Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff Joseph McKinney was shot and killed as he and his deputies attempted to arrest several squatters. As a result of the California Gold Rush, several confrontations took place between Sacramento County property owners and squatters during the summer of 1850. Following the funeral of the city assessor, who was killed in a battle with squatters the day before, Sheriff McKinney and twenty deputies rode to Brighton where several squatters had barricaded themselves in a house. As they entered the house gunfire erupted. Sheriff McKinney and two squatters were killed before the other squatters were forced to surrender. Sheriff McKinney had held the position of Sheriff for only five months and was the county's first elected Sheriff.
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BO-US-CA-9BFD5ABA- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
176 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff McKinney served with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff Joseph McKinney 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 Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, 15 of 22 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 68.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Joseph McKinney's cause is highlighted.
How Joseph McKinney Compares
Offender Outcome
Two shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Joseph McKinney is highlighted in Aug.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Joseph McKinney was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
21 officers from Sacramento County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
