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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Dennis Phelps was shot and killed after stopping a vehicle at 11:44 pm that had been involved in a shooting 10 minutes earlier.
Radio contact was lost after he advised dispatch of the stop at Shepherd east of Locan in Clovis. A responding Clovis Police Officer found Deputy Phelps on the ground, and his gun, radio, and patrol car had been stolen by the suspect. Deputy Phelps was flown to a local hospital, where he succumbed to his wounds.
Another deputy located the subject driving the patrol car and began to pursue it. The man opened fire and shot out the responding deputy's windows, injuring him.
The subject crashed the car and fled on foot. He remained at large during an extensive manhunt involving over 165 officers from 12 agencies. On the third day of the search, the man fired at a department helicopter, striking its rotor blade. On May 25th, 2002, the man was shot and killed when he was surrounded and exited a trailer while carrying Deputy Phelps' rifle and refused to surrender in the Prather area of Fresno County.
Deputy Phelps served with the Fresno County Sheriff's Office for three years and had served in law enforcement since the early 1980s. He had completed training as a patrol deputy one week prior to the shooting.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, daughter, son, parents, and sister.
In Our Keeping
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- Added to badge.nw
- 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 Phelps gave the Fresno County Sheriff's Office 6 years.
Thank you for your service to the Fresno community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Phelps.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Fresno County Sheriff's Office has lost 15 officers; 6 of them killed feloniously.
Dennis is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Dennis is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Dennis is one of 17,622 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,102 remembered here.
34,102 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 2002, 1 officer at Fresno County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 2002, 5 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 82nd heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 2002, 73 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 96th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2002, 77 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 95th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Dennis was 47. Of the 6 killed feloniously at Fresno County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 32 and 46.8; the middle age was 39. Dennis had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 5.3 years.
Dennis was 47. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35. Dennis had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Dennis was 47. Of the 14,219 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Dennis had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Dennis was 47. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Dennis had served 6 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 16.7% of these deaths at Fresno County Sheriff's Office; October holds the most, 16.7%. Mondays: 16.7%.
May holds 7.7% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Mondays: 12.9%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Mondays: 13.8%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Mondays: 13.8%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 40% of all 15 deaths at Fresno County Sheriff's Office, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 33.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 7.4% 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; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 8.5% of these deaths.
His people
Fresno County Sheriff's Office has 15 officers remembered here, Dennis among them.
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Joe Dodd Price
Mar 13, 1907
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John J. O'Leary
Mar 31, 1931
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William Harry Collins
Feb 25, 1937
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Richard Thomas Bain
Nov 16, 1961
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Harold Hurst
Oct 2, 1968
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David G. Graves
Nov 5, 1982
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Jeffrey Sean Isaac
Sep 8, 1997
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Erik Jon Telen
Aug 21, 2001
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Dennis Earl Phelps
May 20, 2002
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Joshua Clyde Lancaster
May 29, 2003
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Joel Brian Wahlenmaier
Feb 25, 2010
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Rod Barron Lucas
Oct 31, 2016
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Jose Cruz Mora
Sep 7, 2020
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Toamalama Scanlan
Oct 12, 2021
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Juan Cruz, Jr.
Nov 5, 2021
Where
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 19-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
14 officers from Fresno County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
