Daniel A. Todd
Incident
Special Deputy Sheriff Daniel Todd was shot and killed while intervening in a domestic dispute in Vernon.
He had been sworn in as a deputy and assigned to protect the city dumps, in the area of South Sante Fe Avenue and East Vernon Street, and its operators after they began to receive threatening letters and demands of money in January 1910. The sheriff believed that the letters were being sent by the Black Hand, a forerunner to the mafia.
On February 22nd, 1910, the operator's wife was threatened by her son who brandished a gun and demanded money. The woman asked Deputy Todd to intervene because he had built a rapport with the boy. A struggle ensued in which the firearm was discharged and struck Deputy Todd in the chest, killing him.
A coroner's jury and presiding judge both determined the shooting to be an accident and the boy was never indicted.
Deputy Todd was a widower and had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for approximately two months.
Special Deputy Todd, On today, the 110th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Los Angeles County.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol February 22nd, 2020
In Our Keeping
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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
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Deputy Sheriff Todd served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Los Angeles community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Sheriff Todd.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Special Deputy Sheriff Daniel A. Todd 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. Daniel A. Todd's cause is highlighted.
How Daniel A. Todd Compares
Offender Outcome
Not indicted
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Daniel A. Todd is highlighted in Feb.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Daniel A. Todd was killed by handgun.
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.















