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 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.
The early years in California’s capitol city were loaded with crime and violence. The discovery of gold in nearby Coloma brought settlers and criminals seeking riches. Violence erupted daily in the streets and along the riverbanks. The early City/County Council sought to establish law and order and protect the established business community.
In mid-April, 1958, George C. Chapman, a member of the all-volunteer Sacramento Fire Department, was appointed as a Special Police Officer assigned to “prevent pedlar and transient merchants from trading and transacting business on the levee.”
In the late night hours of April 27, 1858, Special Police Officer George C. Chapman was hailed by a clothing store owner whose business had been burglarized. Chapman remained on scene, while the store owner summoned additional police officers. At the store, Chapman confronted a suspect who shot Chapman in the neck. The suspect fled the scene. Nearby witnesses responded to find Chapman on the ground wounded. One witness, a medical doctor, immediately pronounced Chapman dead.
The coroner’s inquest concluded, “We, the undersigned jurors, do find that George Chapman came to his death on the night of the 27th of April, 1858, in the city of Sacramento, from the effects of pistol ball discharged by an unknown man, supposed to be a robber.”
On April 29, 1858, a public funeral was held at Engine Company #2. Chapman, who was unmarried, was buried at the Sacramento City Cemetery.
Despite a reward offered totaling $1000, Chapman’s murderer was not caught.
William C. Getman served only a few days as Los Angeles County Sheriff when told a crazy man named Reed was inside a pawn shop, demanding the proprietor shoot him or be shot. Sheriff Getman understood police work. He had been a soldier, a city marshal, and a Ranger. He owned a popular saloon/gambling house, was a well-liked, honest and courageous man. Sheriff Getman attempted to intervene in the pawnshop disturbance, placing a gentle hand on the shoulder of Reed and speaking quietly. Reed spun around and shot Getman, then emptied his gun at random. Several men, including Deputy Francis Baker, returned fire killing Reed. Four guns and a knife were recovered from his body. The City of Los Angeles was draped in black and the whole town attended Sheriff Getman’s funeral, two days later.
