Roll of Honor
Incident
Undersheriff Sholes and Deputy Sheriff Dan Haryford where shot and killed after they were attacked by two youth offenders they were transporting to stand trial. While in route the suspects attacked the officers, took their guns and killed them. Both suspects were found guilty of murder and sentenced to death, but they were both eventually paroled.
Survivors
Undersheriff Sholes was survived by his wife, daughter and four grandchildren.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-1F1549F9- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Undersheriff Sholes served with the Shasta County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Redding community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Undersheriff Sholes.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Undersheriff Earl Sholes is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Shasta County Sheriff's Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Earl Sholes's cause is highlighted.
How Earl Sholes Compares
Offender Outcome
Paroled
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Earl Sholes is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Earl Sholes was killed by officer's handgun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
5 officers from Shasta County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.
