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Incident
Patrolman Kimberly Tonahill and Patrolman Timothy Ruopp were shot and killed by an armed suspect at the Grape Street Park. The officers had located a vehicle in the park that contained two underage females and two males. While Patrolman Ruopp was writing a citation to one male for contributing to the delinquency of minors, Patrolman Tonahill was questioning the other male. It was unknown to Patrolman Tonahill that the male she was questioning had a handgun concealed on his person. This male suddenly produced his handgun when Patrolman Tonahill began to search him. Patrolman Tonahill was shot in the side in an area where her vest did not protect. Immediately after shooting Patrolman Tonahill, the suspect then fired at Patrolman Ruopp. Patrolman Ruopp was struck in the leg and knocked down. The suspect then ran up to Patrolman Ruopp and shot him in the head. A third officer then arrived at the park as a matter of routine cover. The officer had heard what sounded like gunshots about a block away from the park. The officer located the victim officers' patrol vehicles but did not see the officers. When this officer was investigating the situation, the hidden suspect fired at him. Though the officer was slightly wounded, he succeeded in wounding the suspect. The suspect escaped and made his way deeper into the park as arriving police units surrounded the location. When daylight appeared, the suspect was located and arrested for the murders of Patrolman Tonahill and Patrolman Ruopp. The suspect was tried and convicted of two counts of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to death. While he was incarcerated at San Quentin's death row, the suspect hung himself several years after the incident. Patrolman Tonahill had served with the San Diego Police Department for nine months.
Survivors
She was survived by her parents.
In Our Keeping
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- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- August 2, 2026
- Last updated
- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Patrolman Tonahill served with the San Diego Police Department.
Thank you for your service to the San Diego community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Patrolman Tonahill.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
San Diego Police Department has lost 38 officers; 27 of them killed feloniously.
Kimberly is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Kimberly is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Kimberly is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 52% of the 33,917 remembered here.
33,917 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1984, 2 officers at San Diego Police Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1984, 7 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 50th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1984, 91 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 62nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1984, 104 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 59th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Kimberly was 24. Of the 27 killed feloniously at San Diego Police Department whose age is recorded, half were between 28.5 and 37; the middle age was 33. Kimberly had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Kimberly was 24. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Kimberly had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Kimberly was 24. 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. Kimberly had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Kimberly was 24. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Kimberly had served 0.7 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
September holds 14.8% of these deaths at San Diego Police Department; June holds the most, 22.2%. Fridays: 14.8%.
September holds 7.6% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Fridays: 15.1%.
September holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Fridays: 14.3%.
September holds 8.8% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Fridays: 14.3%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 71.1% of all 38 deaths at San Diego Police Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 44.4% 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 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was handgun, in 20.9% of these deaths.
Her people
San Diego Police Department has 38 officers remembered here, Kimberly among them.
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Emery E. Campbell
Aug 27, 1913
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Oliver S. Hopkins
Jul 2, 1915
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Walter B. Holcomb
Oct 21, 1918
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Joseph S. Lee
Mar 19, 1921
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Charles R. Harris
Apr 3, 1927
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Robert Lee Powers
Jun 16, 1928
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Robert B. McPherson
Sep 19, 1929
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Edward J. Moore
Jan 15, 1933
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Thomas Albert Keays
Nov 20, 1937
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Henry J. Goodrich
Sep 7, 1940
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Robert F. Bowers
Dec 12, 1955
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Harry Kay, Jr.
Mar 11, 1957
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Michael John Bushman
Nov 25, 1963
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Robert L. Everitt
Dec 7, 1964
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James P. Lewis
Dec 29, 1970
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Freddie Joel Edwards
Oct 7, 1971
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Denis W. Allen
Apr 2, 1977
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Archie Calvin Buggs
Nov 4, 1978
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Michael T. Anaya
Apr 11, 1979
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Dennis Glenn Gonzales
Jun 25, 1979
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Ronald R. Ebeltoft
Jun 6, 1981
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Harry Keith Tiffany
Jun 6, 1981
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Kirk Leland Johnson
Feb 20, 1983
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Kimberly Sue Tonahill
Sep 14, 1984
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Timothy J. Ruopp
Sep 16, 1984
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Thomas Edward Riggs
Mar 31, 1985
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Jerry Lee Hartless
Jan 31, 1988
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Ronald Wayne Davis
Sep 17, 1991
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Gerald Kieffer Griffin, Jr.
Apr 25, 2003
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Terry William Bennett
Jun 26, 2003
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Christopher Alan Wilson
Oct 28, 2010
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Jeremy Nicholas Henwood
Aug 7, 2011
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Jonathan Matias De Guzman
Jul 28, 2016
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Jason Paul Zdunich
Jun 10, 2019
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Daniel Gene Walters
Apr 23, 2020
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Ryan Park
Jun 4, 2021
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Jamie Huntley-Park
Jun 4, 2021
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Austin Machitar
Aug 26, 2024
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 23-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
37 officers from San Diego Police Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
