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Incident
Special Agent Pat Dillon was assigned to the Orange Regional Office of the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Investigation and Intelligence. He succumbed to injuries sustained as the result of multiple exposures to known carcinogens associated with the manufacture of methamphetamine while he conducted criminal investigations involving clandestine meth labs between 1994 and 2001.
It was during his assignment with the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement where he sustained these exposures. He was subsequently diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2006 and passed away on April 14, 2007. His death was affirmed by the California Attorney General as a line of duty death, and he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Purple Heart by the California Department of Justice on July 21, 2009. Special Agent Dillon was assigned to the Bureau of Investigation and Intelligence. He had served in Law enforcement for 24 years, with prior service with the California Highway Patrol.
It was during his assignment with the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement where he sustained these exposures. He was subsequently diagnosed with kidney cancer in 2006 and passed away on April 14, 2007. His death was affirmed by the California Attorney General as a line of duty death, and he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Purple Heart by the California Department of Justice on July 21, 2009.
Special Agent Dillon was assigned to the Bureau of Investigation and Intelligence. He had served in Law enforcement for 24 years, with prior service with the California Highway Patrol.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
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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
24 years. You could have gone home.
Special Agent Dillon gave the California Department of Justice 24 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Agent Dillon.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Illness
California Department of Justice has lost 7 officers; 1 of them lost to illness.
Patrick is one of 75 officers lost to illness in CA, 4.1% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Patrick is one of 2,028 officers lost to illness in the United States, 7.4% of the 27,552 remembered there.
Patrick is one of 2,979 officers lost to illness worldwide, 8.7% of the 34,103 remembered here.
34,103 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2007, 1 officer in CA was lost to illness, the 8th heaviest of 19 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 25.
In 2007, 18 officers in the United States were lost to illness, the 19th heaviest of 108 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 564.
In 2007, 23 officers worldwide were lost to illness, the 18th heaviest of 197 years on record. The heaviest was 2021, with 566.
Who
Patrick was 50. Of the 75 lost to illness in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 36.5 and 53; the middle age was 48. Patrick had served 24 years; the middle length of service was 19 years.
Patrick was 50. Of the 1,996 lost to illness in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 42 and 58; the middle age was 51. Patrick had served 24 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
Patrick was 50. Of the 2,916 lost to illness worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 39 and 56; the middle age was 49. Patrick had served 24 years; the middle length of service was 20 years.
When
April holds 4% of these deaths in CA; January holds the most, 13.3%. Saturdays: 17.3%.
April holds 6.9% of these deaths in the United States; October holds the most, 14.9%. Saturdays: 13.9%.
April holds 7.6% of these deaths worldwide; October holds the most, 12.6%. Saturdays: 14.8%.
How
Illness deaths account for 14.3% of all 7 deaths at California Department of Justice, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 4.1% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 7.4% of all 27,552 deaths in the United States, the 3rd most common cause.
Illness deaths account for 8.7% of all 34,103 deaths worldwide, the 3rd most common cause.
His people
California Department of Justice has 7 officers remembered here, Patrick among them.
Where the Name Is Cut
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from California Department of Justice are honored on badge.nw.
