Roll of Honor
George R. Barthel
Incident
Deputy Sheriff George Barthel was shot while investigating a group of suspicious males. He and his partner were assigned to the Sheriff's Special Enforcement Bureau and were assigned to patrol the Nickerson Housing Project. They were walking up to a group of males in front of 1449 E 115th Street when one of the subjects threw two vials of PCP into the bushes. As Deputy Barthel's partner went to pick up the drugs, the shooter opened fire from across the street with a rifle, striking both Deputy Barthel and his partner in the face and the torso. Both deputies were wearing bulletproof vests, but the bullets entered through the gaps in the sides. Two suspects, 21 and 24, were arrested and charged with murder. On November 20. 1980, the 24-year-old suspect was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without parole. The other suspect was acquitted. As of December 2, 2022, the killer was in the California State Prison in Los Angeles County. Deputy Barthel's partner used his own body to shield Deputy Barthel as they retreated to their patrol car, taking fire from the suspects. Both deputies were transported to a local hospital, where Deputy Barthel died later that day. Deputy Barthel was a United States Army Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for 10 years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, son, daughter, parents, brother, and two sisters.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-8ED3F694- 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 served 1985 to 1993. You served too, before the badge - different uniform, same idea. You go where you are sent and you do not get to pick the call.
Deputy Sheriff Barthel gave the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community, and for your service before it. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, brother.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Military Service
George R. Barthel served in the Army (1965â1968) before joining law enforcement.
Deputy Sheriff George R. Barthel 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 Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept., 58 of 120 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 48.3% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. George R. Barthel's cause is highlighted.
How George R. Barthel Compares
Offender Outcome
Sentenced to life
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. George R. Barthel is highlighted in Apr.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. George R. Barthel was killed by rifle.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
119 officers from Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
