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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Eugene Luther was shot and killed while off-duty when a suspect attempted to rob him. He had just left a restaurant and was approaching his car when the suspect demanded money. As Deputy Luther reached for his off-duty weapon and identified himself he was shot and killed. He was able to return fire and possibly wounded the suspect, who was never identified. Deputy Luther had served with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department for 22 years.
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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22 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Luther gave the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Luther.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office has lost 22 officers; 15 of them killed feloniously.
Eugene is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Eugene is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Eugene 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 Sacramento County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
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
Eugene was 50. Of the 15 killed feloniously at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 43.5; the middle age was 36. Eugene had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Eugene was 50. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Eugene had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Eugene was 50. 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. Eugene had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Eugene was 50. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Eugene had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
April holds 6.7% of these deaths at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office; October holds the most, 20%. Fridays: 33.3%.
April holds 9.1% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15.1%.
April holds 8.4% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
April holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 68.2% of all 22 deaths at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 26.7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.6% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office has 22 officers remembered here, Eugene among them.
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Joseph McKinney
Aug 15, 1850
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Charles J. Ogle
Mar 12, 1951
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William L. Littlejohn
Jun 3, 1955
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Roger L. Bauman
Dec 12, 1961
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Kenneth B. Royal
Jun 7, 1968
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Bruce Roger Verhoeven
Dec 4, 1973
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Stewart Porter Baird
Jun 13, 1976
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Christopher W. Boone
Oct 25, 1979
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Eugene N. Luther
Apr 25, 1980
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Richard Earl Deffner
Jan 21, 1988
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Sandra Lee Larson
Dec 8, 1998
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Joseph Michael Kievernagel
Jul 13, 2005
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Kevin Patrick Blount
Jul 13, 2005
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Jeffrey Vaughn Mitchell
Oct 27, 2006
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Vu Nguyen
Dec 19, 2007
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Paul William DeRouen
Mar 29, 2008
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Lawrence Wilhelm Canfield
Nov 12, 2008
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Danny Paul Oliver
Oct 24, 2014
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Robert Allan French
Aug 30, 2017
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Mark V. Stasyuk
Sep 17, 2018
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Adam Samuel Gibson
Jan 18, 2021
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Brian Dennis Moore
Jan 13, 2022
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