Fund Will Aid Kin of Officer Hit by Train

As relatives of police detective Terry Fincher prepared funeral services, his colleagues announced Thursday that a memorial fund was being established in the investigator’s honor.

Police said they were deluged with calls from people wanting to help the Fincher’s family, including some who had never met him and crime victims whom Fincher had comforted.

On Wednesday morning, Fincher was walking near railroad tracks in Yorba Linda looking for a baseball bat that may have been used in an assault earlier that day, when he was struck and killed by a train.

At the Brea Police Department on Thursday, an emergency operating center was set up to take calls, some from Brea residents offering condolences and others from police officers in other jurisdictions volunteering to help patrol the city during the mourning period.

“The support has been tremendous,” said Officer Dan Moon, who answered calls from the public Thursday.

Police at the time said the train approached Fincher from behind at about 50 mph, and its draft apparently pulled him into its path.

But railroad officials dispute that theory, saying that their independent investigation suggests that Fincher was struck by the left front side of the lead engine because he was too close to the tracks.

Autopsy results were inconclusive as to how the officer died, and both the Police Department and the railroad company are continuing their investigations. Police detectives said they were looking into the possibility that Fincher was standing too close and was struck, instead of being pulled into the train by a draft.

“A person standing up to 8 feet away from a train can die by the suction from the train,” said Sgt. Tom Flenniken. “And our initial thoughts were that’s what had happened.”

Funeral services for Fincher will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday at the Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton, 2801 Brea Blvd.

Donations may be made to the Terry Fincher Memorial Fund, c/o the Brea Police Assn., P.O. Box 243, Brea CA 92621.

Fincher is survived by his wife, Brenda, children Edie, 23, of Texas and Erik, 25; and stepchildren Melissa Scott, 16, and Nathan Scott, 20, and a 2-year-old grandson.