On October 10, 2023, Deputy Alfredo “Freddy” Flores of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was training with a fellow deputy inside the mobile shooting range at the Pitchess Detention Center in Castaic when an equipment malfunction ignited a fire at approximately 9:30am. Both Deputies suffered severe burns before being rescued by fellow deputies and transported to a local hospital.

After a valiant months-long fight, Deputy Flores succumbed to his injuries on April 20, 2024.

Deputy Freddy Flores, age 51, worked for the department for 22 years “with dedication and pride,” the department said in a statement. “Deputy Flores worked many assignments throughout his tenure in the Department and touched many lives through his work at North County Correctional Facility, Altadena Station, and Court Services West Bureau. He was well-respected in the Department and in the community and his passing will leave a huge void in the hearts of many who knew him.”

He is survived by his wife, children, parents, and siblings.

At approximately 1:00 a.m. on Friday, December 29, 2023, officers from Oakland Police Department responded to a cannabis-related business on the 400 block of Embarcadero to investigate a report of a possible burglary in progress. The area was cleared shortly after. At 4:33 a.m., officers received a second report of a burglary in progress at the same business. Uniformed and plainclothes officers working the burglary operation responded and saw multiple suspects fleeing the scene. At least one suspect fired several shots, striking Officer Tuan Le as he was responding with his partner in an unmarked vehicle.

Officer Le was rushed to Highland Hospital by his fellow officers where, despite all lifesaving efforts, he succumbed to his injuries at 8:44 a.m. Officer Le was surrounded by his wife, mother, and members of his OPD family when he died.

Officers and investigators from Oakland, the California Highway Patrol, and the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office swarmed Embarcadero after the shooting — closing both directions from Oak Street to 16th Avenue, along with multiple on-ramps to Interstate 880. A manhunt for the gunman continued hours later. As of Friday afternoon, no suspects were in custody.

Officer Tuan Le, age 36, was born in Saigon, Vietnam, later moved to Oakland and gained his citizenship on September 11, 2001. On February 21, 2020, Officer Le graduated from Oakland’s 183rd Police Academy, beginning a journey of public service. For the past two years he served as the Community Resource Officer in West Oakland, where he devoted himself to strengthening the bond between law enforcement and local residents.

At approximately 6:00pm on Saturday, September 16, 2023, a citizen passerby discovered Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department unconscious in his police cruiser near the intersection of Sierra Highway and Avenue Q in Palmdale, the victim of an ambush shooting. Deputy Clinkunbroomer was rushed to a Lancaster hospital in critical condition. Despite every effort to save his life, the injuries he suffered were not survivable.

 

Deputy Clinkunbroomer was on duty sitting in his marked unit when the shooting took place. Security video shows a black vehicle pulling up behind the deputy’s cruiser and pausing. Seconds later the vehicle pulls up farther, stops at the driver’s side of the cruiser and pauses again before speeding off. Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s cruiser drifts forward a short distance and stops.

 

Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, age 30 and an eight-year LASD veteran, was a third-generation Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff, following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather. He served the Palmdale and Antelope Valley communities with absolute distinction. He transferred to Palmdale station in July 2018, and had been a Field Training Officer for 1 1/2 years. Just four days prior to his death, Deputy Clinkenbroomer and his girlfriend were engaged to be married. In addition to his fiancé, Clinkunbroomer is survived by his parents and grandparents.

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. 

 

 

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.