Patrolman James P. Lewis was shot and killed Dec. 29, while off duty when he identified himself as a police officer. He and two other officers had gone to a bar when they noticed several individuals giving the doorman a hard time. Lewis identified himself as an officer and escorted the men to their car to get identification. Instead, one of the men produced a handgun and shot Lewis.

Although mortally wounded, he was able to return fire, striking the vehicle several times. The bullet holes in the car helped identify the suspects when the car was found several days later.

The suspects were arrested and sentenced to life.

Lewis had been with the San Diego Police Dept. for two years.

His wife and daughter survived him.

Deputy Carlos M. Magana, Tulare Co. Sheriff’s Dept., died in an accident Dec. 9, 1970 as he was responding to a possibly burglary in progress at the Stone Corral Irrigation Water District Office. His patrol unit was struck by a train in heavy fog at an unsignaled railroad crossing.

Prior to joining the Tulare Co. Sheriff’s Department, Magana was Assistant Chief of Police in Fowler for eight years.

Besides his wife, Agnes, he was survived by three children, Todd, 8, Monica, 4, and Greg, 2.

Officer Nathan L. Seidenberg was traveling along U.S. Highway 101 near San Rafael when a drunk driver crossed into his lane of traffic and struck Seidenberg’s patrol car head-on. Both the errant drunk driver and the 26-year-old patrolman were killed instantly. Seidenberg, a native of San Francisco, graduated from the CHP Academy two years earlier and was assigned to the Mann-Golden Gate Bridge Area in November, 1969.

On the evening of October 9, 1970, four men, dubbed the Lee Street gang, pulled up in front of the Royal Inn on lower Hegenberger Road. Three of them donned masks and entered the Inn and accosted a bookkeeper, holding him at gunpoint. Thwarted in their efforts to access the safe, the trio entered the bar in search of the manager. Demanding that the manager come forth, one of the suspects fired off a round into the ceiling. Then they returned to the office and fired another round, this time striking a payroll clerk in the hip. The suspects ran out of the hotel and climbed into their getaway car, a light-colored Thunderbird.

They sped north on Hegenberger Road as phone calls came into the department. A citizen monitoring the police band radio heard a dispatcher sending officers to the hotel and alerted Oakland Police Department through his short-wave radio that the suspect vehicle was fleeing the area. Sgt. Richard Castle and Officer William Martin spotted the Thunderbird and gave chase. All the cars proceeded north on the Nimitz Freeway towards downtown Oakland.

The Thunderbird left the freeway at the Oak Street off-ramp, quickly followed by the officers. The robbers drove around the block and stopped on 6th Street between Oak and Fallon. Two suspects jumped out of the vehicle, which sped away towards North Oakland. Castle rounded the corner and was immediately fired upon. The suspects advanced on his car continuing to shoot at him. As one of the suspects proceeded to flee, he rounded a corner at the same time as Martin. Each man fired shots simultaneously. The suspect was killed outright. Martin fell to the ground, mortally wounded.

The second suspect at the shooting scene was taken into custody. When the Thunderbird’s driver arrived at his apartment, numerous officers were waiting for him. He made it into his apartment and took his own life. The remaining suspect was later identified and taken into custody near Lake Merritt.

Castle recovered from his wounds and returned to duty. Martin, 24, passed away at Merritt Hospital. He had been a member of the Oakland Police Department for 18 months.

Officer Tsukamoto was born in Tule Lake, California. His family later moved to West Berkeley.

Officer Tsukamoto attended local schools and graduated from Berkeley High School in 1960. Officer Tsukamoto then attended college at Oakland City College, Contra Costa Jr. College and San Jose State University.

Officer Tsukamoto was the first Japanese-American Police Officer hired by the City of Berkeley, appointed on 10-1-69.

After Officer Tsukamoto’s death, a scholarship fund was started in his name. The Ronald T. Tsukamoto Fund provides college scholarships to local youth and helps defray the expenses incurred by officers who attend law enforcement training. For more information on the Ronald T. Tsukamoto Fund, contact Sergeant Michael Holland at 510-644-6119 or Email: mih1@ci.berkeley.ca.us)

FACTS:
At 12:53 a.m., 8-20-70, Officer Tsukamoto stopped a motorist for a traffic violation on University Avenue, west of Mc Gee. Officer Tsukamoto decided not to issue a citation to the motorist and struck up a conversation with him. During this, a black male walked up to the pair and spoke with Officer Tsukamoto and the motorist. Without provocation, the male drew a gun and shot Officer Tsukamoto, fatally wounding him.

The subject fled to a waiting automobile and this case remains unsolved.

Officer Tsukamoto is buried at Sunset View Cemetery, El Cerrito, California.

If you have information regarding the murder of Officer Ronald Tuskamoto, call or write the Berkeley Police Homicide Detail at:

Berkeley Police Homicide Detail
2171 McKinley Avenue
Berkeley, CA 94703-1596
(510) 644-6839