Began at INS: September 8, 1941

TITLE: Patrol Inspector

Date Died: June 23, 1945

DETAILS: At about 3:00 p.m. on the afternoon of June 23, 1945, Patrol Inspectors Earl F. Fleckinger and Wilbur E. Kinney were patrolling on U.S. Highway No. 98 about 1 1/2 miles east of Calexico, California, when they stopped and searched an automobile driven by a Mexican alien. Search of the automobile disclosed a quantity of liquor in the rear compartment, whereupon the alien was placed under arrest. The officers then started west toward Calexico with the alien. Inspector Fleckinger was driving the government automobile with the alien seated beside him and Inspector Kinney was following immediately behind in the alien's automobile. They had proceeded about one mile when Mr. Kinney heard two shots and observed the government automobile swerve off the road and into an adjacent canal bank. Mr. Kinney stopped the alien's car about 10 or 15 yards ahead of the government car and while he was attempting to get out of the automobile, the alien fired four shots which failed to hit him. Inspector Kinney pursued, caught and subdued the alien, and left him in an apparently unconscious condition lying prone in the center of the highway. Mr. Kinney then went to the aid of Inspector Fleckinger, at which time his attention was drawn back to the alien who was observed to be staggering across the international boundary into Mexico.

Inspector Fleckinger was taken to a hospital in Calexico by a passer-by. He had been shot in the head which resulted in his death about 6:15 p.m. on the same day.