Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Bob French was shot and killed outside the Ramada Inn in the 2600 block of Auburn Boulevard while conducting an auto theft investigation at approximately 10:30 am.
Members of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Auto Theft Task Force had just taken two women into custody following a pursuit of a stolen vehicle they had observed leaving the hotel. Task force investigators returned to the hotel room to search it based on the offender's searchable probation status. As two members of the task force knocked on the room's door and announced themselves, a male subject inside opened fire with a rifle, wounding two California Highway Patrol investigators.
The man continued exchanging shots with members of the task force before jumping from the balcony. As he moved from the back to the front of the hotel, he continued exchanging shots with officers. Deputy French had responded to the scene and engaged the subject with gunfire as the man attempted to enter another stolen car. One of the man's rounds went through Deputy French's patrol car, and a fragment struck him in an area not protected by his vest.
Despite being mortally wounded, Deputy French continued to engage the subject to allow other officers to seek cover. The man was able to flee in the stolen car, leading officers on a pursuit before crashing. He exchanged shots with officers again before being taken into custody. The man later died from his wounds sustained during the multiple shootouts.
Deputy French had served with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department for 21 years and was assigned to the Sacramento County Sheriff's Auto Theft Task Force.
Survivors
He is survived by his children, grandchildren, and sister.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-63DBD072- 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
21 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff French gave the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office 21 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff French.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Robert Allan French 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 Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, 15 of 22 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 68.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert Allan French's cause is highlighted.
How Robert Allan French Compares
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert Allan French is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert Allan French was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
21 officers from Sacramento County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
