Kenneth Scott Wrede, a 26-year-old officer with the West Covina Police Department, tragically lost his life on August 31, 1983. On that fateful day, Officer Wrede responded to a disturbance call at approximately 12:19 p.m. Citizens had reported a man acting bizarrely in the street, possibly under the influence of drugs. Officer Wrede located the suspect at the intersection of Francisquito Avenue and Glenview Road. Upon arrival, he observed that the suspect appeared to be under the influence of PCP, a powerful hallucinogenic drug.
A struggle ensued between Officer Wrede and the suspect. During the altercation, the suspect managed to rip the shotgun from the mounting bracket inside Officer Wrede's patrol car. The suspect then fired the shotgun over the roof of the vehicle, fatally wounding Officer Wrede. Despite the immediate response of a K-9 officer, who arrived on the scene and subdued the suspect with the help of his dog, Officer Wrede succumbed to his injuries.
The suspect, who was 29 years old at the time, was arrested and charged with murder. He was initially sentenced to death. However, in 2000, a federal appeals court overturned the death sentence. The suspect was retried in July 2002 and once again sentenced to death. As of December 2022, he remained on death row.
Officer Wrede's death had a profound impact on the community and his fellow officers. In honor of his service and sacrifice, a four-mile section of Interstate 10 was dedicated as the West Covina Police Officer Kenneth Scott Wrede Memorial Highway in 2007. Additionally, the City of West Covina named a street "Wrede Way" in his memory in 1985. Officer Wrede had served with the West Covina Police Department for three years and was survived by his wife and parents. His dedication and bravery continue to be remembered and honored by those who knew him and the community he served.
