Steven Laurence Armenta

California Department of Justice — Sacramento, CA

Felonious

End of Watch December 7, 1973

Age 43

The Vigil Panel 113 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 6

Incident

Field Supervisor Steven Armenta was shot and killed following an undercover drug purchase in the city of Benicia. When the officers attempted to arrest the suspect, he opened fire, fatally wounding Supervisor Armenta. On August 27, 1974, the suspect, 21, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter, three counts of selling cocaine, and sentenced to four 5 year to life terms to be served concurrently. Supervisor Armenta was assigned to the Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and two children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-0A908BCD
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: April 2, 2026
Last updated: July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Field Supervisor Armenta served with the California Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Field Supervisor Armenta.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Department California Department of Justice

Location Sacramento, CA

Platform Identity cdjfed.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch December 7, 1973

Age 43

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun; 9 mm

Offender Sentenced to life

Field Supervisor Steven Laurence Armenta is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 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 1.2 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.

At California Department of Justice, 2 of 7 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 28.6% of this agency's fallen.

California Department of Justice

of 7 officers

28.6% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious