Eric Andrew Thach
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Eric Andrew Thach

Felonious
End of Watch October 8, 1999
Age 34
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
The Vigil Panel 146 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Eric Thach was shot and killed after being ambushed at a home-invasion robbery at the 9100 Block of Kennedy Street in Pedley at 130 pm.

He had responded to the call when neighbors noticed a strange man at the house. While at the scene, Deputy Thach was shot with an assault rifle, and the shot penetrated his protective vest. At the time he was shot, Deputy Thach had not even seen the suspect.

He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead about two hours later.

The suspect then left the scene and started several brush fires in the area in an attempt to escape. Other responding deputies shot and killed the suspect near the fires.

Deputy Thach had served with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for three years.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife and daughter.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-7E693055
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 Thach gave the Riverside County Sheriff's Department 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Riverside community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Thach.

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

Agency

Location Riverside, CA
Platform Identity rcso.riverside.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch October 8, 1999
Tour of Duty 3 yrs
Age 34
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Deputy Sheriff Eric Andrew Thach 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 Riverside County Sheriff's Department, 12 of 27 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 44.4% of this agency's fallen.

Riverside County Sheriff's Department
12
of 27 officers
44.4% 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. Eric Andrew Thach'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 Eric Andrew Thach Compares

Age at End of Watch
34
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 39.0 years
Years of Service
3
This officer
Avg for Felonious: 8.5 years

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Eric Andrew Thach is highlighted in Oct.

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.

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

Incident Location