The St. Pius Catholic Church was filled to overflowing Tuesday, Oct. 30, as hundreds of police officers and mourners honored San Jose Police Department’s Officer Jeffrey Michael Fontana. He was shot and killed Sunday, Oct. 28, during what police believe started as a routine traffic stop.

Traffic around the church slowed to a crawl as ranks of officers lined up on foot, on horseback, and on motorcycles to pay their respects.

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante, California Attorney General Bill Lockyer, San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales and San Jose Police Chief William Lansdowne were among those speaking at the service.

Former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo and the entire 49ers team and current management were also in attendance. Fontana worked with the team as an accountant for five years before leaving to pursue his dream of being a police officer.

Investigators believe the suspect in the incident, DeShawn Campbell, must have quickly turned and fired on Fontana after he was cornered on a cul-de-sac. Neighbors, who heard gunfire, found the officer about 10 feet from the suspect’s car, his weapon still in its holster.

Residents who live on the street of well-kept relatively new homes near Lake Almaden said there had been a recent string of car break-ins in their normally tranquil neighborhood. Fontana had been patrolling the area alone for two weeks.

Sgt. Steve Dixon said, “We don’t know for sure what happened. He (Campbell) had two felony warrants out for his arrest, and once he was stopped by the officer, he didn’t want to go to jail.”

Police said Campbell has a long criminal history which includes outstanding felony warrants for attacking police officers during a June arrest for credit card fraud and violating probation on a 1999 burglary conviction.

Referring to Fontana Assistant Chief Tom Wheatley stated, “From everyone’s estimation he was a good, young police officer that loved to be a cop and wanted to be a cop. He was out on his own doing the things all cops want to do all their lives.”

Fontana, 24, had volunteered for the Oakridge Community Police Center before joining the force a year ago. He recently completed a customary 16-week training program before assuming solo patrol. He graduated fifth in a class of 39 from the Police Academy. A Woodside High graduate and San Jose State honors student, Fontana was described as an enthusiastic and hard-working young man who loved country music, deer-hunting, football and his family. He graduated from San Jose State with a B.S. in Administrative Justice. His 10-year goal was to be a sergeant in the Detective Bureau.

Speakers described Fontana as a “fallen hero,” and spoke of the sense of duty that motivated him and others like him who risk their lives to protect the public.

Lockyer told the audience, “Every day, someone like Jeffrey makes a stop that places his life in danger. Every day someone runs into a burning building. That sense of purpose matters.”

Crystal Littleton had the last words when she told the crowd, tearfully, that Fontana had been “the kind of man you want your sons to be and the kind of man you want your daughter to marry.”

Fontana is the first San Jose police officer slain by gunfire since a 1989 downtown shootout that left two officers dead.

Close friends and family members attended a private interment following the service. His parents, Tony and Sandy Fontana, and brothers, Jason and Greg, also survive Fontana.

Donations may be sent to: San Jose State University Foundation, Jeffrey Fontana Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o The Administration of Justice Department, San Jose State University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192-0050.

Deputy Hagop “Jake” Kuredjian, a 17-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, was killed as he responded to a shootout in Stevenson Ranch in the Santa Clarita Valley on Friday, Aug. 31, after a man opened fire on federal and local officials trying to serve a search warrant.

Charged in the incident was a former Arcadia police officer, James Allen Beck, with weapons violations and impersonating a U.S. marshal. Beck, a twice-convicted felon, allegedly shot Kuredjian from the second floor of his home as the deputy ducked for cover behind a nearby car when violence erupted.

Kuredjian, 40, was hit in the head by a single bullet, officials reported. Several minutes passed before other law enforcement personnel could pull him to safety because Beck continued to fire at them.

Beck died after tear gas canisters ignited the home causing it to become a fiery tomb. During earlier telephone negotiations following the initial barrage of gunfire, he apologized for shooting the deputy.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich told the estimated 4,000-person crowd at Kuredjian’s funeral in Glendale that “he lived and died a true hero.” Officers stood shoulder to shoulder on the street and sidewalk, when St. Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church was filled, united in their grief for a fallen comrade.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Lee Baca spoke of Kuredjian, saying that Santa Clarita loved the motorcycle officer. “Death is not the final word in the life of Hagop ‘Jake’ Kuredjian. We’re going to cry a little more,” Baca continued, his voice breaking. “It’s not a sign of weakness, it’s what every family does when it has lost one it loves.”

Gov. Gray Davis told mourners, “For him being a deputy sheriff was not just a job, it was a calling.” Later as he presented Anahid Kuredjian with the state flag that had been lowered to half-staff over the capitol the day of her son’s death, he told her, “Jake was a soldier of decency, every morning putting a badge on his uniform and his life on the line. There is no greater calling than to be of service to another human being.

“There is no greater love than to lay your life down for a friend. Our debt will be never-ending. There are not words to summon up our feeling of gratitude.”

Antonovich told the audience, “For 17 years, he devoted his life to law enforcement and the well-being of the citizens of Los Angeles County.”

Kuredjian’s commander at the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff’s station, Capt. Don Rodriguez, remembered him as a man with a smile for everyone. “You’ll always be in our hearts and minds – our brother, our friend.”

Calling Kuredjian a servant who gave his life to keep others safe, Bishop Moushegh Mardirossian, from the Western Prelacy of the Armenian Church of America, said “He always chose to be part of the solution . . . to make our world a better place.”

As Raffi Kuredjian eulogized his brother he said, “I wish I could stand before you here today and tell you that I’m here to celebrate my brother’s life. I’ll do that for the rest of my life. Today I am here because I am mourning his untimely murder.”

He asked the mourners not to idealize or enlarge his brother in death. “He should simply be remembered as a good man who saw wrong and tried to right it. He saw suffering and tried to heal it. He saw injustice and tried to stop it.”

Capt. Rodriguez’s concluded the ceremony, his voice shaking with emotion, as he recalled his fallen officer, “Godspeed 60 Mary 2” referring to the deputy’s radio name. “Godspeed, our brother, our friend.”

