See announcement from Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department for additional details.

At approximately 8:24am on Sunday, November 13, 2016, Stanislaus County Deputy Sheriff Dennis Wallace was on duty in his marked vehicle patrolling Fox Grove Park in Hughson when he called in a suspicious person/vehicle. Dispatch reported the vehicle as stolen and Deputy Wallace immediately requested back-up. Subsequent calls to Deputy Wallace went unanswered. The first assisting Deputy arrived on scene within 5 minutes and found Deputy Wallace down with gunshot injuries. Deputy Wallace was transported to the hospital where he died from his injuries.

The suspect had fled the scene but was later captured in Tulare County. He was identified as a known parolee with felony outstanding warrants.

Deputy Wallace, age 53, was a 20-year veteran of the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. He is survived by his wife and family.

At approximately 5:10am on Monday, October 24, 2016, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Alfonso Lopez was responding to a stolen-vehicle pursuit call when his patrol vehicle crashed at the intersection of Myrrh Street and Willowbrook Avenue in Compton. A citizen came into the Compton Station to report the crash, stating the driver was unresponsive. Deputies rushed to the scene, approximately 100 yards from the station, where they found Sergeant Lopez in his vehicle unconscious and non-responsive. He was transported to St. Francis Medical Center. Despite the valiant efforts of responding deputies and medical personnel, Sergeant Lopez could not be revived. It is believed he suffered a medical emergency prior to his vehicle colliding with a fence at low speeds.

Sergeant Alfonso Lopez, age 47, served in various assignments throughout his 26-year career with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, including the Special Victim’s Bureau. He is survived by his wife and two children.

At 10:27am, on Wednesday, October 19, 2016, Modoc County Sheriff’s Deputy Jack Hopkins responded to a domestic disturbance call in the vicinity of county roads 170 and 115, approximately eight miles south of Alturas. Deputy Hopkins was fired upon as he entered the rural property and made contact with the primary suspect. The suspect fled the scene in his vehicle and was intercepted on a nearby road by Sheriff Mike Poindexter, who was also responding to the disturbance call. Sheriff Poindexter was fired upon by the suspect and an exchange of gunfire ensued. Officers from all surrounding agencies responded to the OIS call. By 11:00am the scene was secured and the suspect, wounded by Sheriff Poindexter, was taken into custody. Responding officers determined that Deputy Hopkins was killed instantly in the encounter with the suspect.

Deputy Jack Hopkins, age 31, joined Modoc County Sheriff’s Office in 2015. Previous to that he served for the Alturas Police Department. He is survived by his father Lance Hopkins, mother Carroll Hopkins, grandmother Twila Hopkins, five siblings and a large extended family.

At approximately 12:18 on the afternoon of Saturday, October 8, 2016, four officers from the Palm Springs Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance call involving a father and son at their home in the 2700 block of Cypress Road. As officers attempted contact, the son opened fire through the front door, striking three officers. Officer Leslie Zerebny and Officer Jose Gilbert “Gil” Vega were rushed to the hospital. Tragically, their injuries were not survivable. The third officer was transported to the hospital and is expected to recover.

Dozens of officers from surrounding jurisdictions responded, surrounding the house and securing a four-block perimeter. The suspect barricaded himself in the house, exchanging gunfire with officers. During the standoff officers utilized a remote-controlled robot to search the home then deployed tear gas. The gunman, identified as John Felix (26), surrendered to a SWAT team from Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Felix was wearing “soft, concealable body armor” and had several high-capacity gun magazines when he was captured, 12 hours after the initial call. The suspect’s father, who initiated the call for assistance, cooperated with officials.

Two fallen heroes – one just two months from retirement…the other in the first 18 months of her career and a new mother. Officer Vega and Officer Zerebny are the first Palm Springs police officers to die in the line of duty since 1962.

Officer Gil Vega, age 63, wasn’t scheduled to work on Saturday but volunteered for overtime. A 35 year veteran of Palm Springs PD, he had filed his paperwork to retire in December. Officer Vega is survived by his wife and eight children.

Officer Zerebny, age 27, had just returned from maternity leave. She served Palm Springs PD for one and a half years and is survived by her husband, a Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy, and their four month old daughter.

Additional details and funeral information will be forwarded as available.

At approximately 12:18 on the afternoon of Saturday, October 8, 2016, four officers from the Palm Springs Police Department responded to a domestic disturbance call involving a father and son at their home in the 2700 block of Cypress Road. As officers attempted contact, the son opened fire through the front door, striking three officers. Officer Leslie Zerebny and Officer Jose Gilbert “Gil” Vega were rushed to the hospital. Tragically, their injuries were not survivable. The third officer was transported to the hospital and is expected to recover.

Dozens of officers from surrounding jurisdictions responded, surrounding the house and securing a four-block perimeter. The suspect barricaded himself in the house, exchanging gunfire with officers. During the standoff officers utilized a remote-controlled robot to search the home then deployed tear gas. The gunman, identified as John Felix (26), surrendered to a SWAT team from Riverside County Sheriff’s Department. Felix was wearing “soft, concealable body armor” and had several high-capacity gun magazines when he was captured, 12 hours after the initial call. The suspect’s father, who initiated the call for assistance, cooperated with officials.

Two fallen heroes – one just two months from retirement…the other in the first 18 months of her career and a new mother. Officer Vega and Officer Zerebny are the first Palm Springs police officers to die in the line of duty since 1962.

Officer Gil Vega, age 63, wasn’t scheduled to work on Saturday but volunteered for overtime. A 35 year veteran of Palm Springs PD, he had filed his paperwork to retire in December. Officer Vega is survived by his wife and eight children.

Officer Zerebny, age 27, had just returned from maternity leave. She served Palm Springs PD for one and a half years and is survived by her husband, a Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy, and their four month old daughter.

Additional details and funeral information will be forwarded as available.

On the afternoon of October 5, 2016, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Steve Owen and his partner responded to a burglary-in-progress call at an apartment building in the 3200 block of West Avenue J7. During containment of the area gunfire was heard in the rear of the location, authorities said. The deputy at the front of the complex ran in the direction of the gunfire and found Sergeant Owen suffering from a gunshot wound.

The gunman fled and attempted to steal Sergeant Owen’s patrol vehicle. Another sheriff’s deputy arrived and opened fire when the gunman threw the car into reverse and rammed his patrol vehicle, injuring the deputy. The suspect then fled on foot and broke into a home where two teens were home alone. The teens were able to contact law enforcement and report the man inside their house. The LASD Special Enforcement Bureau responded, sending a special weapons team into the home. The suspected shooter exited the back of the home while the team got the teens out of the house to safety. The suspect was then taken into custody by Lancaster Station deputies.

Sergeant Owen was transported to Antelope Valley Hospital. His wife, a LASD arson/explosives detective, was able to get to the hospital to be with her husband. Tragically, Sergeant Owen died hours later. In addition to his wife, Sergeant Owen is survived by two adult sons, a stepdaughter, and his mother.

Sergeant Owen, age 53, was a 29 year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, serving the past five years out of Lancaster Station. In 2014, Owen was part of a team of sheriff’s deputies awarded the medal of valor, the department’s highest honor, for showing “tremendous bravery and determination” in saving a hostage who was held at gunpoint in a car.

Additional details and funeral information will be posted as available.