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Dighton Lewis Little
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Dighton Little was shot and killed while serving a narcotics-related warrant as a member of his department's SWAT team. The SWAT team was assisting deputies from Stanislaus County who had executed a search warrant several days earlier and recovered a weapon. While outside of the suspect's trailer on Highway 99, in Ripon, he was shot in the head with a high powered rifle fired through a window. The suspect was then shot and killed by other officers. Deputy Little was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Army. One record, 2 gates. Dighton is one person.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Little served with the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the French Camp community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Little.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Dighton Lewis Little served in the U.S. Army (1973â1975) before joining law enforcement.
The Sacrifice · Felonious
San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office has lost 6 officers; 4 of them killed feloniously.
Dighton is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Dighton is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Dighton 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 1989, 8 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 38th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1989, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1989, 108 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Dighton was 35. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35.
Dighton was 35. 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.
Dighton was 35. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
October holds 9.3% of these deaths in CA, more than any other month. Fridays: 15.1%.
October holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
October holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 66.7% of all 6 deaths at San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 50% 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
San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office has 6 officers remembered here, Dighton among them.
Where
Military Service
Dighton Lewis Little served in the U.S. Army (1973–1975) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Dighton Lewis Little’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 13-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Also Remembered
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
