Police Officer James Edward Collard, Monterey Police Department, California

Police Officer James Edward Collard

Monterey Police Department, California

End of Watch Sunday, April 20, 1969

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James Edward Collard

Police Officer James Collard drowned while attempting to rescue the occupants of a capsized boat off of Del Monte Beach.

Officer Collard and another officer had responded to the area of the newly constructed Holiday Inn after receiving word that a boat was in distress in the surf. Once they arrived the boat capsized and both occupants were thrown into the water. Both officers immediately entered the water in an attempt to reach the victims but were unsuccessful.

Two Coast Guardsmen were able to pull Officer Collard and the other officer to shore and began CPR. They were able to revive the other officer but Officer Collard could not be revived. One of the boating victims also drowned while the second survived.

Officer Collard was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Monterey Police Department for 3-1/2 years. He was survived by his four children, parents, and four siblings.

Bio

Age 29
Tour 3 years, 6 months
Badge Not available
Military Veteran

Incident Details

Cause Drowned

water rescue

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Most Recent Reflection

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In April of 1979 I was a Monterey police officer working dayshift when I was dispatched to a capsized sailboat at the very spot officer Collard had heroically, but tragically, lost his life in the line of duty 10 years earlier. I didn't know officer Collard, but I knew his act of heroism.

When I arrived at the beach I could see the capsized sail boat about 100 yards offshore. I could also see two people in the surf apparently swimming towards shore. The bay was very tumultuous and dangerous. I am a poor swimmer, but I started to strip off my duty gear, uniform shirt and shoes with the intent and hope that I could help the boat occupants? But suddenly I heard a voice telling me "STOP, you won't make it to them". To this day, I believe it was officer Collard speaking to me. The two occupants of the capsized sail boat, wearing life jackets, quickly and safely made it to shore without injury.

Officer Collard was unable to save a life 1969 and lost his life trying. But I am unquestionably certain that he saved my life 10 years later off that very same beach. And some day, I will thank him in person when we meet on God's golden shore

Norm Venturino, chief of police (retired

December 22, 2025