The service ended with the solemn notes of bagpipes and taps, the touching picture of a grieving mother kissing a dove before releasing it to the skies and a riderless police motorcycle, flowers on its footrests.

Kuredjian, a native of Aleppo, Syria, became a U.S. citizen in 1982 after he immigrated to Michigan with his mother and two brothers. His father died in 1975 during violence in Lebanon. The deputy often worked as an Armenian interpreter for the Sheriff’s Department, the Los Angeles Police Department and the FBI.

The Gold Meritorious Conduct Medal was presented to Kuredjian in 1989 for rescuing a woman from a cliff in Malibu.

Kuredjian is survived by his fiancée, Mary Theresa Richardson; mother, Anahid Kuredjian of Novi, Michigan; and brothers, Garo and Raffi. Garo Kuredjian is a deputy with the Ventura Co. Sheriff’s Dept.

The Sheriff’s Relief Foundation has established a fund in Deputy Kuredjian’s name. Checks may be sent to: Sheriff’s Relief Foundation, Fund #273, 11515 Colima Road, Bldg. B, Whittier, CA 90604.

On Tuesday, Aug. 21, Fresno Co. Sheriff’s Deputy Erik J. Telen and his partner, Deputy Brent Stalker, were assisting fire personnel in the mountains of eastern Fresno County. They were dispatched to a rural residence in the Dunlap area in regards to a reported suspicious person.

The deputies contacted the reporting party upon their arrival and made an extensive search for the subject. They eventually discovered signs of a forced entry and commenced their search of the interior of the house. Having cleared one room, Deputy Telen was beginning to clear an adjoining room when the suspect, armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, fired from a concealed position, fatally wounding him.

The suspect, 20-year-old Ramadan Abdur-Rauf Abdullah of Binghamton, New York, surrendered after a six-hour standoff. He was charged with Telen’s murder and attempting to murder three other deputies. “He is also accused of the special circumstances of murder during a burglary and of a peace officer carrying out his duty, which makes him eligible for the death penalty if convicted,” stated James Oppliger, chief deputy district attorney in the homicide unit.

Sheriff’s Lt. Don Burk said at the scene that the suspect had access to six to 10 shotguns, rifles and handguns inside the home, as well as ammunition for all of the weapons.

At Telen’s funeral on Aug. 27, at the People’s Church, Fresno County Sheriff Richard Pierce told mourners that Telen made the ultimate sacrifice in part because he was “courageous and dedicated to his community.” He was doing the job “he did with all his heart” when he took a blast in the head.

Stalker, who stood with Telen as he fell, told the more than 1,500 mourners that it was because Telen took the left side of the hallway and he took the right as they crept in search of the burglar that it was Telen who was shot. After describing the incident, he continued that he had to radio in the code every officer prays he’ll never have to use: “Eleven ninety-nine – officer down.”

Officers from at least 68 agencies filled the pews and stood two-deep against the walls and up the staircases at the People’s Church chapel. The Ontario Police Dept., where Telen worked before coming to Fresno, sent more than 100 officers.

Attorney Gen. Bill Lockyer, the state’s top law enforcement official, told the audience of the time between Telen’s birth and his death: Nov. 20, 1974 – Aug. 21, 2001.

“Erik didn’t choose the first date and he didn’t choose the second date, but the dash was his. That was his time, and he used it well.”

Sheriff Pierce added, in brief remarks addressed mostly to Telen’s widow, that Telen had already become a loved member of a department that considers itself family. His death shook its ranks to the core, but, “in our department, people matter, values make a difference, and we know our faith will sustain us.”

Telen’s roommate from academy days, Justin Johnson, told of Telen’s marriage proposal. He only got out the ring and the word “I” before Shelley tackled him saying, “Yes!Yes! Yes!” The couple’s wedding photo was displayed while a recording of country singer Faith Hill’s song “There You’ll Be,” played: “When I think back on these times and the dreams we left behind, I’ll be glad ’cause I was blessed to get to have you in my life.”

At the conclusion of the funeral services, The Ford Expedition Unit that Telen used to patrol the mountains around Auberry was parked near the gravesite. In it, a deputy gave one final sign-off over the radio loudspeaker.

“Deputy Erik Telen, ID number 7647, 10-8, reporting for new assignment. Safe in heaven.”

Telen, 26, grew up in the Fresno County community of Clovis and attended California State University-Fresno and the State Center Peace Officer’s Academy at Fresno City College. Upon completion of the police academy, he was hired by the Ontario Police Dept. where he served for three years.

He was part of the Fresno County sheriff’s detail assigned to assist in traffic control and safety at the Dunlap forest fire site.

Telen is survived by his daughters, Bethanie, 2, and Brooke, 1; his wife Shelley, who is expecting their son in October; mother and stepfather, Sharon and John Burton; and brother, Dan Telen.

Remembrances to the Telen Family should be made payable to Fresno Deputy Sheriff’s Association “FDSA” in care of Shelley Telen, 1360 Van Ness, Fresno, CA 93721.

Family, friends and law enforcement personnel gathered Aug. 20, at the First Presbyterian Church in Bishop, then later at the East Line Street Cemetery, to bid farewell to Bishop Police Officer Richard “Rich” E. Perkins.

Perkins, 51, died Wednesday, Aug. 15, when a semi-truck struck his patrol car as he made a U-turn to assist in a pursuit. He was responding to the call of a possible DUI driver when the accident occurred on Highway 395. Truck driver, Jose L. Marquez, a 42-year-old El Paso, Texas, resident, was not injured during the crash. Perkins died of his injuries at Northern Inyo Hospital, police said.

State Attorney Gen. Bill Lockyer and California Highway Patrol Commissioner Dwight Helmick were in attendance at the services, as was the director of the California Office of Criminal Justice Planning, Frank Grimes.

During the eulogy Perkins was remembered as a man of faith and family. “Everything he did was for God’s glory,” said one speaker. “He realized there was more to life than work and hobbies.”

