Dan Heryford
Agency patch
Deputy Sheriff

Dan Heryford

Felonious
End of Watch May 25, 1950
Age 54
The Vigil Panel 86 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Deputy Haryford and Undersheriff Earl Sholes where shot and killed after they were attacked by two youth offenders, 18 and 19, they were transporting to the California Youth Authority Camp at Whitmore. Five weeks earlier both had escaped from the camp, stole a car, and drove to Seattle, where they were found asleep in the car and apprehended. During the trip back on Highway 99 near Gibson they suddenly lunged forward from the back seat, struck the officers with their handcuffs, took their guns, and shot and killed them both. The next morning their bodies were found in high brush near the road. Two hours later the two were stopped and apprehended by state troopers as they drove the officer's car into Truckee. On December 6, 1950, both youths were convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to death. In October of 1951 the California Supreme Court ordered new trials for both. On February 21, 1952, both were again convicted of first degree murder but sentenced to life. They were both released in 1977.

Survivors

Deputy Haryford was survived by his wife, daughter and six grandchildren.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Deputy Sheriff Heryford served with the Shasta County Sheriff's Department.
Thank you for your service to the Redding community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Heryford.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Sheriff's Office
Location Redding, Shasta County, CA
Platform Identity scso.shasta.ca.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 25, 1950
Age 54
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Weapon Officer's handgun

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Dan is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 1950, 66 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 109th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Dan was 54. 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.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Thursdays: 14%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was officer's handgun, in 5.8% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Shasta County Sheriff's Department has 6 officers remembered here, Dan among them.

Deputy Sheriff Dan Heryford

Shasta County Sheriff's Department · End of Watch May 25, 1950

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 23-E

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