At approximately 11:45am on January 31, 2023, Officer Gonzalo Carrasco, Jr., with the Selma Police Department, was patrolling the 2600 block of Pine Street when he was flagged down by a homeowner regarding a suspicious man on her property. Officer Carrasco exited his patrol vehicle to make contact with the man, identified as 23-year-old Nathaniel Dixon. As Carrasco approached, Dixon immediately fired several shots, striking Officer Carrasco. Dixon then took off running while still armed with his gun. A citizen called 911 reporting an officer shot.

Selma Police officers, Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies, Cal Fire firefighters and Selma EMS responded and provided medical aid to Officer Carrasco. He was transported to Community Regional Medical Center and taken to surgery, but tragically did not survive.

Multiple officers and deputies responded to the area in search of the suspect. A Fresno County Sheriff’s deputy spotted Dixon near Fig and Sequoia streets and he was taken into custody. Dixon’s gun was later recovered a short distance from where he was arrested.

Officer Gonzalo Carrasco, Jr., age 24, is a two-year veteran of the Selma Police Department and is survived by his parents, brother, sisters, and girlfriend, who is currently pregnant with their child. This marks the first line of duty death for the Selma Police Department, which was formed in 1893.

The Fresno County Deputy Sheriff’s Association is supporting the Selma Police Officer’s Association by establishing a memorial fund in which all donations will be given to Officer Carrasco’s family. Please send contributions to:

Fresno Deputy Sheriff’s Association

C/O Selma POA Memorial Fund

1360 Van Ness Avenue

Fresno, CA 93721

 

At approximately 4:30pm on January 13, 2023, Deputies from the Riverside Co. Sheriff’s Office responded to a call for service in the 18500 block of Hilldale Lane, just east of Grand Avenue, in the unincorporated community that borders Lake Elsinore. The call was described as a domestic violence incident involving child custody. Deputy Darnell Calhoun was the first to arrive on scene. A second responding deputy found Deputy Calhoun wounded in the street and a gunfight ensued with the suspect. Deputy Calhoun was rushed to Inland Valley Medical Center, but tragically, despite all lifesaving efforts, he did not survive. The suspect is currently reported in critical condition.

Deputy Darnell Calhoun, age 30, served two years with the San Diego Police Department before transferring over to Riverside Co. SO in February 2022. He is survived by his parents, and his wife who is pregnant.

 

Correctional Lieutenant Steve Taylor died as a result of contracting COVID-19 while serving at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.

Correctional Lieutenant Taylor was a 27-year veteran of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and is survived by his wife, stepdaughter, mother, sister, and brother.

On the afternoon of Thursday, December 29, 2022, shortly before 2:00pm, Deputy Isaiah Cordero with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle in the 3900 block of Golden West Avenue in Jurupa Valley. As Deputy Cordero approached the vehicle the driver produced a gun and fatally shot Deputy Cordero, then fled the scene. A witness called 911 and nearby residents attempted to assist Deputy Cordero until law enforcement and paramedics arrived.

Law enforcement agencies in Riverside County and San Bernardino County began a massive manhunt for the suspect, identified as William Shae McKay. McKay was located in San Bernardino County and a vehicle pursuit was initiated, eventually returning to Riverside County. A spike strip was successfully deployed on the 60 freeway, but the vehicle continued. The vehicle eventually became disabled on the 15 freeway in Norco and was involved in a single car collision. McKay then fired rounds at deputies who returned fire and the suspect was killed. McKay had an extensive violent criminal history including kidnapping, multiple assaults with deadly weapons, and the stabbing of a CHP K9 in 2021.

Deputy Isaiah Cordero, age 32, was an 8-year veteran of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office and is survived by his parents.

Officer Houston Tipping of the Los Angeles Police Department was working as a bike instructor, participating in a defensive tactics scenario with another officer at the Elysian Park Police Academy, when he fell and suffered a spinal cord injury. Other officers immediately began CPR before he was transported to a local hospital. He succumbed to his injuries on May 29, 2022.

 

Officer Tipping, age 32, was a 5-year veteran of the LAPD. He is survived by his parents, Shirley and Rich; his stepfather Bob; his siblings Kat and Tyler and his girlfriend, Brittney. 

 

 

On the afternoon of April 30, 2021, two detained youth assaulted a third youth at the Central Juvenile Hall in Los Angeles. Officer Michael Edward Hall physically restrained one youth, stopping the assault of one of the aggressors. Officer Wall then began to escort the aggressor away when the youth broke and ran. Officer Wall was pursuing the youth when he suffered a cardiac emergency and collapsed into the arms of a nearby officer. CPR was conducted and he was rushed to the hospital. Tragically, Officer Wall passed during emergency surgery.

Officer Wall, age 49, was a 14-year veteran career officer with the Los Angeles County Probation Department. He is survived by his 14-year old daughter, his brother, and his three sisters.

