National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial

Officer Rank: Police Officer

Memorial Panel: 19-W: 28

Department: California Highway Patrol

End of Watch: April 11, 1971

Cause: PHYS

Age: 49

Years of Service: 16

Description: Police Officer Quirk died of a heart attack several hours after a foot pursuit of suspicious suspects. On April 10, 1971, at 1:50 p.m., while on routine patrol, Officer Quirk observed several suspects walking down a local highway and attempted to question them. When the suspects saw Officer Quirk approaching, they fled. Officer Quirk called dispatch and began a foot pursuit of the suspects. After apprehending the suspects, Officer Quirk became ill. Later that evening, Officer Quirk was transported to a local hospital with severe chest pains. Officer Quirk died the next morning at 03:00 a.m. while at the hospital.