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Incident
Investigator Michael Davis was killed in a helicopter accident while working on a multi-agency narcotics task force along the United States border. A suspicious vehicle was spotted in a canyon on a remote access road in the Mountain Springs Grade area. The UH-1H helicopter began to descend when its rotor blades struck power lines and caused it to crash in the foothills of the Laguna Mountains. Also killed in the accident were Deputy Roy Chester of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Deputy Sheriff James McSweeney of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Sergeant Richard Romero of the Imperial County Sheriff's Department, Deputy Mark Tonkin of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, and the three California National Guard crew members operating the flight. Investigator Davis had served with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for nine years. He was survived by his wife, four sons, a daughter, parents, and siblings. One of Investigator Davis' sons, Investigator Michael Davis Jr., was shot and killed in the line of duty on October 24th, 2014, while serving with the Placer County Sheriff's Department. Their line-of-duty deaths occurred exactly 26 years apart to the day.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife, four sons, a daughter, parents, and siblings.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Investigator Davis gave the Riverside County Sheriff's Department 9 years.
Thank you for your service to the Riverside community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Investigator Davis.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Riverside County Sheriff's Department has lost 27 officers; 12 of them lost to accidents.
Michael is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Michael is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Michael is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.8% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1988, 1 officer at Riverside County Sheriff's Department was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 11 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 2.
In 1988, 14 officers in CA were lost to accidents, more than in any other year.
In 1988, 80 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 27th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1988, 84 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 48th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Michael was 34. Of the 12 lost to accidents at Riverside County Sheriff's Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27.5 and 33.3; the middle age was 30.5. Michael had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Michael was 34. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35. Michael had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Michael was 34. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Michael had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Michael was 34. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Michael had served 9 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 16.7% of these deaths at Riverside County Sheriff's Department; May holds the most, 25%. Mondays: 25%.
October holds 8.6% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 14.6%.
October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Mondays: 13.4%.
October holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 13.5%.
How
Accident deaths account for 44.4% of all 27 deaths at Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.2% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.8% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Riverside County Sheriff's Department has 27 officers remembered here, Michael among them.
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Frank Hamilton Apr 9, 1895
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Henry F. Nelson
Sep 22, 1921
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Theodore Crossley
Sep 22, 1921
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Howard R. Scheffler
Feb 29, 1956
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Roger A. Strong
Aug 7, 1961
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William J. Rutledge
May 14, 1969
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William F. Carter, Jr.
May 20, 1969
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Edward M. Schrader
Jul 11, 1974
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James B. Evans
May 9, 1980
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Dirk Alan Leonardson
Oct 4, 1980
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Michael David Davis, Sr.
Oct 24, 1988
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Randy Robert Lutz
Jun 22, 1989
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Kent Hintergardt
May 9, 1993
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Mark Steven Kemp
Nov 9, 1994
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Michael Paul Haugen
Jan 5, 1997
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James Warren Lehmann, Jr.
Jan 5, 1997
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Eric Andrew Thach
Oct 8, 1999
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Brent C. Jenkins
Mar 18, 2003
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Bruce Kevin Lee
May 13, 2003
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Manuel Villegas
Mar 19, 2007
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Terrell Don Young
Apr 2, 2020
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Harry Morris Cohen
Oct 18, 2020
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Steve Taylor
Feb 24, 2022
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Isaiah Cordero
Dec 29, 2022
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Darnell Calhoun
Jan 13, 2023
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Brett Harris
May 13, 2023
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Timothy Corlew
Jan 8, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 16-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Riverside County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
