Roll of Honor
Incident
Constable John Powers and Deputized Civilian Oliver McCoy were shot and killed when they went to Coyote Holes in the Mojave Desert to arrest some Indians who were accused of setting haystacks on fire. A gun battle ensued in which both were killed, and two Indians were killed. A third man with the officers was able to escape and summon help. Another Indian, known to be a desperate and evil character, was later captured at Coyote Hole. With much evidence and by his own admission, he was found to be the one who killed the two officers. He was sentenced to life in prison.
Survivors
He was survived by his parents and siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-480D8212- 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
135 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Constable Powers served with the Kern County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Bakersfield community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Constable John L. Powers 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 Kern County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 28 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 32.1% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John L. Powers's cause is highlighted.
How John L. Powers Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John L. Powers is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John L. Powers was killed by gun.
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Kern County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
