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James B. Evans
Incident
Deputy Sheriff James Evans was shot and killed when he was ambushed by bank robbers during a pursuit. Several deputies had responded to a bank robbery call of several heavily armed men robbing a bank in Norco, California. A gunfight ensued in the parking lot in which one suspect was shot and killed, and several others fled the scene in a stolen car. The pursuit entered the Lytle Creek area of the San Bernardino mountains. The suspects suddenly stopped the car near the Stockton Flat Campground in the San Bernardino National Forest, and as Deputy Evans rounded a corner, they opened fire with M-16 rifles, killing him. The suspects then fled on foot. During the search for them, one was shot and killed, and three others were taken into custody. Deputy Evans was a United States Army Vietnam Veteran and had served with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for five years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, and three stepchildren.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Evans gave the Riverside County Sheriff's Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Riverside community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
James B. Evans served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Riverside County Sheriff's Department has lost 27 officers; 12 of them killed feloniously.
James is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
James is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
James is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1980, 1 officer at Riverside County Sheriff's Department was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 2.
In 1980, 12 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 10th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1980, 127 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1980, 141 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 37th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
James was 39. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Riverside County Sheriff's Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32.5 and 40.5; the middle age was 34. James had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
James was 39. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. James had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
James was 39. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. James had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
James was 39. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. James had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 25% of these deaths at Riverside County Sheriff's Department; January holds the most, 25%. Fridays: 25%.
May holds 7.7% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15.1%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 44.4% of all 27 deaths at Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 25% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 8.6% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
Riverside County Sheriff's Department has 27 officers remembered here, James among them.
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Frank Hamilton Apr 9, 1895
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Henry F. Nelson
Sep 22, 1921
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Theodore Crossley
Sep 22, 1921
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Howard R. Scheffler
Feb 29, 1956
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Roger A. Strong
Aug 7, 1961
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William J. Rutledge
May 14, 1969
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William F. Carter, Jr.
May 20, 1969
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Edward M. Schrader
Jul 11, 1974
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James B. Evans
May 9, 1980
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Dirk Alan Leonardson
Oct 4, 1980
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Michael David Davis, Sr.
Oct 24, 1988
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Randy Robert Lutz
Jun 22, 1989
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Kent Hintergardt
May 9, 1993
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Mark Steven Kemp
Nov 9, 1994
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Michael Paul Haugen
Jan 5, 1997
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James Warren Lehmann, Jr.
Jan 5, 1997
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Eric Andrew Thach
Oct 8, 1999
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Brent C. Jenkins
Mar 18, 2003
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Bruce Kevin Lee
May 13, 2003
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Manuel Villegas
Mar 19, 2007
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Terrell Don Young
Apr 2, 2020
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Harry Morris Cohen
Oct 18, 2020
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Steve Taylor
Feb 24, 2022
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Isaiah Cordero
Dec 29, 2022
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Darnell Calhoun
Jan 13, 2023
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Brett Harris
May 13, 2023
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Timothy Corlew
Jan 8, 2025
Where
Military Service
James B. Evans served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.
Visit James B. Evans’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 18-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Riverside County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