Lockyer called Perkins a “hero who served the people of this community well. We can never repay the debt we owe him, but we can vow never to forget him.”

“‘Perk’ was a good officer,” said an emotional Bishop Chief Bruce Dishion. “Even after 11 years on the job, he had not allowed the work to take its toll as so often happens in the law enforcement field. Richard always maintained his sense of moral duty, his commitment to serve the people of Bishop and his sense of humor.

“He was always able to enforce the letter of the law while balancing that with a compassion for the people he came into contact with. That ability is a gift. I will deeply miss him.”

Bishop Mayor Frank Crom, described Perkins as a “wonderful man, a compassionate person and an outstanding police officer. He was the kind of police officer that communities like Bishop need and desire. He always listened and did all he could to help those in need. I know that when he went home after a day’s work, he had the satisfaction of knowing that he’d done a good job.”

Crom also praised Perkins’ work with the Bishop Mural Society. A board member and participating artist, Perkins contributed in some capacity to nearly all the historical murals established in the community.

Crom continued, “He was a wonderful artist and a real asset to this community.”

Perkins was credited with the idea, concept and completion of the “Dangerous Arrest” mural on the east side of the police station. Barbara Williams, president of the Bishop Mural Society, stated that a memorial plaque honoring Perkins would be placed at the site of “Dangerous Arrest” in the upcoming weeks.

Inyo County Sheriff Dan Lucas said, “Our law agencies are so small that even though Richard worked for the Bishop Police Department, our department feels this loss as if he was one of our own. I’m sure the CHP feels the same way.”

Bishop Police Officers Phil West and Steve Day also recalled Perkins’ dedication to family, friends, church and community. He was one of the founders of the Bishop Police Mounted Unit, along with West and Day.

“He was a person so steadfast in his values to his family, to his friends and to his co-workers,” West said. “He was a true blend of God, of values, of work ethic and love.”

Day called Perkins a “courageous guardian of the innocent and the right.” He also recalled that when one asked Perkins how he was doing, he would often reply, “I’m looking forward to the challenges the day may bring.”

The funeral service ended with Perkins’ children placing some of their father’s personal effects in with his remains. One such item was his pipe, familiar to all who knew him. Before coming to the Bishop Police Department, Perkins had worked for the Mono County Sheriff’s Department and the Mammoth Lakes Police Department. He also had been a member of the U.S. Coast Guard.

He was the first officer in the department’s history to die in the line of duty, according to Bishop Police officials.

Perkins’ survivors include his wife, Cheryl; son, Andrew; daughter, Pauli; daughter and son-in-law, Kati and Ken Gray; grandchildren, Katelyn and Hannah Gray; parents, Eugene and Barbara Perkins; sister and brother-in-law, B.J. and Bob Hayner; niece, Heidi Hayner; brother and sister-in-law, Patrick and Lisa Perkins; and nephews, Jason and Alex Perkins.

Donations in Richard Perkins’ memory may be made in his name at Union Bank of California, 362 North Main Street, Bishop, CA 93514. The funds donated to this memorial fund will be given to the Bishop Mural Society at the request of the Perkins’ family.

CHP Officer Stephen M. Linen Jr.’s funeral at New Venture Christian Fellowship on Aug. 16, bore many resemblances to the somber gathering of 1,500 last fall for Officer Sean Nava who was killed in a similar accident. Up to 2,000 peace officers, firefighters and others from throughout California were in attendance, as were state officials.

Linen, a 31-year-old San Jose native who had served on the California Highway Patrol force more than six years, was struck and killed Sunday, Aug. 12, on Interstate 5 near San Diego when a drunken-driving suspect slammed into his patrol car as he was issuing a ticket. He was thrown onto the embankment and suffered massive injuries.

Arrested at the scene in the San Diego suburb of Encinitas was Lance Cpl. Jerome A. Bates, a 20-year-old Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton.

Bates ran off the shoulder and struck the patrol car, which burst into flames, said CHP Officer Larry Landeros. A group of correctional officers that passed the accident site tried to administer medical aid. “Linen was airlifted to Scripps Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead,” Landeros stated.

“Bates, who was not injured, was taken into custody. His passenger, Christopher Sterling, a 20-year-old Marine who is also stationed at Camp Pendleton, was airlifted to Scripps Memorial and was in fair condition with a broken arm and internal injuries,” Landeros reported. Two people in the pickup truck that were stopped by Linen received minor injuries and were treated and released from the hospital.

Bates, of Victoria, Texas who was arrested at the scene, was charged with two felony counts of driving under the influence and vehicular manslaughter. CHP Officer Steve Ussher said that Bates has at least one prior arrest related to suspected drunken driving.

At the funeral services conducted by Pastor Sean Mitchell, CHP Commissioner D.O. “Spike” Helmick fought back tears. “This type of tragedy is going to stop,” Helmick said.

“We are going to do everything known to man to make these tragedies stop, and we’ll do that in honor of Michael,” he added, referring to the name Linen’s friends sometimes called him.

State Attorney Gen. Bill Lockyer added, “Steve embodied a sense of duty and a belief (that) service to others matters.”

Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante delivered a message from Gov. Gray Davis. “Officer Stephen Linen was a true hero, not because of how he died, but how he lived,” Bustamante read. Then offering his own thoughts Bustamante said, “A man has sacrificed his tomorrows so we may have peace today. Although I never knew Officer Linen, he chose to protect my family and our community. He gave us his ultimate sacrifice and for that we should be humbled.”

CHP Chaplain Hansen gave the eulogy in which he told mourners that Linen was never one to waste time. Directly after his graduation from Mount Carmel High School, he immediately applied to San Diego State College and began his study in the field of criminology.

Even with the heavy workload of college life, he found time to chase another goal, earning a private pilot’s license. Linen often took flights to Catalina and Laughlin, Nevada, his favorite destinations.

