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Incident
Deputy Sheriff Oscar Beaver was shot and killed as he attempted to arrest two notorious California train robbers, Chris Evans and John Sontag. The two later shot and killed U.S. Deputy Marshal Vernon Wilson and Deputy Marshal Andrew McGennis the following month when they attempted to arrest the them at Sampsons Flat in Fresno County. A little less than a year later, Sontag was shot and killed and Evans was apprehended after a gun battle with a posse. Evans lost an eye and his right hand in the fight. Chris Evans was convicted of the murder of all three officers and sentenced to life in Folsom Prison. He was paroled in 1912.
Survivors
Deputy Beaver was survived by his wife and 3-year-old son and is buried at Lemore Cemetery in Lemore, California.
In Our Keeping
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- August 2, 2026
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- August 2, 2026
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Tributes
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Deputy Sheriff Beaver served with the Tulare County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Visalia community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
The Sacrifice · Felonious
Tulare County Sheriff's Office has lost 16 officers; 5 of them killed feloniously.
Oscar is one of 974 officers killed feloniously in CA, 53% of the 1,839 remembered there.
Oscar is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.
Oscar is one of 17,631 officers killed feloniously worldwide, 51.7% of the 34,117 remembered here.
34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.
Time
In 1892, 1 officer at Tulare County Sheriff's Office was killed feloniously, more than in any other year.
In 1892, 1 officer in CA was killed feloniously, the 145th heaviest of 163 years on record. The heaviest was 1970, with 24.
In 1892, 81 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 82nd heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.
In 1892, 84 officers worldwide were killed feloniously, the 81st heaviest of 265 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 516.
Who
Oscar was 34. Of the 5 killed feloniously at Tulare County Sheriff's Office whose age is recorded, half were between 35 and 39; the middle age was 38.
Oscar was 34. Of the 905 killed feloniously in CA whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 43; the middle age was 35.
Oscar was 34. 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.
Oscar was 34. Of the 15,854 killed feloniously worldwide whose age is recorded, half were between 30 and 46; the middle age was 38.
When
August holds 20% of these deaths at Tulare County Sheriff's Office; December holds the most, 20%. Saturdays: 20%.
August holds 9% of these deaths in CA; October holds the most, 9.3%. Saturdays: 16.4%.
August holds 8.9% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Saturdays: 16.3%.
August holds 8.6% of these deaths worldwide; December holds the most, 9.2%. Saturdays: 16.2%.
How
Felonious deaths account for 31.3% of all 16 deaths at Tulare County Sheriff's Office, the 2nd most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 20% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 53% of all 1,839 deaths in CA, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 3.6% 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 shotgun, in 7% of these deaths.
Felonious deaths account for 51.7% of all 34,117 deaths worldwide, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was shotgun, in 6.3% of these deaths.
His people
Tulare County Sheriff's Office has 16 officers remembered here, Oscar among them.
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John Nicolas Wren Jul 5, 1889
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Oscar A. Beaver
Aug 6, 1892
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Carl Oscar Johnson
Sep 30, 1951
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Ross Clifford Cochran
Nov 19, 1951
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Vernon Cox
Apr 15, 1965
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Carlos Manuel Magana
Dec 9, 1970
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Monty Lewis Conley
Aug 5, 1985
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Joe Ruiz Landin
Aug 5, 1985
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Michael Robert Egan
May 2, 1989
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Kevin Eugene Elium
Oct 7, 2005
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Kent Minor Haws
Dec 17, 2007
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Greg Hernandez, Jr.
Feb 6, 2009
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Jeremy Wayne Meyst
Dec 24, 2013
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Scott Alfred Ballantyne
Feb 10, 2016
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Frank Gonzalez Holguin, III
Jan 27, 2021
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Randy Hoppert
Apr 9, 2026
Where the Name Is Cut
National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 1-E
What is kept
Photographs, film, sound and papers — what survived a life.
Others Who Wore This Badge
15 officers from Tulare County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
