Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Staples was shot and killed and a constable was seriously wounded when they attempted to arrest six stagecoach robbers. The previous day six men wearing Confederate uniforms halted and robbed two stagecoaches near Placerville. The next morning Deputy Staples and a local constable followed the robbers' trail to a hotel in the nearby town of Somerset. Once inside the two were met with a fusillade of bullets. Deputy Staples was killed instantly. The constable, who ran back outside, was shot three times and left for dead. Seven weeks later all six suspects were apprehended in Santa Clara County. One suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and hanged in Placerville on September 29th, 1865. Another suspect was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 20 years hard labor. The other four suspects were tried and acquitted.
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
162 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Staples served with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Placerville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Joseph Staples 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 El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph Staples's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph Staples Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph Staples is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph Staples was killed by gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from El Dorado County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