Linen graduated from San Diego State in the spring of 1993, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice. His dream of a career in law enforcement was fulfilled when he was accepted into the California Highway Patrol on July 25, three days after his 24th birthday.

In 1998, Linen was nominated for the Burn Institute’s, “Spirit of Courage Award,” for acts of bravery and heroism performed during a rescue of a man trapped in a burning vehicle on I-5 in San Diego.

Colleagues and neighbors described Linen as a quiet man who loved to bowl and recently became engaged to Kristi Robinson, a schoolteacher.

Joe Bennett, Linen’s neighbor who recently spoke to him about the perils of police work, said the officer was not intimidated by the risks of his job. “Danger is just coming out of your home,” Bennett said Linen told him. “You’ve got to look at it that it’s your job and you’re trying to make the community better.”

CHP Officer Abie Carabajal said Linen usually stayed quiet and kept a stern look on his face, an expression that masked “a great heart.” Carabajal said he used to try to make Linen laugh, usually by offering up the greeting, “Hey, Sunshine, how’s it going?”

Santa Ana CHP Officer Danny Young, a Temecula neighbor, said Linen had been planning a vacation in Hawaii in September. Young continued, “I can tell you he did enjoy the job. He worked graveyard a lot and one of the primary purposes of working graveyard is to do what you can to keep DUIs off the road.”

Linen is survived by his mother, Mary Monahan, of Temecula; father, Stephen, of Seattle, Washington; brother, Chris; and fiancée, Kristi Robinson.

Butte County Sheriff Scott MacKenzie stated, “These are the darkest days in the history of Butte County,” as he spoke at funeral services for Lt. Leonard B. “Larry” Estes and Deputy William R. “Bill” Hunter on Aug. 2.

Lieutenant Estes and Deputy Hunter were ambushed and fatally wounded Thursday, July 26, as they entered a cabin in the Inskip area of Paradise ridge and were met with a barrage of gunfire. Hunter died instantly. Estes returned fire and fatally wounded the suspect, Richard Bracklow, before succumbing to his wounds.

Hunter took the original report of an assault and theft of weapons at the Magalia substation and asked for cover. Estes, en route to an internal affairs interview, was nearby and told dispatch he would back up Hunter. He reportedly pulled to the side and put on his bulletproof vest.

Hunter interviewed Bob Duffey, 89, regarding a heated argument he had with Bracklow, 46, over rent money owed to Duffey. When Estes arrived the officers proceeded to Bracklow’s residence. They entered the dimly-lit cabin but barely made it past the threshold. Bracklow shot Hunter, who was in the lead, three times in the head. Hunter was unable to get off a shot.

Estes emptied six rounds from his personal .45-caliber handgun, striking Bracklow three times in the chest area and grazing the suspect’s shoulder with a fourth shot. A seventh round jammed in his weapon. Estes was struck four times in the arm, chest and head as Bracklow emptied his 9mm, Glock semi-automatic handgun.

Estes and Hunter had radioed dispatchers shortly after 6 p.m. that they would “attempt to make contact with the subject.” It was their last transmission.

Investigators stated that they believed that Hunter, Estes and Bracklow were only two to three feet apart and that Estes and Bracklow were practically toe-to-toe, gun-barrel-to-gun-barrel during the final, fatal exchange.

California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and Attorney General Bill Lockyer spoke briefly at funeral services held for Estes and Hunter at the Neighborhood Church in Chico Aug. 2.

Bustamante lauded the bravery and dedication of the fallen officers. “They gave us the ultimate, eternal sacrifice,” he said. “They chose to protect our community, our families, our state.”

Lockyer next spoke on “Behalf of the 34 million Californians who join you at this time to honor Bill and Larry. They were special people that thought public service and duty matter.”

Sheriff McKenzie read a letter from Gov. Gray Davis expressing regret for the “devastating loss to you and the department.”

Nearly 4,000 uniformed law enforcement officers and fire officials from as far north as Portland and Gresham, Ore., and as far south as San Diego and San Bernardino counties, gathered to honor the Butte County sheriff’s deputies, packing the church and leading the caskets during a seven-mile processional.

Hundreds of people stood along the route to get a glimpse of the long public safety motorcade and to express their gratitude and sorrow. Many waved small American flags.

Lt. Leonard B. “Larry” Estes

Former Butte County Sheriff Mick Gray spoke in length about Lieutenant Estes in his eulogy stating, “He was a living legend, known for a great sense of humor and his very funny practical jokes.”

Estes, 61, who joined the Butte County Sheriff’s Department as a regular deputy sheriff in 1973, worked patrol in the Paradise area for more than 10 years before spending the next four years at the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force. He returned to ridge patrol for two years.

Estes was promoted to sergeant in 1991 and transferred to investigations in 1994. A year later he was promoted to lieutenant and named chief deputy coroner of the county.

Gray told the audience that Estes was promoted to assistant sheriff, the highest non-elected position in the department, in 1998.

He said that “If the measure of the wealth of a man is the number of friends he has, Larry was a wealthy man.”

Concluding, Gray turned to the officers he once led and said: “My hope is you will preserve his legacy.” Turning to the Estes family, he said, “My hope is your pain will be relieved by the grace of God.”

Gray, a close friend of Estes, concluded by saying, “Larry loved life. He was a man who was the stuff of legends.”

Deputy William R. “Bill” Hunter

Sheriff Scott MacKenzie eulogized Deputy Hunter, stopping numerous times to compose himself.

MacKenzie told the mourners that Hunter had shown great promise in his three years with the department. He said that his last evaluation found him intelligent, calm and likeable, that he was slightly ahead of deputies with similar experience and that he had a bright future in law enforcement.

Hunter, 26, and his wife, Holly, were to have celebrated their first wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks.

Holly Hunter described her husband, “He was the most generous, kind, giving man and he treated everyone with respect. He believed in what he was doing, his job. He believed in the honor and the code (of law enforcement).”

