Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Dominic Vaca was shot and killed following a vehicle pursuit of a motorcycle in Yucca Valley at about 2:00 pm.
Deputies were conducting enforcement operations for off-highway vehicle violations when they attempted to stop the motorcycle near Paxton Road and Imperial Drive for having no license plate. The driver abandoned the motorcycle near Dumosa Avenue and Sunnyslope Drive and set up an ambush for responding deputies. As the deputies approached the motorcycle, the subject opened fire on them, fatally wounding Sergeant Vaca.
Other deputies returned fire and killed the subject.
Sergeant Vaca was flown to a trauma center where he died a short time later.
Sergeant Vaca had served with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for 17 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and two children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-46D277CA- 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 Vaca gave the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department 17 years.
Thank you for your service to the San Bernardino community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Vaca.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Dominic David Vaca 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 San Bernardino County Sheriff's Dept., 8 of 18 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Dominic David Vaca's cause is highlighted.
How Dominic David Vaca Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Dominic David Vaca is highlighted in May.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Dominic David Vaca was killed by handgun.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
17 officers from San Bernardino County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
