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Incident
Deputy Bruce Lee was beaten to death with his service baton after responding to a domestic disturbance call on Avenida Velazco Street, in La Quinta, at 09:40 am.
The call involved reports of an emotionally disturbed man attempting to break into his parents' home. Deputy Lee became involved in a struggle with the suspect and was beaten. Deputy Lee suffered severe head injuries from the attack.
Deputy Lee's backup officer arrived on the scene and found Deputy Lee unconscious. The suspect then began to approach the backup officer with the baton. The suspect refused to drop the baton and was shot and killed. Deputy Lee was transported to Desert Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries approximately two hours later.
Deputy Lee had served with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for 22 years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife, parents, and sister.
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
22 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Lee gave the Riverside County Sheriff's Department 22 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Riverside community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Lee.
— 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.
Bruce is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Bruce is one of 15,742 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Bruce 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 2003, 1 officer at Riverside County Sheriff's Department was killed feloniously, the 3rd heaviest of 10 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 2.
In 2003, 8 officers in CA were killed feloniously, the 38th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 2003, 64 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 117th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 2003, 69 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 109th heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Bruce was 45. 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. Bruce had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 4 years.
Bruce was 45. 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 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Bruce was 45. 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. Bruce had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Bruce was 45. Of the 15,853 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38. Bruce had served 22 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
May holds 25% of these deaths at Riverside County Sheriff's Department; January holds the most, 25%. Tuesdays: 16.7%.
May holds 7.7% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Tuesdays: 12%.
May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Tuesdays: 13.4%.
May holds 8.5% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Tuesdays: 13.3%.
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 blunt object; baton, in 8.3% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object; baton, in 0.1% 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 blunt object; baton, in 0% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,102 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was blunt object; baton, in 0% of these deaths.
His people
Riverside County Sheriff's Department has 27 officers remembered here, Bruce 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 1-W
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
26 officers from Riverside County Sheriff's Department are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
