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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Dirk Leonardson was accidentally shot and killed by another officer in a case of mistaken identity. Deputy Leonardson was at home when he went outside to investigate suspicious noise in his apartment complex, which had recently been the target of vandals. Deputy Leonardson was carrying his gun when an officer from the Blythe Police Department observed him in a dim light and shot him after mistaking him for an armed criminal. Deputy Leonardson had served with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department for two years.
Survivors
He was survived by his wife and parents.
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.
Deputy Sheriff Leonardson gave the Riverside County Sheriff's Department 2 years.
Thank you for your service to the Riverside community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Leonardson.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Accident
Riverside County Sheriff's Department has lost 27 officers; 12 of them lost to accidents.
Dirk is one of 720 officers lost to accidents in CA, 39.2% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Dirk is one of 8,275 officers lost to accidents in the United States, 30% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Dirk is one of 10,100 officers lost to accidents worldwide, 29.6% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1980, 1 officer at Riverside County Sheriff's Department was lost to accidents, the 2nd heaviest of 11 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 2.
In 1980, 11 officers in CA were lost to accidents, the 3rd heaviest of 128 years on record. The heaviest was 1969, with 14.
In 1980, 71 officers in the United States were lost to accidents, the 44th heaviest of 174 years on record. The heaviest was 1929, with 118.
In 1980, 86 officers worldwide were lost to accidents, the 46th heaviest of 200 years on record. The heaviest was 1930, with 131.
Who
Dirk was 24. Of the 12 lost to accidents at Riverside County Sheriff's Department whose age is recorded, half were between 27.5 and 33.3; the middle age was 30.5. Dirk had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 5 years.
Dirk was 24. Of the 690 lost to accidents in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 42.8; the middle age was 35. Dirk had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 7 years.
Dirk was 24. Of the 7,718 lost to accidents in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 46; the middle age was 36. Dirk had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
Dirk was 24. Of the 9,451 lost to accidents worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 29 and 45; the middle age was 36. Dirk had served 2 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.
When
October holds 16.7% of these deaths at Riverside County Sheriff's Department; May holds the most, 25%. Saturdays: 16.7%.
October holds 8.6% of these deaths in CA; August holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 13.1%.
October holds 9.1% of these deaths in the United States; August holds the most, 9.5%. Saturdays: 14.9%.
October holds 9.2% of these deaths worldwide; August holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 14.7%.
How
Accident deaths account for 44.4% of all 27 deaths at Riverside County Sheriff's Department, the most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 39.2% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 30% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the 2nd most common cause.
Accident deaths account for 29.6% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the 2nd most common cause.
His people
Riverside County Sheriff's Department has 27 officers remembered here, Dirk 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 the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 60-E
What is kept
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Others Who Wore This Badge
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