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Incident
Sergeant Richard Deffner was shot and killed while conducting a search for an armed robbery suspect at 10333 White Rock Road. He was commanding a Special Operations Team looking for the suspect who had recently robbed several businesses at gunpoint. After a chase, the suspect fled from the officers as he fired at them. He was later located and another gunfight ensued. A controlled search area was created and the Special Operations Team began searching for him. Thinking that the suspect may have gone up to a roof, which would give him a vantage point to fire at officers, Sergeant Deffner climbed onto a roof to check it. After hearing noises, he peered over the side and was shot in the face by the suspect who was on the ground, hiding in an area used as a dog run. The subject then fled into a nearby apartment where he briefly held two women and an infant hostage. The man was fatally shot by officers when he came out of the apartment and opened fire. Sergeant Deffner was posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor for his actions.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, stepson, and parents.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Sergeant Deffner served with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Sergeant Deffner.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office has lost 22 officers; 15 of them killed feloniously.
Richard is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Richard is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Richard is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1988, 1 officer at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1988, 8 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 38th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1988, 97 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 55th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1988, 105 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 58th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Richard was 36. Of the 15 killed feloniously at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 43.5; the middle age was 36.
Richard was 36. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35.
Richard was 36. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.
Richard was 36. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
January holds 13.3% of these deaths at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office; October holds the most, 20%. Thursdays: 20%.
January holds 9% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 15.9%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Thursdays: 14.1%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 68.2% of all 22 deaths at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 13.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 26.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 23.4% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
His people
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office has 22 officers remembered here, Richard among them.
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Joseph McKinney
Aug 15, 1850
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Charles J. Ogle
Mar 12, 1951
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William L. Littlejohn
Jun 3, 1955
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Roger L. Bauman
Dec 12, 1961
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Kenneth B. Royal
Jun 7, 1968
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Bruce Roger Verhoeven
Dec 4, 1973
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Stewart Porter Baird
Jun 13, 1976
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Christopher W. Boone
Oct 25, 1979
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Eugene N. Luther
Apr 25, 1980
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Richard Earl Deffner
Jan 21, 1988
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Sandra Lee Larson
Dec 8, 1998
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Joseph Michael Kievernagel
Jul 13, 2005
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Kevin Patrick Blount
Jul 13, 2005
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Jeffrey Vaughn Mitchell
Oct 27, 2006
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Vu Nguyen
Dec 19, 2007
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Paul William DeRouen
Mar 29, 2008
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Lawrence Wilhelm Canfield
Nov 12, 2008
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Danny Paul Oliver
Oct 24, 2014
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Robert Allan French
Aug 30, 2017
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Mark V. Stasyuk
Sep 17, 2018
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Adam Samuel Gibson
Jan 18, 2021
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Brian Dennis Moore
Jan 13, 2022
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 10-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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