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Incident
Deputies Michael Haugen and James Lehmann were shot and killed at approximately 3:00 am as they answered a domestic violence call near Sagebrush Avenue and Chaparral Road in Whitewater. They were ambushed by a sniper who shot them with an M-1 rifle as they exited their vehicles. Both deputies were wearing vests. One deputy was shot in the head, and the other was shot in the side when the bullet penetrated his vest. Neither deputy was able to radio in the incident. A sergeant who responded to the scene after they failed to make radio contact was also shot at as he attempted to check on the deputies when he saw them lying on the ground. The suspect was apprehended later in the morning during a SWAT operation. The man was convicted of both murders and sentenced to death; however, he committed suicide while on death row on October 9, 2013. Deputy Haugen served with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for five years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
Honored here by 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Haugen gave the Riverside County Sheriff's Department 5 years.
Thank you for your service to the Riverside community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Haugen.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Riverside County Sheriff's Department has lost 27 officers; 12 of them killed feloniously.
Michael is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Michael is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Michael 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 1997, 2 officers at Riverside County Sheriff's Department were killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1997, 8 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 38th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1997, 88 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 71st heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1997, 93 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 67th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Michael was 33. Of the 11 killed feloniously at Riverside County Sheriff's Department whose age is recorded, half were between 32.5 and 40.5; the middle age was 34. Michael had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Michael was 33. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Michael had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Michael was 33. 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. Michael had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Michael was 33. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Michael had served 5 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
January holds 25% of these deaths at Riverside County Sheriff's Department, more than any other month. Sundays: 25%.
January holds 9% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Sundays: 15.8%.
January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.
January holds 7.9% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Sundays: 15.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 44.4% of all 27 deaths at Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 25% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 8.6% 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 rifle, in 5.9% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 52% of all 33,917 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was rifle, in 5.3% of these deaths.
His people
Riverside County Sheriff's Department has 27 officers remembered here, Michael among them.
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Frank Hamilton Apr 9, 1895
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Henry F. Nelson
Sep 22, 1921
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Theodore Crossley
Sep 22, 1921
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Howard R. Scheffler
Feb 29, 1956
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Roger A. Strong
Aug 7, 1961
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William J. Rutledge
May 14, 1969
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William F. Carter, Jr.
May 20, 1969
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Edward M. Schrader
Jul 11, 1974
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James B. Evans
May 9, 1980
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Dirk Alan Leonardson
Oct 4, 1980
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Michael David Davis, Sr.
Oct 24, 1988
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Randy Robert Lutz
Jun 22, 1989
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Kent Hintergardt
May 9, 1993
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Mark Steven Kemp
Nov 9, 1994
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Michael Paul Haugen
Jan 5, 1997
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James Warren Lehmann, Jr.
Jan 5, 1997
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Eric Andrew Thach
Oct 8, 1999
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Brent C. Jenkins
Mar 18, 2003
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Bruce Kevin Lee
May 13, 2003
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Manuel Villegas
Mar 19, 2007
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Terrell Don Young
Apr 2, 2020
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Harry Morris Cohen
Oct 18, 2020
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Steve Taylor
Feb 24, 2022
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Isaiah Cordero
Dec 29, 2022
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Darnell Calhoun
Jan 13, 2023
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Brett Harris
May 13, 2023
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Timothy Corlew
Jan 8, 2025
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 35-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
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