Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Mark Dunakin and Officer John Hege were shot and killed during a traffic stop at 74th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard. During the stop, the driver opened fire, killing Sergeant Dunakin and mortally wounding Officer Hege. Citizens who witnessed the incident called 911 and started CPR on both officers.
The suspect fled on foot, leading to an intense manhunt by dozens of officers from the Oakland Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and Alameda County Sheriff's Department.
At approximately 3:30 pm, the Oakland Police Department received an anonymous tip that the suspect was barricaded inside an apartment building on 74th Avenue.
Officers first attempted to negotiate with the suspect, but a SWAT team was sent into the location to apprehend him when that failed. As the SWAT officers approached, the suspect opened fire with a rifle, killing Sergeant Ervin Romans and Sergeant Daniel Sakai and wounding a third officer. Officers returned fire, killing the 26-year-old male suspect.
It was later determined that the suspect had an extensive violent criminal history and was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon. Additionally, he had a no-bail parole warrant at the time of the incident.
Sergeant Dunakin had served with the Oakland Police Department for 18 years.
In March 2012, the Keller Avenue Bridge over I-580 was renamed the "Sgt. Mark Dunakin Sgt. Ervin Romans Sgt. Daniel Sakai Officer John Hege Memorial Bridge."
Sergeant Dunakin had served with the Oakland Police Department for 18 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, who was an Alameda County Sheriff's Deputy, and three children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-0B63A403- 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.
Sergeant Dunakin gave the Oakland Police Department 18 years.
Thank you for your service to the Oakland community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Dunakin.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Mark Thomas Dunakin 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 Oakland Police Department, 37 of 54 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 68.5% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Mark Thomas Dunakin's cause is highlighted.
How Mark Thomas Dunakin Compares
Offender Outcome
Killed by other officers
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Mark Thomas Dunakin is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Mark Thomas Dunakin was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
53 officers from Oakland Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
