On October 2nd, 1984, Riverside Police Patrolman Larry J. Safreed was on patrol when he suffered critical injuries in a vehicle collision.

He had just started his shift and was only blocks from the station in his cruiser. It was then that an oncoming car—being driven by a severely intoxicated man—started drifting across the center line and veering into his lane. Patrolman Safreed swerved hard to the right in an attempt to avoid a collision, but just then the car slammed into the driver’s side of his cruiser. Despite being severely injured, Safreed managed to call in the crash.

Larry died of his injuries soon afterwards. The other car’s 35-year-old driver was injured but survived, and was later sentenced to four to 10 years.

Patrolman Safreed was 44 years old at the time of his death, and had served with the Riverside Police Department for seven years. He was survived by his wife, two sons, daughter, mother, father, sister, and two brothers.

Larry was a U.S. Navy veteran, and had previously served with the Riverside Sheriff’s Office. He was considered a very good officer, who was often the first backup to arrive at the scene, and always went out of his way to assist fellow officers. He was known throughout the department and the community for his enthusiasm, cheerfulness, and never-ending willingness to help.