Officer Benjamin Kealoha Jr.

Assignment:  Solo-bike, Traffic Division

Date of Birth:  August 9, 1940

Appointment Date:  November 3, 1969

End of Watch:  November 27, 1971

 

On November 27, 1971, Officer Benjamin Kealoha Jr., was travelling on the H-1 freeway on his police motorcycle ewa (West) bound near Pensacola when a car in front of him slowing down to pass the scene of an accident skid and then spun around on the rain-slicked freeway.  Officer Kealoha reacted to the now stopped vehicle in his lane and laid his bike on its side to avoid a crash but was unsuccessful as he continued to slide into the vehicle.

Officer Kealoha was taken to the hospital but died in surgery as a result of his injuries.