On July 17, 1982, California Highway Patrol Officer Dale E. Newby, 36, was shot and killed during a traffic stop on Interstate 5 just north of Stockton. A 15-year veteran of the force who had served in Baldwin Park and Contra Costa before transferring to Stockton in 1972, Newby had pulled over a motorist for speeding and erratic driving when the encounter turned violent. The motorist drew a .357 Magnum, shot Newby in the hand, and then fired two more rounds as Newby tried to retreat to his patrol car, the latter shots striking him in the back and proving fatal.

The assailant also took a hostage, whom he subsequently shot and killed; the assailant then died of a self-inflicted wound. Reports note the shooter had a history of mental illness, a detail that prompted discussion afterward about mental health and officer safety. Newby’s colleagues and community remembered him for his dedication and service.