Reserve Deputy Sheriff Constance Ellen Worland, aged 39, tragically lost her life on May 2, 1981, in Scottsdale Estates, Carson, California. On that fateful day, Worland and her partner, Deputy Phillip James Strenkowski, were responding to a call involving a man with a gun. As they arrived at the scene, Worland exited the patrol vehicle with her service revolver drawn, while Strenkowski retrieved a shotgun from the vehicle. In a tragic turn of events, the shotgun accidentally discharged, striking Worland in the back. Despite being rushed to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and undergoing surgery, she succumbed to her injuries due to massive internal bleeding.
The incident was thoroughly investigated by the homicide bureau of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. The investigation concluded that the shooting was accidental. Strenkowski was not charged, as the simulations and recreations of the incident demonstrated that the shotgun discharged when it struck the steering column as it was being removed from the vehicle. This tragic accident marked Worland as the first known female reserve officer in the United States to die in the line of duty.
No arrests or suspects were involved in this case, as it was determined to be an accidental shooting. There were no litigations or murder charges filed against Deputy Strenkowski. The investigation cleared him of any wrongdoing, attributing the incident to a tragic mishap during a high-stress situation. This case remains a somber reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers face in the line of duty.
