Officer Shannon Distel

Deputy Brent Jenkins Deputy

Brent C. Jenkins, 45, became the fifth member of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, assigned to the San Gorgonio Pass, and the third from the Cabazon Station to die in the line of duty since 1997.

On Tuesday, March 18, Jenkins became the latest fatality when the 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV he was driving drifted off Interstate 10 in Beaumont and slammed into a tree about 4:30 a.m.

According to witnesses, Jenkins was driving about 70 mph when his vehicle drifted over one eastbound lane, without braking, and then left the road. He was wearing his seat belt and shoulder harness, authorities said.

A native of Utah, Jenkins attended four years of seminary in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He joined the Sheriff’s Department in 1990 and worked in the Pass area for the last five years. His wife, and six children survive him.

Deputy Bruce Lee

The end of watch came on May 13, 2003 for Deputy Bruce K. Lee. Lee responded to a disturbing the peace call in La Quinta. Immediately upon arrival, Lee was confronted by a mentally disturbed twenty-four-year-old Kevin Diablo, who was known to have had prior difficulties with the law.
In attempting to question and reason with Diablo, a physical encounter ensued, and Diablo was able to secure Lee’s police baton. He inflicted severe blows to the deputy’s head and neck, resulting in massive trauma.
A back-up deputy, responding to Lee’s call for assistance, arrived at the scene and observed Lee’s motionless body lying on the ground. Still brandishing the police baton, Diablo immediately confronted the back-up deputy.
When Diablo ignored the command to drop the baton, and continued to advance toward the deputy in a threatening manner, the deputy fired his service weapon, mortally wounding Diablo.
Lee’s attraction to law enforcement was sparked in 1968, when as an 11-year-old, he watched an Inglewood police officer arrest a man for stealing a car and attempting to steal gasoline from Lee’s father’s service station. Years later, Lee was partnered with that same Inglewood policeman’s son, Michael Manning. A 22-year veteran of Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Lee was assigned to Indio Station. His wife of nine years, mother, father and sister survived him.

Detective Charles D. Jacobs III

Deputy Eric Thach

During the early afternoon hours on Friday, October 8, 1999, Deputy Eric Thach was dispatched to a report of an open door at a residence in Pedley.
Deputy Thach walked in on a home invasion robbery. At this point, Deputy Thach broadcast an 11-99 (officer needs immediate assistance).
Deputy Thach was apparently checking alongside the residence when he was shot through a window from inside the residence. Following the shooting, the suspect fled the residence, and ran into the Santa Ana riverbed. Units responding to the 11-99 were on scene within one minute of the broadcast.
Units responding to the scene pulled Deputy Thach from the area of the residence and administered first aid. It appeared Deputy Thach had been shot with a large caliber weapon. Deputy Thach was transported to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The suspect was subsequently shot and fatally wounded during the search of the riverbed.

Officer Claire Connelly

Officer Daniel Muehlhausen

Deputy James W. Lehmann, Jr.

Deputy James Lehmann, Jr., was 41 years old when he was gunned down in the early morning darkness east of Cabazon on Sunday, January 5, 1997. He and his partner, Deputy Michael Haugen, were responding to a domestic disturbance at a mobile home in a rural area. Unbeknownst to the deputies, the armed suspect was waiting for them as they approached the location.
He fired several rounds from a military rifle, mortally wounding both. The suspect later surrendered without incident.
Jim came to the Sheriff’s Department in March of 1993, after working for the State Parks Department in Lake Elsinore. He leaves his wife, son and daughter. He was actively involved with his church, community and family.
He worked at the Robert Presley Detention Center prior to his assignment at the Banning Station. Jim was a dedicated, hard working deputy remembered by his colleagues for his love of his career and family.

Deputy Michael P. Haugen