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Incident
Corporal Bruce Verhoeven was shot and killed while searching for an armed robbery suspect at the apartment complex at 2445 Wyda Way in Sacramento. He was working a special holiday crime prevention detail when he responded to an armed robbery call at the Gemco Department Store. The suspect had been chased to a nearby apartment complex by another officer. Corporal Verhoeven responded to the scene and began to cordon off an area, then took cover nearby. When a group of bystanders began to assemble, Corporal Verhoeven left his cover to protect them. The suspect opened fire, fatally wounding Corporal Verhoeven. The other officer was able to return fire and kill the suspect. Corporal Verhoeven had served with the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department for ten years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and 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.
Corporal Verhoeven gave the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office 10 years.
Thank you for your service to the Sacramento community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Corporal Verhoeven.
— 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.
Bruce is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Bruce is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Bruce 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 1973, 1 officer at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1973, 18 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1973, 171 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 17th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1973, 188 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 17th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Bruce was 32. 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. Bruce had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 8 years.
Bruce was 32. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Bruce had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Bruce was 32. 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. Bruce had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Bruce was 32. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Bruce had served 10 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
December holds 20% of these deaths at Sacramento County Sheriff's Office; October holds the most, 20%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
December holds 8.2% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 12%.
December holds 9.4% of these deaths in the United States, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
December holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide, more than any other month. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
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 gun, in 26.7% 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
Sacramento County Sheriff's Office has 22 officers remembered here, Bruce 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 15-W
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