At approximately 4:45pm on June 14, 2022, two officers from the El Monte Police Department responded to a call for a welfare check and possible stabbing at the Siesta Inn in the city of El Monte. Authorities reported the officers confronted the suspect and gunfire erupted inside a motel room. The gunman then fled into the motel parking lot, where more gunfire was exchanged. The gunman was shot and died at the scene and a gun was found.

 

The two officers were transported to the hospital but, tragically, neither officer survived.

 

Corporal Michael Paredes, age 42 and a 22-year veteran of El Monte PD, is survived by his wife, daughter, and son. Paredes was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant. 

 

Officer Joseph Santana, age 31, had been with El Monte PD for less than a year having served previously as a Deputy with the San Bernardino Co. Sheriff’s Department for three years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and twin sons.

At approximately 4:45pm on June 14, 2022, two officers from the El Monte Police Department responded to a call for a welfare check and possible stabbing at the Siesta Inn in the city of El Monte. Authorities reported the officers confronted the suspect and gunfire erupted inside a motel room. The gunman then fled into the motel parking lot, where more gunfire was exchanged. The gunman was shot and died at the scene and a gun was found.

 

The two officers were transported to the hospital but, tragically, neither officer survived.

 

Corporal Michael Paredes, age 42 and a 22-year veteran of El Monte PD, is survived by his wife, daughter, and son. Paredes was posthumously promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

 

Officer Joseph Santana, age 31, had been with El Monte PD for less than a year having served previously as a Deputy with the San Bernardino Co. Sheriff’s Department for three years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and twin sons.

On the morning of January 21, 2022, at 0514 hours, the California Highway Patrol received a call of a wrong-way driver on Highway 99 near 47th Avenue in Sacramento. The calls indicated the driver was traveling northbound in the southbound lanes of Highway 99. The CHP’s South Sacramento Division was in response.

At approximately 0515 hours, Officer Ty Lenehan of the Elk Grove Police Department was riding his department-issued fully marked Elk Grove Police motorcycle in the number 1 lane of southbound Highway 99 near 12^th Avenue. The roadway has a small crest and slight curve near the pedestrian bridge at 12^th Avenue. Officer Lenehan was struck head-on by a late model Dodge Challenger and ejected more than 100 feet from his motorcycle. Another motor officer from another jurisdiction arrived at the collision site within 30 seconds and began lifesaving efforts on Officer Lenehan. Emergency responders from the CHP and Sacramento Metro Fire arrived expeditiously and continued lifesaving efforts, but tragically were unable to revive Officer Lenehan.

The driver of the Dodge Challenger attempted to flee the scene on foot but was apprehended by CHP officers when he was spotted hiding behind the concrete center divider.  The driver was found to be under the influence of alcohol and depressants. His preliminary BAC was .15 at the scene. He was on California DUI Probation from a previous DUI in 2017. He was arrested and booked on charges of vehicular homicide and DUI.

Officer Tyler Ryan Lenehan, age 44, was a U.S. Air Force veteran and had served with the Elk Grove Police Department for six years. He previously served with the Citrus Heights Police Department for four years and the Galt Police Department for two years.  He is survived by his wife and two children, as well as his parents and siblings. 

Born in San Luis de Custique in the Mexican state of Zacatecas, Val Martinez was an energetic child who loved playing with marbles, toy cars, and wooden tops. His mother immigrated to the United States when he was young, moving first to Watsonville and then settling in Delano, where his mother remains today. Val attended various public school before graduating from Delano High School. He then went on to study criminal justice in college and applied to be a law enforcement officer shortly after becoming a US citizen.

Val was initially hired as a correctional officer in Salinas, before being accepted as a LAPD officer. He was sworn in on April 30, 2007, and spent all 13 years of his career in the San Fernando Valley, first as a probationary officer in Reseda, then as a full-time officer in Mission Hills. In March 2013, he received a life-saving medal for providing care for a passenger who was having a medical emergency. He received over 70 commendations, including one from a young man he arrested.

After joining the Los Angeles Police Department, he met and fell in love with fellow officer Megan Flynn. It took only two hours for them to realize that they would be more than partners at work. Together they traveled, finding new adventures in cities across the country.

While not serving his community as a police officer, he volunteered with his church Real Life in Valencia building homes in Ensenada. His church and his faith played a large role in Val’s work as an officer. He was baptized a second time as an adult and looked forward to raising his children with the same faith his mother instilled him.

Val often credited his faith for teaching him to always find common ground with other people, whether that be a victim, an arrestee, or a civilian. He had a knack for finding a way to comfort people while treating them with respect and dignity. Val often found himself helping out the “lost sheep” who just needed a bit of extra care.

Police Officer Valentin Martinez passed away July 24, 2020, due to complications from COVID-19. He is survived by his domestic partner Megan and their twin sons who were born shortly after his death; his mother Maria; his father Ricardo, Sr.; brothers Ricardo, Navor, and Juan; and sister Diana Martinez.

Val will be remembered for his love of his mother’s cooking and obsession with the Boston Red Sox, but even more so for his easy-going sense of humor. He really was one of the good ones.