Dan Heryford

Shasta County Sheriff's Department — Redding, CA

Felonious

End of Watch May 25, 1950

Age 54

The Vigil Panel 86 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 5

Incident

Deputy Haryford and Undersheriff Earl Sholes where shot and killed after they were attacked by two youth offenders, 18 and 19, they were transporting to the California Youth Authority Camp at Whitmore. Five weeks earlier both had escaped from the camp, stole a car, and drove to Seattle, where they were found asleep in the car and apprehended. During the trip back on Highway 99 near Gibson they suddenly lunged forward from the back seat, struck the officers with their handcuffs, took their guns, and shot and killed them both. The next morning their bodies were found in high brush near the road. Two hours later the two were stopped and apprehended by state troopers as they drove the officer's car into Truckee. On December 6, 1950, both youths were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. In October of 1951 the California Supreme Court ordered new trials for both. On February 21, 1952, both were again convicted of first degree murder but sentenced to life. They were both released in 1977.

Survivors

Deputy Haryford was survived by his wife, daughter and six grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-3BF5164E
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.
Deputy Sheriff Heryford served with the Shasta County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Redding community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Heryford.

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

Agency

Department Shasta County Sheriff's Department

Location Redding, CA

Platform Identity scso.shasta.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 25, 1950

Age 54

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Officer's handgun

Offender Released in 1977

Deputy Sheriff Dan Heryford 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 Shasta County Sheriff's Department, 5 of 6 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 83.3% of this agency's fallen.

Shasta County Sheriff's Department

of 6 officers

83.3% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious