Broadmoor Police Department Memorial
Want to learn more about how our fallen heroes are being remembered? In this series of profiles, we focus on the memorials paying tribute to the sacrifice, dedication and valor of those who gave their all in the line of duty.
Mounted in the front lobby of the Broadmoor Police Department is a tribute to Charles E. Manning, the district’s first and only peace officer to die in the line of duty. The plaque bearing his name was originally housed in the department’s common room for a number of years, but was moved to a more visible area in January of last year — the 60th anniversary of Manning’s death — so that the citizens of Broadmoor could remember and acknowledge the ultimate sacrifice he made in service to the community he called home.
On January 6, 1964, Officer Manning was investigating a suspiciously parked vehicle at the New Mission Heating Company on 1111 Hillside Blvd. in Daly City when he surprised a suspect attempting to steal gasoline. The suspect, Timothy L. Silva, a former janitor at the company, fired six shots at Manning — five striking him in the back and one in the chest. Though Manning managed to return fire, he tragically succumbed to his injuries at the scene. He was 43 years old and had honorably served with the department for nine years.
That same year, members of the Broadmoor Police Officer’s Association (BPOA) commissioned the creation of a plaque to memorialize Manning’s ultimate sacrifice, and it was placed near the site of his death on Hillside Boulevard. The plaque was subsequently relocated to the police department, where it has remained ever since.
Today, Manning’s plaque and an etching of his name from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial are prominently displayed in the police department’s lobby, which has been dedicated in Manning’s name. They are among the first things people see when they enter and the last things they see before they leave, serving as a lasting tribute to ensure he will never be forgotten. BPOA President Mike Davis says these remembrances communicate to residents that Broadmoor officers have strong and historical ties to the community, “and that our motto, Dedicated to Service, is so much more than just a motto to Broadmoor police officers.”
Additionally, it sends a poignant message to Manning’s surviving family and friends that they are not alone. “It lets them know that they sacrificed their loved one,” Davis explains. “Officer Manning was not only a police officer for the Broadmoor Police Department, but he was also a resident of the community, which makes the memorial more personal for the department, its officers and the Broadmoor community.”
The department and the association also make it a point to honor Manning’s memory each year in May during the California Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremonies in Sacramento, where they commemorate all of the state’s fallen officers. They also post an annual dedication on their social media accounts for the Broadmoor community.
This month marks the 61st anniversary of Manning’s death, and PORAC members interested in paying their respects to him are invited to visit his plaque in Broadmoor, located in Northern San Mateo County.
“The memorial is a reminder to Broadmoor officers of the ultimate sacrifice that officers in the field can be called upon to make,” Davis shares. “It is also a reminder of the price that officers are willing to pay for the protection of the Broadmoor community.”
