Stephen Samuel Kent

California Highway Patrol — Sacramento, CA

Felonious Veteran

End of Watch March 10, 1933

Age 41

The Vigil Panel 65 ›

Gender Male

Incident Service The Sacrifice Department 232

Incident

Officer Stephen Kent was shot and killed in Yreka, California while attempting to arrest a man who was wanted for numerous robberies and kidnapping in several states. The suspect had abducted a United States Customs patrolman in Bellingham, Washington, and drove him to California, where he tied him to a tree. He then stole the patrolman's service revolver before driving to Yreka. As Officer Kent, deputies from the Siskiyou County Sheriff's Office, and a civilian attempted to stop the car on Yreka's main street. The man opened fire on them, killing Officer Kent and the citizen before being taken into custody by the sheriff and a deputy. The subject was convicted of the murder and executed in 1936. Officer Kent was a U.S. Navy veteran.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier: BO-US-CA-F9ABCBFF
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.
Officer Kent served with the California Highway Patrol.
Thank you for your service to the people of California, 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 California Highway Patrol

Location Sacramento, CA

Platform Identity chp.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch March 10, 1933

Age 41

Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious

Weapon Handgun

Offender Executed in 1936

Military Service

Stephen Samuel Kent served in the United States military before joining law enforcement. Full service record available on salute.nw.

Officer Stephen Samuel Kent 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 California Highway Patrol, 71 of 233 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 30.5% of this agency's fallen.

California Highway Patrol

of 233 officers

30.5% Felonious

CA — Statewide

974

of 1,837 officers

53% Felonious

Nationwide

17,623

of 32,508 officers

54.2% Felonious