Officer Down

Officer Thomas Philip Coleman
California Highway Patrol
End of Watch: Friday, June 11, 2010
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 7 years, 8 months
Badge Number: 17338
Cause of Death: Vehicle pursuit
Date of Incident: Friday, June 11, 2010

Officer Thomas Coleman was killed in a motorcycle accident while pursuing a traffic violator he was attempting to stop in Redlands.

At 6:30 am, Officer Coleman was traveling northbound on Mountain View, just north of Interstate 10, when his motorcycle collided with a semitrailer at the intersection of San Bernardino Avenue and Alabama Street approximately one minute into the pursuit. The vehicle he was pursuing crashed into another vehicle moments later and all four occupants were apprehended.

Officer Coleman succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officer Coleman had served with the California Highway Patrol for over 7½ years and was assigned to the San Bernardino Area of the Inland Division. He was a US Marine Corps veteran. Officer Coleman is survived by his wife, 2-year-old son, 8-month-old daughter, brother, three sisters and parents.

Rest in Peace Bro…We’ll Continue The Watch
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.