Michael Richard Arruda
Deputy Sheriff

Michael Richard Arruda

Veteran → Accident
End of Watch June 15, 2004
Age 35
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Badge 3478
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Michael Arruda succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained six days earlier when he was accidentally shot by another deputy.

Deputy Arruda and three deputies responded to the Motel 6 at 1154 S 7th Avenue in in Hacienda Heights on June 9th, 2004, after receiving a call that someone was firing shots and threatening people. When the deputies arrived, they went to the unit where the suspect was reported to be staying. As they walked toward the unit, the subject exited carrying a pellet pistol that closely resembled a .40-caliber semiautomatic handgun and began firing at the deputies. The deputies returned fire, killing the subject.

One of the rounds fired by the deputies struck Deputy Arruda in the neck, seriously wounding him.

Deputy Arruda was transported to Los Angeles County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center where he remained until his death six days later.

Deputy Arruda had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for 13 years.

Survivors

He is survived by his son, daughter, fiancée, parents, brother, and sister.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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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 Arruda gave the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 13 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Thank you for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Other
Location Monterey Park, Los Angeles County, CA
Platform Identity lacso.losangeles.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 15, 2004
Tour of Duty 13 yrs
Age 35
Badge Number 3478
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Accident

Military Service

Michael Richard Arruda served in the the United States military before joining law enforcement.

View full service record on salute.nw →

The Sacrifice · Accident

Michael is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,552 remembered there.

34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 2004, 72 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 43rd heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Michael was 35. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Michael had served 13 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

June holds 7.9% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 14.1%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has at least 120 officers remembered here, Michael among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Deputy Sheriff Michael Richard Arruda

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department · End of Watch June 15, 2004

Military Service

Michael Richard Arruda served in the United States military before joining law enforcement.

Visit Michael Richard Arruda’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 64-W

Also Remembered

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