Brian E. Meilbeck
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Brian E. Meilbeck

Felonious
End of Watch April 1, 1997
Age 26
Tour of Duty 1 mo
Badge 550
The Vigil Panel 143 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Brian Meilbeck was shot and killed after he and two other deputies had responded to a domestic disturbance call in which a man shot his brother in the leg. As the deputies approached, the suspect fired once through the window, striking Deputy Meilbeck in his chest, just above his vest. He was pronounced dead upon arriving at a nearby hospital. The suspect was arrested about 20 minutes later after a standoff in which more shots were fired. The suspect was found guilty of second-degree murder in the fall of 1998. He was denied parole in 2023 and will be eligible for parole in May 2028. Deputy Meilbeck had only served with the Yuba County Sheriff's Department for 7 weeks.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and two-year-old son.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-643C68BF
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 Meilbeck served with the Yuba County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Marysville community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Meilbeck.

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

Agency

Location Marysville, CA
Platform Identity ycso.yuba.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch April 1, 1997
Tour of Duty 1 mo
Age 26
Badge Number 550
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Shotgun
Offender Found guilty

Deputy Sheriff Brian E. Meilbeck 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 Yuba County Sheriff's Department, 3 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 100% of this agency's fallen.

Yuba County Sheriff's Department
3
of 3 officers
100% Felonious
CA — Statewide
974
of 1,837 officers
53% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Brian E. Meilbeck's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Brian E. Meilbeck Compares

Age at End of Watch
26
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
0.1
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

Offender Outcome

Found guilty

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Brian E. Meilbeck is highlighted in Apr.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Brian E. Meilbeck was killed by shotgun.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518

Others Who Wore This Badge

2 officers from Yuba County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw.