Deputy David E. Andrews, a graduate of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Academy class #151, was murdered in a Los Angeles area gas station restroom while off-duty. At the time of his death, Deputy Andrews was assigned to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Firestone Station, in south-central Los Angeles and was engaged to be married.

Although Deputy Andrews was killed off-duty, there is little doubt that the killers knew he was a Deputy Sheriff. They killed him with his own revolver and took his Department identification. The case was investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department and the killer arrested. The suspect has since been released from prison.

On December 5, 1973, Field Supervisor Armenta made an undercover purchase of cocaine in the city of Benecia. Immediately following the purchase Steve and other agents attempted to arrest the suspects. One of the suspects shot and wounded Steve, who died two days later in a Sacramento hospital.

Corporal Bruce Verhoeven, 32, was working a special crime prevention detail during the Christmas holiday season when he responded to an armed robbery in progress at a department store at Fulton and Alta-Arden.

The suspect had fled to a nearby apartment complex and was being pursued on foot by Sergeant Jerry Brennan. Corporal Verhoeven cordoned off a small area on one side of the complex to prevent the suspect’s escape, then took cover nearby. As he waited for additional units, a crowd of on-lookers began to gather. Fearing that innocent by-standers could be at risk of serious injury, Verhoeven left his cover and ordered the suspect to throw down his weapon. The suspect suddenly opened fire on Corporal Verhoeven mortally wounding him.

Sergeant Jerry Brennan realizing Verhoeven had been hit, confronted the suspect ordering him to remain motionless. The suspect quickly turned on Brennan. Sergeant Brennan fired at the suspect killing him.

Corporal Bruce Verhoeven was awarded the Sheriff’s Department Medal of Valor, posthumously, for his bravery above and beyond the call of duty.

Sergeant Jerry Brennan received the Silver Star. The Bruce Verhoeven Memorial Fund was established by the Verhoeven family in memory and honor of their loved one.

Corporal Bruce Verhoeven is buried at Mount Vernon Memorial Park on Greenback Lane.

Investigator Gerald Sawyer was shot and killed by a narcotics suspect on Tuesday, November 6, 1973. He was a member of the Los Angeles Police Department’s Administrative Narcotics Division.

Lieutenant Varat, 35, a 14 year law enforcement veteran, was on a Search and Rescue training exercise in the Santa Susanna Mountains. He was bit by a tick and infected with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. He died four days later from the fever.

Hank helped develop the S.W.A.T. Team, deep-sea diving team and search and rescue team.

He is best remembered by his co-workers as his picture portrays, an organizer and an outdoors man. (Left: Lieutenant Varat is pictured on the right, without the hat.)

Officers Wendell Troyer and David Guider were assigned to ARGUS, the Oakland Police helicopter, on the evening of October 2, 1973. Troyer, 47, was a 22-year veteran of the department and the pilot that evening. Guider, 26, had 4 years with Oakland POLICE DEPARTMENT He was assigned the observer position in ARGUS.

At 9:35 p.m. as they were patrolling over East Oakland, they received a dispatch directing them to assist downtown units in a robbery. As they flew west, the helicopter suddenly lost power and plummeted to the ground. The helicopter crashed in a large explosion and fire. Both officers were trapped in the flaming ARGUS and were unable to escape.

The initial investigation revealed a possibility that the officers were victims of a sniper. Troyer had a gunshot wound to the head. Witnesses claimed that they heard gunshots prior to the crash of the helicopter.

It was later released that the helicopter suffered a mechanical failure that resulted in the loss of power and subsequent crash.

Troyer was married with two children. Guider was survived by his wife.

Officers Wendell Troyer and David Guider were assigned to ARGUS, the Oakland Police helicopter, on the evening of October 2, 1973. Troyer, 47, was a 22-year veteran of the department and the pilot that evening. Guider, 26, had 4 years with Oakland POLICE DEPARTMENT He was assigned the observer position in ARGUS.

At 9:35 p.m. as they were patrolling over East Oakland, they received a dispatch directing them to assist downtown units in a robbery. As they flew west, the helicopter suddenly lost power and plummeted to the ground. The helicopter crashed in a large explosion and fire. Both officers were trapped in the flaming ARGUS and were unable to escape.

The initial investigation revealed a possibility that the officers were victims of a sniper. Troyer had a gunshot wound to the head. Witnesses claimed that they heard gunshots prior to the crash of the helicopter.

It was later released that the helicopter suffered a mechanical failure that resulted in the loss of power and subsequent crash.

Troyer was married with two children. Guider was survived by his wife.