Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Edmund McMartin and City Marshal William Kelley, of the Oxnard Police Department, were shot and killed while attempting to arrest a man wanted for murder. Sheriff McMartin had received information the man was at a home at the intersection of Winnetka Avenue and Sherman Way in Los Angeles. The two officers went to the home and spoke to the owner, who informed them the wanted man and an accomplice were staying in a shack in the backyard. When the suspect opened the door he recognized the officers and opened fire with a pistol, fatally wounding both. The man fled but committed suicide a short time later as officers surrounded him. Marshal Kelley had served in law enforcement for 44 years. He had previously served as sheriff of Dakota County, Nebraska, and as the United States Marshal for Nebraska. He was appointed Oxnard's first city marshal in 1898 and also held commissions as a constable and sheriff's deputy. Sheriff McMartin had served with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office for over 19 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-C9C5FD54- Stewardship
- 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.
Sheriff McMartin gave the Ventura County Sheriff's Office 19 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ventura community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sheriff McMartin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Edmund Guy McMartin 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 Ventura County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Edmund Guy McMartin's cause is highlighted.
How Edmund Guy McMartin Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Edmund Guy McMartin is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Edmund Guy McMartin was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Ventura County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
