Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Eric Thach was shot and killed after being ambushed at a home-invasion robbery at the 9100 Block of Kennedy Street in Pedley at 130 pm.
He had responded to the call when neighbors noticed a strange man at the house. While at the scene, Deputy Thach was shot with an assault rifle, and the shot penetrated his protective vest. At the time he was shot, Deputy Thach had not even seen the suspect.
He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead about two hours later.
The suspect then left the scene and started several brush fires in the area in an attempt to escape. Other responding deputies shot and killed the suspect near the fires.
Deputy Thach had served with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for three years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-7E693055- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Thach gave the Riverside County Sheriff's Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Riverside community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Thach.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Eric Andrew Thach 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 Riverside County Sheriff's Department, 12 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Eric Andrew Thach's cause is highlighted.
How Eric Andrew Thach Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eric Andrew Thach is highlighted in Oct.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Riverside County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