“Hunter grew up in Plumas County and was very fond of his dogs,” MacKenzie said. He was “elated” to learn that he had been chosen for the department’s newest K-9 team and was set to begin training with a German shepherd named Ilo. Ilo attended the funeral service. The Sheriff’s Office has allowed Hunter’s wife to keep the dog as her pet.

MacKenzie concluded his eulogy by saying, “I feel very fortunate to have known Bill Hunter.”

Members of the Butte County Honor Guard removed the caskets and escorted them inside. Pallbearers for Estes were Sgt. Tony Burdine, retired deputy Roger Levy, retired reserve officer Al Imoff, firefighter Jim Collins and Russ Holdridge. Pallbearers for Hunter were Sgt. Butch Ellis, and Deputies Jay Waananen, Bryan Marshall, Scott Krelle, Travis Winebarger and Jim Norman.

Estes was the driving force behind the creation of the honor guard about eight years ago and was its only commander.

Hundreds of officers filed past Estes’ and Hunter’s caskets as the funeral came to an end, some touching them or saluting the deputies. More than 100 police dogs also filed by.

Outside, the two deputies received the tribute of a 21-gun salute as the Honor Guard put the coffins into hearses. Taps were played.

A squadron of five helicopters, two from BCSO, and one each from CDF, California Highway Patrol and Enloe Medical Center, flew over the church. One of the BCSO helicopters veered out of formation in honor of officers lost in battle.

Bob Duffey’s daughter, Marie, stated, “The tragic deaths of sheriff’s Lt. Larry Estes and Deputy William Hunter highlight the danger faced by law enforcement daily. But the sacrifice of these officers has personal meaning for my family and me.

“It was a call from my father that brought the deputies to Inskip that afternoon. It was in his defense that the two went into the red cabin to deal with the man who assaulted him. No one could have anticipated that, in that quiet and peaceful mountain setting, something so awful would happen.

“There is no way we can repay the debt to Larry Estes and William Hunter. What we can do is pay tribute to these two heroes, and offer our respect to their fellow officers still in the field doing their job everyday. These men and women never know when or where they will face a life-threatening situation which may require the ultimate sacrifice.”

In the history of Butte County Sheriff’s Department, Hunter and Estes were the second and third deputies to die in the line of duty. Deputy Randy Jennings was killed May 21, 1997, while chasing a domestic-violence suspect in Thermalito.

Estes is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and children, Brian, Jennifer and Darren. In addition to his wife, Holly, Hunter is survived by his parents, Tom and Barbara Hunter; and brothers, Richard and Kevin. Both brothers are employed in law enforcement in Butte and Plumas counties.

Both families held private services Thursday and Friday. Memorial donations in the name of Lt. Larry Estes can be made to Butte Community Bank in Magalia, 14115 Lakeridge Circle, Magalia, CA 95954. Donations to the Estes fund will be donated to Butte County Search and Rescue.

Memorial donations in the name of Bill Hunter may be made by check payable to the Deputy Hunter Memorial Fund and mailed to the Newton Bracewell Funeral Home, 680 Camellia Way, Chico, CA 95926. Donations to the Hunter fund will be used to provide scholarships to men and women embarking on a career in law enforcement at Butte College.

Butte County Sheriff Scott MacKenzie stated, “These are the darkest days in the history of Butte County,” as he spoke at funeral services for Lt. Leonard B. “Larry” Estes and Deputy William R. “Bill” Hunter on Aug. 2.

Lieutenant Estes and Deputy Hunter were ambushed and fatally wounded Thursday, July 26, as they entered a cabin in the Inskip area of Paradise ridge and were met with a barrage of gunfire. Hunter died instantly. Estes returned fire and fatally wounded the suspect, Richard Bracklow, before succumbing to his wounds.

Hunter took the original report of an assault and theft of weapons at the Magalia substation and asked for cover. Estes, en route to an internal affairs interview, was nearby and told dispatch he would back up Hunter. He reportedly pulled to the side and put on his bulletproof vest.

Hunter interviewed Bob Duffey, 89, regarding a heated argument he had with Bracklow, 46, over rent money owed to Duffey. When Estes arrived the officers proceeded to Bracklow’s residence. They entered the dimly-lit cabin but barely made it past the threshold. Bracklow shot Hunter, who was in the lead, three times in the head. Hunter was unable to get off a shot.

Estes emptied six rounds from his personal .45-caliber handgun, striking Bracklow three times in the chest area and grazing the suspect’s shoulder with a fourth shot. A seventh round jammed in his weapon. Estes was struck four times in the arm, chest and head as Bracklow emptied his 9mm, Glock semi-automatic handgun.

Estes and Hunter had radioed dispatchers shortly after 6 p.m. that they would “attempt to make contact with the subject.” It was their last transmission.

Investigators stated that they believed that Hunter, Estes and Bracklow were only two to three feet apart and that Estes and Bracklow were practically toe-to-toe, gun-barrel-to-gun-barrel during the final, fatal exchange.

California Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante and Attorney General Bill Lockyer spoke briefly at funeral services held for Estes and Hunter at the Neighborhood Church in Chico Aug. 2.

Bustamante lauded the bravery and dedication of the fallen officers. “They gave us the ultimate, eternal sacrifice,” he said. “They chose to protect our community, our families, our state.”

Lockyer next spoke on “Behalf of the 34 million Californians who join you at this time to honor Bill and Larry. They were special people that thought public service and duty matter.”

Sheriff McKenzie read a letter from Gov. Gray Davis expressing regret for the “devastating loss to you and the department.”

Nearly 4,000 uniformed law enforcement officers and fire officials from as far north as Portland and Gresham, Ore., and as far south as San Diego and San Bernardino counties, gathered to honor the Butte County sheriff’s deputies, packing the church and leading the caskets during a seven-mile processional.

Hundreds of people stood along the route to get a glimpse of the long public safety motorcade and to express their gratitude and sorrow. Many waved small American flags.

Lt. Leonard B. “Larry” Estes

Former Butte County Sheriff Mick Gray spoke in length about Lieutenant Estes in his eulogy stating, “He was a living legend, known for a great sense of humor and his very funny practical jokes.”

