IN THE LINE OF DUTY
San Diego Sheriffs Office
Deputy Ward succumbed to wounds sustained when he was beaten while transporting a prisoner to San Quentin Prison on the steamer Santa Rosa. Deputy Ward was attacked by the man as the steamer was docked at Port Harford in San Luis Obispo County. The inmate beat him over the head with a heavy water bottle and them jumped overboard in an escape attempt. The man was taken into custody by a Santa Barbara County deputy who was on the ship. Deputy Ward was taken to the San Luis Obispo County Hospital where he succumbed to his wounds 16 days later.
The suspect was convicted of murder and hanged at San Quentin Prison the following year.
Deputy Fay was shot and killed after arresting a suspect for disturbing the peace. Deputy Fay was off duty when he heard neighbors arguing. He identified himself as a deputy and placed the man under arrest. He then allowed the man to retrieve a hat from inside the home, but he instead came out with a gun and shot and killed Deputy Fay. Deputy Fay was survived by his wife and two children.
Deputy Witt died from Hepatitis he contracted from a prisoner.
Deputy Bazer was in the beginning of her training at the academy when shot and killed during a robbery attempt on her way home.
Deputy Brewer was shot and killed by a suspect who was barricaded in his home after firing shots into his neighborhood. Deputy Brewer, who was a member of the SWAT team, was shot in the arm in-between the panels of his vest with an AK-47. The suspect was later shot and killed by SWAT team members.
Deputy Theodore Beckmann was killed after his patrol car was struck by a drunk driver. He was responding to a child abuse call when he noticed a truck fish tailing down the road. He pulled off to the shoulder to avoid the truck but it drove over the driver’s side of his vehicle, killing him. Deputy Beckmann’s partner survived the incident. Deputy Beckmann had served with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for 8 years and is survived by his two sons.
Deputy Coyle was killed and a another deputy was injured in a helicopter accident. Deputy Coyle died of his injuries approximately 3 hours after the crash, which occurred at 7:44 pm. The two deputies were looking for possible trespassers when the Hughes 500 helicopter suddenly lost power and fell from the sky. The tail was sheared from the helicopter on impact but the passenger compartment was left largely intact. Deputy Coyle had served in law enforcement for 8 years. He is survived by his wife and two small children.
Deputy Ken Collier died from injuries sustained during a single vehicle accident pursuit of a wrong-way drunk driver. Deputy Collier had served with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for nine years. His most recent post was at the Santee Station. He had previously served with the San Diego County Marshal’s Office for three years. He is survived by his fiance, his brother and his sister.
Deputy Herbert Sibert (July 13, 1949)
Deputy Sibert was out doing a follow-up investigation into a robbery case and was returning home. His
vehicle had a blowout causing a vehicular crash in which he was killed at the scene.
Deputy Andrew Kriss was shot and killed by horse thieves he had followed toward Mexico. He and a county constable had gone to a ranch in Rancho de las Viejas to round up the horses after they had been deserted. As the two drove the horses back towards town several Californios ran most of the horses off. The two lawmen tracked the thieves towards Mexico and overtook two of them who had fallen behind. As they continued towards the rest of the thieves a shootout ensued and Deputy Kriss was shot in the head and killed. Although they had been identified, the suspects were never apprehended. Deputy Kriss had served with the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department for only a few years. He was survived by his wife and two daughters.