Incident
Special Deputy Noah Rader was shot and killed in a stream of gunfire as bootleggers attempted to escape authorities at Moss Landing.
The United States Coast Guard was patrolling the shoreline, the United States Cavalry was approaching from one side, and the Monterey Sheriff's deputies were barricading a road to prevent the bootleggers from escaping. After four hours of a standstill in a hayfield, the suspects emerged firing a machine gun and attempting to drive away in three trucks and a car.
Special Deputy Rader was struck and killed instantly. The sheriff and another deputy were wounded.
Law enforcement officers confiscated two trucks and a car, but one truck managed to escape.
Two men were tried for his murder, but during both trials the jury remained deadlocked, and they were not tried again.
Special Deputy Rader was called out by the sheriff and deputized to help capture the bootleggers. He was a United States Army veteran.
Survivors
Survivors include his daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-3854315F- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Special Deputy Rader gave the Monterey County Sheriff's Office 1 year.
Thank you for your service to the Salinas community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
Noah H. Rader served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.
Special Deputy Noah H. Rader 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 Monterey County Sheriff's Office, 7 of 9 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 77.8% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Noah H. Rader's cause is highlighted.
How Noah H. Rader Compares
Offender Outcome
Two mistrials
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Noah H. Rader is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Noah H. Rader was killed by rifle; machine gun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
8 officers from Monterey County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.



