Roll of Honor
Incident
Sergeant Ron Helus was shot and killed at 11:20 p.m. after responding to an active shooter at a bar at 99 Rolling Oaks Drive in Thousand Oaks.
When he arrived, Sergeant Helus heard gunfire coming from inside the bar, which was occupied by nearly 200 college students. He and a California Highway Patrol officer immediately made entry into the bar and confronted the shooter, who was waiting to ambush them. Sergeant Helus was shot five times by the subject and severely wounded. He was also struck one time by a friendly-fire round during the shooting.
Sergeant Helus was taken to a local hospital where he died from his wounds. Eleven citizens were also shot and killed in the incident, and numerous others were wounded.
The suspect was later found dead inside the bar from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Sergeant Helus served with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office for 29 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and son.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-61C3B733- 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
29 years. You could have gone home.
Sergeant Helus gave the Ventura County Sheriff's Office 29 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Ventura community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Helus.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sergeant Ronald Lee Helus 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 Ventura County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Ronald Lee Helus's cause is highlighted.
How Ronald Lee Helus Compares
Offender Outcome
Committed suicide
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Ronald Lee Helus is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Ronald Lee Helus was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Ventura County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
