Roll of Honor
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.
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BO-US-CA-27301E1F- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Dighton Lewis Little is one of 1 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 0% of all 97,772 officers honored here.
In CA, 974 of 1,837 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53% of this state's fallen. That is 53 percentage points above the national rate of 0%.
At San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dighton Lewis Little's cause is highlighted.
How Dighton Lewis Little Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dighton Lewis Little is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dighton Lewis Little was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
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.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
