Roll of Honor
Laura Jean Cleaves
Incident
Senior Investigator Laura Cleaves was killed when her department vehicle was struck head-on by a drunk driver on Highway 154, near the intersection of Highway 246. She was returning to Lompoc from Santa Barbara when the incident occurred shortly before midnight.
The drunk driver, who was fleeing a California Highway Patrol officer at the time of the crash, was taken into custody following the incident.
Investigator Cleaves had served with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office for 24 years and had served in law enforcement for a total of 32 years. She had previously served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, the Arcata Police Department, and the Santa Barbara Police Department.
Survivors
She is survived by her husband, who serves with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department, two daughters, mother, father, step-mother, and four siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-10BDC97D- 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
32 years. You could have gone home.
Senior Investigator Cleaves gave the Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office 32 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Santa Barbara community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Senior Investigator Cleaves.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Senior Investigator Laura Jean Cleaves 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%.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Laura Jean Cleaves's cause is highlighted.
How Laura Jean Cleaves Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to 15 to life in prison
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Laura Jean Cleaves is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Laura Jean Cleaves was killed by automobile; alcohol involved.