Remembering CHP's Finest - Earl Scott (2/17/2006)

The sun hadn’t risen yet in the town of Ripon, a farming community dotted with new houses, right in the heart of Central California just north of Modesto. And on Friday, Feb. 17, Officer Earl Harwood Scott, I.D. 16386, of Modesto Area, was on patrol. As it turned out, he would not live to see the sun rise. At around 4:40 a.m., he made a traffic stop on northbound Highway 99 — and something went drastically wrong. He was shot in the face and killed, left on the side of the road with the assailant’s car’s registration still in his hand.

“Earl believed in the same principles, the same morals as every officer in the CHP,” said Modesto CHP Officer Tom Killian, I.D. 10246. “He wore the uniform.”

Scott, 36, was single and often invited friends over to his house. Many of his fellow officers shared in stories in the office of watching movies and ballgames and smoking cigars. Beyond his fun-loving demeanor was a person who was always asking, “How can I help? What can I do?”

“This past summer, he was the first volunteer to shave his head for ‘Shave the Brave,’ a fund raiser for cancer victims. And being single, that was a really brave thing to do,” said Killian.

“He made a connection with everyone, “ Killian added. “He often took Explorers on ride-alongs and was the first one they asked to work with when they volunteered. Those young people are devastated by this.”

“As officers, we always knew that if we were in trouble, he’d be the one coming to save us; we knew he’d be there. We weren’t there for him, and that’s hard,” Killian added. “He was always professional, always courteous. I’m sure he was courteous to the person who shot him.”

The funeral for Officer Scott will be held at 2 pm on Thursday, Feb. 23, at First Baptist Church, 1326 12th St., Modesto.

At the time of this posting, Officer Scott’s killing is an ongoing investigation. More details and information will be provided as it becomes available.

On Thursday, February 23, 2006 the CHP Modesto Area recognized the life and contributions of Officer Earl Scott, who was murdered in the line-of-duty the previous week. Law enforcement agencies from all over California, and uniformed representatives from as far away as Massachusetts, attended the service.

Earl touched many lives and was very popular in his office. Captain Duncan, Modesto Area Commander, had a difficult time speaking to his command about the loss that has touched so many.

CHP Officer Brandon Rioux spoke of his experience being Earl’s field training officer when Earl was first assigned to the CHP Santa Cruz Area from the Academy. Rioux feared Earl might have a “CHP silver spoon in his mouth” because his father and two uncles were CHP sergeants. Rioux said, “That just wasn’t true.” Earl and Rioux went on to become close friends — a friendship that continued after Earl transferred to the CHP Modesto Area. Later, Earl convinced Rioux to also transfer to the Modesto Area. According to Rioux, “Earl was the guy you hoped your little sister met and married.” In closing Rioux said, “I was one of Earl’s many friends; Earl was one of my few friends." When Rioux finished speaking, almost every eye had shed at least one tear.

Prior to Earl’s CHP career, he was a reserve police officer with Modesto P.D. During this time he developed a very close friendship with Modesto P.D. Officer Robert Hart. Robert spoke at the funeral about how he initially rented Earl a room in his home. That was the beginning of a friendship that would develop into a brotherhood. They were roommates for 12 years. Robert's children called him “Uncle Earl.” Besides his experience at Modesto P.D., Earl also worked for the California Department of Corrections as a Correctional Peace Officer before joining the CHP. In September 2005, Earl bought his own home, and as Hart said, “Earl left the nest.”  On Saturday, Feb. 4, Robert was dropping off Super Bowl party supplies at Earl’s. It was then Earl showed Robert a flyer for a house for sale just two homes away from Earl’s. Robert knew the new house was bigger than his current home, it was a good deal, and — as importantly — it would mean he and Earl could live closer to each other. The Hart family soon will be moving to their new home, but only Earl’s memory will exist in the home two doors down.

During the funeral, Cliff Bemis sang “The Badge of the CHP” (written by Cliff after the on-duty death of CHP Officer Bruce Hinman, his good friend, in 1995). Officer Eric Johnson, Modesto Area, also sang a heart-felt tribute for Earl. A slide show, set to music, gave those attending a brief glimpse into Earl’s life. In the short time Earl owned his new home he had become a good neighbor. When Earl was home in the evenings his garage door was up and neighbors and friends congregated in his driveway and garage – sometimes enjoying their favorite cold beverage. It was known to many as “Earl’s place.” It was often at these informal gatherings that Earl’s CHP friends, his Modesto PD friends, his neighbors and all his other friends would come together, have a drink and discuss things they had in common. Earl brought people together in a good way.

Some of the most telling photographs shown during the slide show were of the driveway of Earl’s home lined with candles and flowers placed by his neighbors. In the photos, his neighbors and friends surround his driveway holding candles, remembering Earl. It was the kind of gathering where one neighbor tells another neighbor and some close friends are invited. The neighbors and friends in the photos sometimes appeared visibly shaken but comfortable about where they were, in Earl’s driveway or garage — a place they were familiar with, “Earl’s Place.”

Hanging out at Earl’s Place wasn’t like hanging out in your average home’s garage.  It was a large three-car garage— not because Earl had three cars, but because Earl needed garage space in order to host his friends and neighbors. The inside of Earl’s home was nice, but hanging out in the garage was more informal.  It allowed the kids to ride their “big wheels” or bicycles into the garage to check in with their parents. More importantly, all the neighbors could see the gathering at Earl’s — and that meant more neighbors might stop by. Earl’s garage had a TV and VCR mounted on the wall. It had lots of overhead lights, plus a couch, computer and refrigerator.

Earl’s neighbors are in the process of having the small park near Earl’s home named in his memory.

CHP Officer Brandon Moore (Modesto Area) lives in the home behind Earl’s – they share a backyard fence. Brandon talked about Earl’s willingness to help with any project – one time stretching a compressor hose across both backyards and the fence, from Earl’s garage to Brandon’s house to help Brandon with a project. Brandon has small children who like to play in their backyard. Brandon’s kids understood Earl worked “graveyard” shift and they had to play quietly outside during the afternoon when Earl was sleeping. After Earl’s death, Brandon’s children came to him one afternoon and quietly asked “Is Earl sleeping?”
 

Donations can be made in  memory of Officer Earl Scott at any Wells Fargo branch office. All proceeds will go toward the 11-99 Foundation.