Kimberly Sue Tonahill

San Diego Police Department — San Diego, CA

Felonious

End of Watch September 14, 1984

Age 24

Tour of Duty 9 mo

The Vigil Panel 128 ›

Gender Female

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 37

Incident

Patrolman Kimberly Tonahill and Patrolman Timothy Ruopp were shot and killed by an armed suspect at the Grape Street Park. The officers had located a vehicle in the park that contained two underage females and two males. While Patrolman Ruopp was writing a citation to one male for contributing to the delinquency of minors, Patrolman Tonahill was questioning the other male. It was unknown to Patrolman Tonahill that the male she was questioning had a handgun concealed on his person. This male suddenly produced his handgun when Patrolman Tonahill began to search him. Patrolman Tonahill was shot in the side in an area where her vest did not protect. Immediately after shooting Patrolman Tonahill, the suspect then fired at Patrolman Ruopp. Patrolman Ruopp was struck in the leg and knocked down. The suspect then ran up to Patrolman Ruopp and shot him in the head. A third officer then arrived at the park as a matter of routine cover. The officer had heard what sounded like gunshots about a block away from the park. The officer located the victim officers' patrol vehicles but did not see the officers. When this officer was investigating the situation, the hidden suspect fired at him. Though the officer was slightly wounded, he succeeded in wounding the suspect. The suspect escaped and made his way deeper into the park as arriving police units surrounded the location. When daylight appeared, the suspect was located and arrested for the murders of Patrolman Tonahill and Patrolman Ruopp. The suspect was tried and convicted of two counts of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death. While he was incarcerated at San Quentin's death row, the suspect hung himself several years after the incident. Patrolman Tonahill had served with the San Diego Police Department for nine months.

Survivors

She was survived by her parents.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-2A034DDF
Stewardship: Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw: August 2, 2026
Last updated: August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Tonahill served with the San Diego Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Tonahill.

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

Agency

Department San Diego Police Department

Type Other

Location San Diego, San Diego County, CA

Platform Identity sdpd.sandiego.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch September 14, 1984

Tour of Duty 9 mo

Age 24

Gender Female

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Patrolman Kimberly Sue Tonahill is one of 17,558 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 53.9% of all 32,585 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 0.9 percentage points below the national rate of 53.9%.

At San Diego Police Department, 27 of 38 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 71.1% of this agency's fallen.

San Diego Police Department

of 38 officers

71.1% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,558

of 32,585 officers

53.9% Felonious