Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Rick McHale was killed after being beaten and shot at a family disturbance call at 303 Decatur Street in Oildale at 6 pm. The mentally ill suspect attacked Deputy McHale, beat him with his baton, and then shot him with his service weapon. The man then committed suicide. Deputy McHale was taken to Kern Medical Center, where he succumbed to his wounds the next afternoon. Deputy McHale was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Kern County Sheriff's Office for seven years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, mother, father, and brother.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-35620C92- 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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Also honored at salute.nw — U.S. Marine Corps, salute.nw. One record, 3 gates. Richard is one person.
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Tributes
I served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff McHale gave the Kern County Sheriff's Office 7 years.
Thank you for your service to the Bakersfield community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Richard Robert McHale served in the the United States military (1975â1976) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff Richard Robert McHale 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 97,759 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. Richard Robert McHale's cause is highlighted.
How Richard Robert McHale Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Richard Robert McHale is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Richard Robert McHale was killed by officer's handgun.
Incident Location
Military Service
Richard Robert McHale served in the U.S. Marine Corps (1975–1976) before joining law enforcement.
Visit Richard Robert McHale’s page on salute.nw →
His full service record — units, decorations, where he served — is kept on salute.nw.
Others Who Wore This Badge
27 officers from Kern County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
