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Incident
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Bryce Patten was shot and killed at about 10:40 pm while manning a roadblock on Casitas Pass Road near Santa Ana Road. Deputy Patten had set up the roadblock in response to a robbery of a nearby store. He was waiting for a backup deputy to arrive when he stopped a car and took the driver's identification. The subject then opened fire on him, shooting him 11 times. The man fled without retrieving his identification cards. The subject was a convicted felon and was convicted of Deputy Patten's murder. He was sentenced to death and subsequently executed at San Quentin Prison on October 18th, 1961. Deputy Patten was a high school history teacher and had volunteered as a reserve deputy for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his two children.
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.
Reserve Deputy Sheriff Patten gave the Ventura County Sheriff's Office 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Ventura community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Reserve Deputy Sheriff Patten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Ventura County Sheriff's Office has lost 13 officers; 9 of them killed feloniously.
Bryce is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Bryce is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Bryce is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1960, 1 officer at Ventura County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, the 2nd heaviest of 8 years on record. The heaviest was 1961, with 2.
In 1960, 7 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 50th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1960, 60 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 126th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1960, 61 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 132nd heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Bryce was 28. Of the 9 killed feloniously at Ventura County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 28 and 41; the middle age was 30. Bryce had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6.5 years.
Bryce was 28. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Bryce had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Bryce was 28. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Bryce had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Bryce was 28. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Bryce had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
August holds 33.3% of these deaths at Ventura County Sheriff's Office, more than any other month. Fridays: 22.2%.
August holds 9% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15.1%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 69.2% of all 13 deaths at Ventura County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.2% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 22.6% 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 gun, in 22.8% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun, in 20.4% of these deaths.
His people
Ventura County Sheriff's Office has 13 officers remembered here, Bryce among them.
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Edmund Guy McMartin
Aug 20, 1921
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Bryce N. Patten
Aug 19, 1960
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Earl Mendenhall
Jul 15, 1961
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Donald L. Gregory
Sep 9, 1961
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Chester Lewis Larson
Jan 20, 1969
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Donald E. Haynie
Jun 5, 1970
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Harvey A. Varat
Oct 20, 1973
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Thomas Kenneth Collins
Oct 25, 1975
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Peter John Aguirre, Jr.
Jul 17, 1996
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Lisa Dianne Whitney
Aug 12, 1998
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Robert Daniel Bornet
Nov 6, 2006
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Yevhen Kostiuchenko
Oct 28, 2014
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Ronald Lee Helus
Nov 8, 2018
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 45-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
12 officers from Ventura County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
