Peninsula Rest Area Named for Slain CHP Officer

Written by Laura Dudnick

Law enforcement officials, political leaders and community members gathered Friday at a ceremony naming the rest area on Highway 280 just past the Doran Bridge after a fallen California Highway Patrol officer.

Officer Dale Krings, a six-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol, was fatally shot in the line of duty in May 1962.

Krings and his partner, Officer Vincent Bianchini, were completing their shift and were having breakfast at a Burlingame coffee shop, which was occupied by about 20 other customers.

The suspect, Edward Lang Hargrove, was also in the coffee shop, when Hargrove left his table, went outside and returned carrying a rifle.

From about 15 feet away, Hargrove fired the first shot and wounded a waitress. Krings immediately drew his service weapon as the suspect fired at him.

Though mortally wounded, Krings returned fire, killing the suspect and saving his partner and the other customers.

Krings was transported to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Redwood City area California Highway Patrol Capt. Mike Maskarich, California Association of Highway Patrolmen Mike Cantrall, friends and family of Officer Krings, and State Senator Jerry Hill were in attendance at the ceremony, among others.