California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Liles was killed Monday evening in an on-duty traffic collision on State Route 99 in Tipton, the agency confirmed.
Officer Liles, 44, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, which occurred shortly after 5 p.m. on Highway 99, just north of State Route 190 in rural Tulare County. The CHP has not yet released specific details regarding the circumstances of the collision.
A married father of two, Officer Liles served with the CHP for over 16 years. He graduated from the academy in 2010 and was subsequently assigned to San Jose, later serving in Hayward and Fresno before transferring to the Visalia region in 2019.
The CHP expressed its "deepest condolences to Officer Liles’ family, friends, loved ones, and all who served alongside him," stating that his "dedication to public service and commitment to protecting the people of California will not be forgotten."
Governor Gavin Newsom ordered flags at the State Capitol in Sacramento and the Capitol Annex Swing Space to be flown at half-staff in honor of Officer Liles. The governor described Liles as having "dedicated his life to serving our communities, and his passing is a heartbreaking loss for the California Highway Patrol and the entire state of California."
Officer Liles is the first CHP officer to die in the line of duty since Officer Andy Ornelas, who was killed in a collision in Palmdale in December 2020.
