Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff David Douglass went into the wilds of Cement Hill in search of a bandit suspected in a string of robberies. After Sheriff Douglass failed to return, a search party found his body, and not too far from him, the body of the bandit he was looking for. Both had been shot to death. It remains a mystery as to exactly what happened. The two may have shot it out, killing each other, or possibly a third man, an accomplice of the bandit, killed Sheriff Douglass. Forty years later, a monument was erected on the spot which says, among other things, It is believed that Sheriff Douglass was pitted against two and that one escaped. Sheriff Douglass had served with the Nevada County Sheriff's Office for six years and was survived by his wife, child, mother, father, and siblings. He is buried at Pine Grove Cemetery, Nevada City, Nevada County, California.
Survivors
Sheriff Douglass had served with the Nevada County Sheriff's Office for six years and was survived by his wife, child, mother, father, and siblings.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-E18E5D5E- 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
130 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Douglass gave the Nevada County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Nevada City community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff David Fulton Douglass 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 Nevada County Sheriff's Office, 2 of 3 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. David Fulton Douglass's cause is highlighted.
How David Fulton Douglass Compares
Offender Outcome
One shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. David Fulton Douglass is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. David Fulton Douglass was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Nevada County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