Estes, 61, who joined the Butte County Sheriff’s Department as a regular deputy sheriff in 1973, worked patrol in the Paradise area for more than 10 years before spending the next four years at the Butte Interagency Narcotics Task Force. He returned to ridge patrol for two years.

Estes was promoted to sergeant in 1991 and transferred to investigations in 1994. A year later he was promoted to lieutenant and named chief deputy coroner of the county.

Gray told the audience that Estes was promoted to assistant sheriff, the highest non-elected position in the department, in 1998.

He said that “If the measure of the wealth of a man is the number of friends he has, Larry was a wealthy man.”

Concluding, Gray turned to the officers he once led and said: “My hope is you will preserve his legacy.” Turning to the Estes family, he said, “My hope is your pain will be relieved by the grace of God.”

Gray, a close friend of Estes, concluded by saying, “Larry loved life. He was a man who was the stuff of legends.”

Deputy William R. “Bill” Hunter

Sheriff Scott MacKenzie eulogized Deputy Hunter, stopping numerous times to compose himself.

MacKenzie told the mourners that Hunter had shown great promise in his three years with the department. He said that his last evaluation found him intelligent, calm and likeable, that he was slightly ahead of deputies with similar experience and that he had a bright future in law enforcement.

Hunter, 26, and his wife, Holly, were to have celebrated their first wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks.

Holly Hunter described her husband, “He was the most generous, kind, giving man and he treated everyone with respect. He believed in what he was doing, his job. He believed in the honor and the code (of law enforcement).”

“Hunter grew up in Plumas County and was very fond of his dogs,” MacKenzie said. He was “elated” to learn that he had been chosen for the department’s newest K-9 team and was set to begin training with a German shepherd named Ilo. Ilo attended the funeral service. The Sheriff’s Office has allowed Hunter’s wife to keep the dog as her pet.

MacKenzie concluded his eulogy by saying, “I feel very fortunate to have known Bill Hunter.”

Members of the Butte County Honor Guard removed the caskets and escorted them inside. Pallbearers for Estes were Sgt. Tony Burdine, retired deputy Roger Levy, retired reserve officer Al Imoff, firefighter Jim Collins and Russ Holdridge. Pallbearers for Hunter were Sgt. Butch Ellis, and Deputies Jay Waananen, Bryan Marshall, Scott Krelle, Travis Winebarger and Jim Norman.

Estes was the driving force behind the creation of the honor guard about eight years ago and was its only commander.

Hundreds of officers filed past Estes’ and Hunter’s caskets as the funeral came to an end, some touching them or saluting the deputies. More than 100 police dogs also filed by.

Outside, the two deputies received the tribute of a 21-gun salute as the Honor Guard put the coffins into hearses. Taps were played.

A squadron of five helicopters, two from BCSO, and one each from CDF, California Highway Patrol and Enloe Medical Center, flew over the church. One of the BCSO helicopters veered out of formation in honor of officers lost in battle.

Bob Duffey’s daughter, Marie, stated, “The tragic deaths of sheriff’s Lt. Larry Estes and Deputy William Hunter highlight the danger faced by law enforcement daily. But the sacrifice of these officers has personal meaning for my family and me.

“It was a call from my father that brought the deputies to Inskip that afternoon. It was in his defense that the two went into the red cabin to deal with the man who assaulted him. No one could have anticipated that, in that quiet and peaceful mountain setting, something so awful would happen.

“There is no way we can repay the debt to Larry Estes and William Hunter. What we can do is pay tribute to these two heroes, and offer our respect to their fellow officers still in the field doing their job everyday. These men and women never know when or where they will face a life-threatening situation which may require the ultimate sacrifice.”

In the history of Butte County Sheriff’s Department, Hunter and Estes were the second and third deputies to die in the line of duty. Deputy Randy Jennings was killed May 21, 1997, while chasing a domestic-violence suspect in Thermalito.

Estes is survived by his wife, Carolyn, and children, Brian, Jennifer and Darren. In addition to his wife, Holly, Hunter is survived by his parents, Tom and Barbara Hunter; and brothers, Richard and Kevin. Both brothers are employed in law enforcement in Butte and Plumas counties.

Both families held private services Thursday and Friday. Memorial donations in the name of Lt. Larry Estes can be made to Butte Community Bank in Magalia, 14115 Lakeridge Circle, Magalia, CA 95954. Donations to the Estes fund will be donated to Butte County Search and Rescue.

Memorial donations in the name of Bill Hunter may be made by check payable to the Deputy Hunter Memorial Fund and mailed to the Newton Bracewell Funeral Home, 680 Camellia Way, Chico, CA 95926. Donations to the Hunter fund will be used to provide scholarships to men and women embarking on a career in law enforcement at Butte College.

California Highway Patrol Sgt. Gary R. Wagers died early Thursday, March 15, when his patrol car crashed at State Route 113 and Interstate 5 in Woodland.

CHP Officer Kelly Baraga said investigators reported that Wagers was in a high-speed pursuit when his patrol car went off the embankment. Tests indicated the car’s overhead emergency lights were on before the crash, although the siren had not been turned on.

CHP officials learned of the crash at 6:05 a.m. when a commuter called 911 on his cell phone after discovering the wrecked patrol car in a wooded area where the two roadways merge. The commuter, who uses SR 113 daily, noticed a set of skid marks going across the road. He got out of his car to investigate and spotted the wrecked patrol car down an embankment about 25 feet from the roadway.

Investigators estimate the car flew about 30 yards through the air before crashing. The roof of the patrol car was crumpled on the driver’s side. Wagers, who was wearing his seatbelt, appeared to have died instantly of head injuries upon impact.

Wagers arrived at work Wednesday at 7 p.m. and was expected to work until shift change at 3:45 a.m., officials reported. The night was a routine one and dispatchers last heard from him around midnight.

