Incident: Monday, September 28, 2026, Tipton, California. Announced by the California Highway Patrol the same night and by the Governor’s Office on September 28.
California Highway Patrol Officer Brian Liles, 44, a motorcycle officer assigned to the Visalia Area office, was killed in an on-duty crash on State Route 99 just north of State Route 190 in Tipton, in Tulare County, at about 5:11 p.m.
Liles suffered critical injuries. First responders attempted emergency medical treatment at the scene. He was pronounced dead there.
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The California Highway Patrol announced the death Monday night. “It is with profound sadness that the California Highway Patrol announces the line-of-duty death of Officer Brian Liles,” the agency said.
What caused the crash has not been released. Whether another vehicle was involved has not been released. The California Highway Patrol has not said what Liles was doing at the time of the collision.
Liles served more than 16 years with the California Highway Patrol. He graduated from the CHP Academy in 2010 and was first assigned to the San Jose Area. He also served in the Hayward and Fresno areas before transferring to Visalia in 2019.
“The CHP extends its deepest condolences to Officer Liles’ family, friends, loved ones, and all who served alongside him,” the agency said. “His dedication to public service and commitment to protecting the people of California will not be forgotten.”
Governor Gavin Newsom ordered flags flown at half-staff at the State Capitol and the Capitol Annex Swing Space. “Officer Brian Liles 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,” Newsom said.
The Governor’s Office said it is the California Highway Patrol’s first line-of-duty death since 2020.
Liles is survived by his wife, two children, his parents and two sisters. A procession escorted him from Tipton to a funeral chapel in Visalia.
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