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Incident
Sergeant Daniel Sakai and Sergeant Ervin Romans, SWAT team members, were killed when they attempted to apprehend a suspect that had earlier in the day shot and killed Sergeant Mark Dunakin and mortally wounded Officer John Hege during a traffic stop.
At approximately 1:15 p.m., Sergeant Dunakin and Officer Hege, patrolling on a motorcycle, pulled over a car at a traffic stop at 74th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard. During the stop, the driver opened fire, killing the officers. Citizens who witnessed the incident called 911 and started CPR on both officers.
The suspect fled on foot, leading to an intense manhunt by dozens of officers from the Oakland Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and Alameda County Sheriff's Department.
At approximately 3:30 p.m., the Oakland Police Department received an anonymous tip that the suspect was barricaded inside an apartment building on 74th Avenue.
Officers first attempted to negotiate with the suspect, but a SWAT team was sent into the location to apprehend him when that failed. As the SWAT officers approached, the suspect opened fire with a rifle, killing Sergeants Ervin Romans and Daniel Sakai and wounding a third officer. Officers returned fire, killing the 26-year-old male suspect.
It was later determined that the suspect had an extensive violent criminal history and was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon. Additionally, he had a no-bail parole warrant at the time of the incident.
Sergeant Sakai had served with the Oakland Police Department for nine years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, a UC Berkley Police Officer, a daughter, and his parents.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Sakai gave the Oakland Police Department 8 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Sakai.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Oakland Police Department has lost 54 officers; 37 of them killed feloniously.
Daniel is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Daniel is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Daniel is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2009, 4 officers at Oakland Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 2009, 5 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 82nd heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 2009, 59 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 129th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2009, 63 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 126th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Daniel was 35. Of the 34 killed feloniously at Oakland Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32.3 and 42.8; the middle age was 35.5. Daniel had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Daniel was 35. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Daniel had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Daniel was 35. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Daniel had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Daniel was 35. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Daniel had served 8 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
March holds 16.2% of these deaths at Oakland Police Department; January holds the most, 18.9%. Saturdays: 29.7%.
March holds 7.6% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 16.4%.
March holds 7.5% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
March holds 7.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 68.5% of all 54 deaths at Oakland Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; sks, in 5.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; sks, in 0.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; sks, in 0.1% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle; sks, in 0.1% of these deaths.
His people
Oakland Police Department has 54 officers remembered here, Daniel among them.
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Richard B. Richardson
Oct 22, 1867
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William G. Cashin Mar 12, 1893
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James Hume Smith, Jr.
Nov 27, 1903
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George W. Brown
Dec 17, 1904
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George White
Nov 25, 1907
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James J. Fenton
Jan 4, 1908
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Charles A. Williams
Apr 21, 1912
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Alfred M. Poulter Aug 22, 1914
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Robert Franklin Gushe Mar 4, 1916
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Alvin C. Gillem Apr 12, 1917
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Corrento G. J. Gargadennec
Sep 6, 1919
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John F. McCarthy
Nov 30, 1922
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William J. Davis
Jan 5, 1928
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Ernest H. Philbrick
Feb 11, 1929
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Timothy Duane
Apr 18, 1930
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Richard Philpott
Jan 7, 1931
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William T. Kohler
Jul 4, 1931
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Osborn Asher Lyon
Aug 19, 1931
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Michael Moore
Apr 5, 1935
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Leo T. Cunningham
Jul 18, 1940
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Thomas W. Prindiville
Jul 6, 1941
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Elmer E. Norgren
Jan 15, 1943
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Wallace J. Muscovich
Apr 23, 1944
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John R. Johnston
Jun 27, 1946
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Fred B. Veretto
Jan 7, 1947
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James S. Weir
Jun 2, 1950
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Donald O. Nielson
Mar 25, 1951
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Marvin Siebert
Sep 19, 1951
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Eugene M. Oneto
Nov 18, 1951
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David L. Worcester
Jul 8, 1953
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John F. Frey
Oct 28, 1967
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William L. Martin
Oct 9, 1970
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Robert W. Blan
May 23, 1973
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David George Guider
Oct 2, 1973
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Wendell I. Troyer
Oct 2, 1973
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David John Branhan
Feb 7, 1974
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David Edward Marks
Feb 7, 1974
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Michael J. Faulkner
Jun 27, 1981
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Ramon Irizarry, Jr.
Jan 18, 1983
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Chesley Allen Stephens
Nov 13, 1984
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John William Grubensky
Oct 20, 1991
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William Blea Grijalva
Dec 15, 1993
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Miguel T. Soto
Jun 22, 1994
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Keith Stephen Konopasek
Jul 8, 1995
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James Williams, Jr.
Jan 10, 1999
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William Alberto Wilkins, Jr.
Jan 12, 2001
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William Lynchburg Seuis
Jul 22, 2004
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Mark Thomas Dunakin
Mar 21, 2009
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Ervin Julius Romans, II
Mar 21, 2009
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Daniel Takashi Sakai
Mar 21, 2009
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John Raymond Hege
Mar 24, 2009
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Paul Michael Carlisle
Dec 1, 2015
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Tuan Q. Le
Dec 29, 2023
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Jordan Wingate
Apr 20, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 22-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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