He did not check out when his shift ended, but no one noticed or thought anything was out of the ordinary, Capt. Montey Hensley said. When and why the accident occurred remains unknown, Hensley added.

Wagers, a 22-year veteran of the department, had only been working in the Woodland area for the past four months, but he had already made a lasting impression with his coworkers, said Sgt. Brent Country.

“He was 54-years-old but he still had the same strength and energy as he did the first day he came out of the academy,” Country said. “Gary was someone you could confide in and someone you could trust.”

Hensley stated that Wagers transferred to Woodland from Santa Ana in November after his wife, Linda, who works for the Department of Motor Vehicles, received a promotion.

He added that Wagers, in a short time, established a reputation among the 30 officers at the Woodland station as “someone who was approachable with any problem. He was very positive and upbeat.”

A memorial service for Wagers was held at the Capital Christian Center in Sacramento prior to his burial in Southern California. Gov. Gray Davis and platoons of law enforcement officers attended the service to honor an officer who had died in the line of duty. Davis told the 1,800 mourners that made Wagers a hero.

Davis stated that the service represented more than just his death. “We have come to mourn the loss of Sergeant Wagers and celebrate his life and offer the prayers and gratitude of 34 million Californians,” he said. “With honor and valor Sergeant Wagers fought the daily battle against criminals, against those who do violence against us and our families.”

“With honor and valor he gave his life to that ballad. He represents the thin blue line between law and lawlessness. I have great respect for anyone who puts himself in harms way for another human being,” Gov. Davis said. “Gary Wagers did that most of his life. There is no way we can every pay Gary back for his gift, but we can try.”

Rev. Karl Hansen, the chaplain of the Highway Patrol and a friend of Wagers, told the audience that he enjoyed remembering the little things about him that everyone will miss.

“What was Gary Wagers really like? He was a modest 5-foot, 10 inches with his boots on. He loved pizza. He had a thing for deviled food cookies. He had the gift of gab and he had a bad memory for birthdays. You didn’t ask Gary a question unless you really wanted an answer,” the Rev. Hansen said. “As to his work, his second love, he was an excellent officer.”

Hensley told the mourners, “In Woodland we took him to our hearts. I would like to leave you with a thought that I overheard at the scene that tragic morning. A Woodland officer had just climbed the hill to Gary’s patrol car when I heard one of them say ‘God must have needed a good field sergeant. That’s why he took Gary so quickly.'”

Besides his wife, Linda, Wagers is survived by his mother, Joyce; daughter, Shelly; son and daughter-in-law, Garhett and Christine; step-daughter and son-in-law, Carrie and Kevin Fellhoelter; sisters, Joy and Merry; and brother, Mark.

Donations may be made to the Sacramento SPCA at 6201 Florin-Perkins Road, Sacramento, CA 95828.

Deputy Brandan G. Hinkle, 33, was in the final weeks of training when his motorcycle crashed head-on into a Lexus sedan as he rode on Brea Canyon Cutoff near Diamond Bar in Los Angeles County. He was southbound behind a training officer when he collided with the northbound vehicle at a bend in the road. Sheriff’s Capt. Ray Leyva said that Hinkle was thrown from his motorcycle, perhaps as far as 100 feet.

He was taken to Brea Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 35 minutes after the crash, which occurred during the afternoon of Wednesday, Feb. 14.

Hinkle recently purchased a used Kawasaki 1000 to drive to and from work to get as much motorcycle practice as possible, his wife, Michelle, stated. He was training to be a motorcycle deputy at the Walnut/Diamond Bar station.

Capt. Leyva said, “It’s a highly sought-after spot. It’s a great job. You like riding motorcycles and they’re paying you to do it.”

The driver of the Lexus and her 2-year-old daughter were treated and released from an area hospital.

No one was cited, and it was unknown how fast either driver was going, or whether the deputy or motorist strayed into the other’s lane, Leyva reported. However, Hinkle was not driving at emergency speeds.

Hinkle’s wife said, “He was a big kid at heart . . . He loved working with his fellow deputies. He was a caring man with a big heart, who doted on his pet pug, Pugsley.”

Born in Fullerton, but raised in Missouri, Hinkle had washed out of motorcycle training last year but re-enrolled when an opening became available. He had completed all but the last phase.

Motorcycle officers formed a procession outside the Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa Thursday, Feb. 22, to mourn the loss of a colleague. Hundreds of deputies, police officers and family members attended the memorial service for Hinkle.

Sheriff Lee Baca, Capt. Edward B. Hitchcock, and Deputy Luis Goni were among those who eulogized the officer.

Burial followed, under the direction of Capt. Ken Masse, at Pacific View Memorial Park in Newport Beach.

Hinkle’s family had urged him not to become a motorcycle officer, but he was determined to put behind him an unsuccessful attempt to join the elite unit of motorcycle deputies, and this time he seemed destined for success. He was flying through training and was only weeks from finishing when the head-on collision took his life.

Hinkle, who was an 11-year veteran of the Los Angeles Co. Sheriff’s Department, had been assigned to the Lomita station since 1995. He was the first sheriff’s employee to die in the line of duty in the past four years.

Hinkle’s wife told the mourners, “The meaning of Valentine’s Day has greatly changed for all of us who knew Brandan. This was the day we lost a friend, brother, son, and a husband. The hearts of many have been broken and we have shed endless tears of sorrow. We may never hear his laugh or see his smile again, but we will have these precious memories tucked away in a special place just for him in our hearts. Knowing Brandan’s wishes – he would want us to take this tragedy as a gift and cherish each day we have with each other. Only from the support of each other will we all start the healing process.

“Brandan’s farewell wishes to all of us would be two things: ‘To live long and prosper, and especially to give an extra hug and kiss to your pets each day.’ ”

Along with his wife of six years, Hinkle is survived by his mother who resides in Kansas, and father in Missouri.

A fund has been established in honor of Deputy Hinkle. Donations may be made to the family through, “Sheriff’s Relief Foundation #205,” c/o The Sheriff’s Relief Association, 11515 S. Colima Road, Whittier, CA 90604.

