionese Liberation Army, and using the alias Michael Joseph Arrington. Now, Inspector Ward had that very same false driver's license in his possession.

Once inside the station, Ward took the identifications to query the names for "wants and warrants." While waiting for a reply, he asked Baker and Ferreboeuf to empty their pockets onto the counter. Inspector Ward then told Baker to turn around so he could perform a pat-down search for weapons. Baker resisted and a brief struggle ensued. Baker drew a semi-automatic pistol from the back of his pants, under his shirt, and shot Inspector Ward through the heart, point-blank, killing him instantly.

*Trooper Glenda Thomas was killed while investigating a multi-vehicle collision on the north Seattle freeway. Trooper Thomas was standing between two vehicles at the collision scene when another car rear ended one of the vehicles involved in the earlier collision, pinning her between two automobiles.

*Patrolman Bennett, with survivors in Washington State, was murdered while working an overtime detail at a construction site. He was patrolling a site where homes were being built when he was shot and killed by an unknown person. Patrolman Bennett's patrol car was found crashed later that morning. Responding officers found him inside the patrol car fatally wounded.

For more on Inspector Ward: https://www.historylink.org/File/5450

For more on Trooper Thomas: https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1116730260495288&set=a.627960359372283

For more on Patrolman Bennett, with survivors in Washington State: https://www.odmp.org/officer/22492-patrolman-james-arthur-bennett-jr

05/23/2026

Washington State EOW 05/23

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05/23/1964: Officer Robert Ferron, Portland Police Bureau (OR)

Officer Ferron, with survivors in Washington State, was driving an unmarked vehicle, headed out of town on the Baldock Freeway. His car went out of control just south of Corbett. The car left the road, rolled several times, traveling over 600 feet and ejected the officer. Ferron was taken to the hospital where he died four hours later.

For more on Officer Ferron, with survivors in Washington: https://www.odmp.org/officer/4816-officer-robert-r-ferron-jr

Officer Robert Ferron was born in Deadwood, South Dakota and moved to Portland four years later. He had been a member of the Marine Corps, Engineer Battalion. He was appointed to the Bureau on...

05/22/2026

Washington State EOW 05/22

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05/22/1927: Sheriff Lester Wood, Clark County Sheriff's Office, Washington State (near Yacolt)
05/22/1991: Deputy Richard Cochran, King County Sheriff's Office

*On May 22, 1927, Clark County Sheriff Lester Wood sent three deputies to Dole Valley, about 25 miles northeast of Vancouver, to look for a still that he believed was operating at the head of the valley. He was right: A week or two earlier Luther Baker, his younger brother Ellis, and Ellis’s 21-year-old son Ted Baker had set up a still in a densely wooded area near the south bank of Smith Creek. The deputies drove to Huston’s camp (an old logging camp) in Dole Valley and began their search.

They soon found a trail and followed it until they spotted a 125-gallon still (plus three 500 gallon holding tanks). Just then Ellis Baker appeared, aimed a rifle at the deputies, and ordered them to leave. The deputies returned to Huston’s camp and telephoned for backup. Wood and another deputy drove from Vancouver to the camp.

Luther Baker was nearby when his brother Ellis had earlier run off the deputies. The Bakers correctly surmised that the deputies would return and waited for them. Wood raised his shotgun and yelled, “Put up your hands, I’m the sheriff!” Instead, from about 60 feet, Luther fired. Wood was struck with a rifle shot just above his hip and died within minutes.

*Deputy Cochran was involved in a 5-car collision on southbound I-5 near North 117th street in Seattle. Cochran was struck from behind by a Snohomish County Community Transit bus. He was thrown from his motorcycle as it was pushed into a van in front of him.

Cochran was an experienced motorcycle rider and had recently joined the King County Police motorcycle unit. He was riding with a training officer, who also went down as part of the accident, but was not seriously injured.

Cochran was transported to Harborview where he died during surgery with massive Internal injuries.

The North American Motors Officer association awards the “Richie Cochran Rookie of the Year Award” at their annual symposium.

For more on Sheriff Wood's death: https://www.historylink.org/File/8116

For more on Deputy Cochran: https://www.facebook.com/KingCountySheriff/posts/2265635490185835

05/21/2026

Washington State EOW 05/21

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05/21/1997: Deputy Randal Jennings, Butte County Sheriff (CA)

Deputy Jennings, with survivors in Washington State, was fatally shot in a gunfight. He was chasing Pao Xiong across a field when the latter reportedly shot at him, and he returned fire. Officers may never know for certain who fired first. But since all five of Xiong’s shots hit the deputy’s body and only one of the deputy’s 10 shots hit Xiong, the sheriff surmised that Xiong fired first. Two bullets struck Jennings in the neck, just above his bullet-proof vest. Another two were lodged in the vest and the fifth went through the deputy’s right wrist, piercing his watch, Sheriff Grey reported.

For more on Deputy Jennings, with survivors in Washington State: https://camemorial.org/honor-roll/tribute/randal-e-jennings/

05/20/2026

Clark County Sheriff's Office, Washington State, your fallen officers’ names at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund wall during National Police Week 2026 💙