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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Bliss Magly and Deputy Sheriff Brent Jameson were killed when their Sheriff’s Department helicopter crashed and burned in heavy fog approximately one-half mile south of the Sonoma County Airport between River Road and Laughlin Road. Deputy Magly and Deputy Jameson were at home when they were called to help search for a shooting suspect in the area of Ludwig Avenue east of Llano Road between Sebasopol and Santa Rosa. Deputy Jameson was the pilot, and Deputy Magly was the helicopter observer, and they were returning to the airport at 8:50 p.m. Deputy Magly had served with the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office for three years. He was survived by his wife and parents. To honor the deputies, scholarships were opened in their names at Santa Rosa Junior College to assist deserving criminal justice students. The annual Sheriff’s Department awards banquet was started as a result of this tragedy as a way to recognize the outstanding work of Sheriff’s Department employees properly. The first banquet was dedicated to Deputies Jameson and Magly, who were posthumously awarded Gold Medals of Valor. He is buried at Santa Rosa Memorial Park.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and parents.
In Our Keeping
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- 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.
Deputy Sheriff Magly gave the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office 3 years.
Thank you for your service to the Santa Rosa community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Magly.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Sonoma County Sheriff's Office has lost 7 officers; 3 of them lost to accidents.
Bliss is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Bliss is one of 8,276 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Bliss is one of 10,096 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1980, 11 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 1980, 71 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 44th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1980, 86 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 46th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Bliss was 26. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35. Bliss had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Bliss was 26. 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. Bliss had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Bliss was 26. Of the 9,452 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Bliss had served 3 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 8.6% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 12.9%.
October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.
October holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Thursdays: 14.2%.
How
Accident deaths account for 42.9% of all 7 deaths at Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, 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 29.6% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Sonoma County Sheriff's Office has 7 officers remembered here, Bliss among them.
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 9-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
6 officers from Sonoma County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