A Riverside police detective was shot to death Saturday by an assailant who ambushed him as he responded to a loud music complaint at a downtown Victorian-style home.

Detective Charles Douglas “Doug” Jacobs III, who was promoted nine months ago, died at Riverside Community Hospital shortly after the 2:28 p.m. shooting at 3140 Lemon St. Jacobs, 30, joined the department on Dec. 29, 1995. He was married and the father of a 6-month-old daughter and 10-year-old stepson.

Within minutes, police arrested Jacobs’ suspected killer, Steve Woodruff, 37, who lives in the home where the attack occurred.

Late Saturday, Woodruff was being questioned by detectives and was scheduled to be booked at the Robert Presley Detention Center on suspicion of murder, police said.

A neighbor said Jacobs’ death may have resulted from an ongoing dispute between two residents about the volume at which one plays her radio.

The woman apparently playing the radio, Polly Carr, is the mother of the suspect, police said.

Other neighbors said they made repeated calls to police to complain about drug use at the home and several others on the street.

Riverside Police Chief Russ Leach called the shooting a “horrible tragedy.”

“Ever since I got the call this afternoon, everyone who has talked to me about this officer has emphasized what a wonderful human being he was, a dedicated police officer,” Leach said. “This horrible tragedy underscores the dangerous job officers do every day. He goes on a radio call on a Saturday afternoon, basically an innocuous call about loud music, and ends up losing his life.”

Dozens of police cordoned off Lemon Street and spent hours poring over the house and yard, photographing the scene and questioning residents. One officer carried a small girl out of the house.

Late Saturday, officers began a house-to-house sweep of Lemon and surrounding streets, looking for possible witnesses to the fatal attack.

Riverside Police spokesman Lt. Ed McBride said some details of the shooting were still unclear. But this much is known:

Jacobs went to help Officer Ben Baker investigate the music disturbance, after Baker called for backup. The officers were at a two-story home converted into separate apartments on the first and second floors.

Police said Jacobs was standing on an outside stairwell when he was shot by a man who emerged from the first-floor apartment and fired, striking the officer in the head. McBride said it was unknown if the officer and his assailant exchanged words before the shooting took place.

Witnesses reported hearing four to six shots — two rounds followed a volley of four loud shots fired about five seconds later.

Immediately afterward, Baker put out an “11-99” call on his radio that Jacobs was down and needed assistance. Baker was not injured.

Police said it was unclear late Saturday whether the officers managed to return fire. It was also unclear what kind of weapon was used to shoot Jacobs. Police said Woodruff threw a rifle outside before he was taken into custody, but said Jacobs could have been shot with a handgun.

Sheena Stone and Edrina Washington watched from across the street as Jacobs was carried away by paramedics who arrived within two minutes after officer-needs-assistance call was radioed.

“You could tell he was hit bad,” said Stone, 28. “They were pumping his chest but he wasn’t responding. His arms were limp. You couldn’t see his hair because it was covered with blood.”

Stone and Washington said officers with guns drawn then ordered everyone off the street as they closed off the area.

A police helicopter circled the perimeter. Officers from Moreno Valley, Riverside Community College, the University of California, Riverside and the sheriff’s department also helped.

McBride said the suspected killer surrendered moments after the shooting, emerging from the house naked. He was arrested without incident.

Officers from the department’s Special Weapons and Tactics team cleared the Lemon Street address, using “flash-bang” grenades to smoke out other possible suspects. They found no one.

Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge had been working in his seventh-floor office at City Hall when Councilman Chuck Beaty walked in and told him an officer had been shot. Moments earlier, the two had been discussing the dangers of police work.

Loveridge headed to the shooting scene, then to the hospital to talk with some of the officers standing by. One officer’s eyes were rimmed red from tears.

Obviously shaken, Loveridge called the shooting an “absolutely horrific tragedy.”

“I am angered, dismayed and distraught,” Loveridge said.

Later, the mayor added: “It’s a real tragedy for the city, for the officers, for the department. He gave his life for the city. We owe him a debt of gratitude that obviously we can never repay.”

Loveridge said the shooting highlights the need for an interdepartmental city task force to pressure owners to clean up their troubled properties. A proposal to do just that is being considered by the City Council’s land use committee, Loveridge said. The shooting, he added, will probably accelerate city action on the proposal.

According to Loveridge, the apartment where the officer was shot had been the subject of a number of neighbors’ calls to police.

Nicholas Prelesnik said the shooting underscored neighbors’ fears.

“If they’re willing to shoot an officer, what would stop them from shooting one of us if we got in their way?” he asked.

A neighbor who did not want her name used said the woman who lives at the residence where Jacobs was shot was locked in an ongoing dispute about the volume at which she plays oldies music on her radio.

Police were called when the dispute flared up again Saturday afternoon, the woman said.

“This all happened over a damn radio,” said the woman.

Jacobs is the first Riverside Police officer to die in the line of duty since Claire Connelly was killed July 11, 1998. She was struck by a drunken driver while investigating a traffic accident.

City manager John Holmes said he was in the mountains with his wife when Police Chief Leach notified him of the shooting.

“It’s a real tragedy,” Holmes said. “It’s a real blow to the department. It takes a little while to recover.”

A check of Riverside County court records indicates Woodruff has had several minor scrapes with the law. In 1994, he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and has warrants for several traffic violations.

On March 31, Jacobs was one of eight police officers promoted to detective to take on supervisory roles during overnight and evening shifts. He was a lifelong resident of Riverside and a graduate of Arlington High School and Riverside Community College. He was studying for a master’s degree at Chapman University in Orange.

In November 1998, he was honored by the City Council as Public Safety Officer of the Month for his role in training other officers and his work to shut down a stolen “chop shop,” obtaining a drug conviction, and for maintaining a positive attitude while assisting citizens.

Trust Fund for Jacobs’ Family:
Riverside Employees Credit Union
8543 Indiana Ave.
Riverside 92504
Acct. # 0196-02