Officer Michael David Gartrell

On April 25, 1991, Officer Gartrell initiated a pursuit of a suspected drunk driver.  Shortly after he advised that he was in pursuit, the communications dispatcher was unable to raise him on the radio.  A short time later, Sacramento Sheriff Deputies advised that Officer Gartrell's police vehicle had been involved in a collision on Martin Luther King Boulevard and the Highway 99 over-crossing.  Upon arrival at the accident scene, officers discovered that Officer Gartrell did not survive the collision.  Officer Gartrell was 37 years old and was a six year veteran of the police department.