Earl Mendenhall

Ventura County Sheriff's Office — Ventura, CA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch July 15, 1961

Age 35

The Vigil Panel 96 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 12

Incident

Deputy Sheriff Earl Mendenhall was killed in an automobile crash on Santa Clara Avenue, near Highway 118, when a mentally ill prisoner he was transporting grabbed the wheel of his cruiser and caused it to veer into oncoming traffic. Three people in the other car were seriously injured but survived. The 27-year-old prisoner was sent to a mental institution where he soon escaped. He remained at large for two years before he was captured at his parents' home. Deputy Mendenhall's death led to the installation of plastic shields in police cars between the front and back seats to protect officers from criminals. Deputy Mendenhall was a WWII veteran.

Survivors

He was survived by his wife and seven children.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-E9C6BA26
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 Mendenhall served with the Ventura County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Ventura 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

Department Ventura County Sheriff's Office

Location Ventura, CA

Platform Identity vcso.ventura.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch July 15, 1961

Age 35

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Automobile

Offender Committed

Military Service

Earl Mendenhall served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Deputy Sheriff Earl Mendenhall 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 Ventura County Sheriff's Office, 9 of 13 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 69.2% of this agency's fallen.

Ventura County Sheriff's Office

of 13 officers

69.2% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious