1982 – Dennis Charles Doty – Officer – Riverside Police Department

Officer Dennis Charles Doty

Biographical Info:

Born: Unknown
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 13, 1982
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Death sentence  – overturned in 2005 – retrial and convicted

On Thursday, May 13, 1982 at about 8:30 am, Riverside Police Department Officer Dennis C. Doty and Philip N. Trust, who worked in the felony warrant section of the department, were both shot and killed when they attempted to serve an arrest warrant at a house on Wolfe Avenue in the city of Riverside. They were attempting to arrest Jackson Chambers Daniels Jr. who had failed to appear in court for sentencing in a bank robbery case and was to begin serving a 13-year sentence. The incident the suspect had been convicted of involved a 1980 robbery of a Riverside bank and a high-speed chase that culminated in a shoot-out with police officers. The suspect had been wounded during the shoot-out and paralyzed from the waist down as a result of his wounds. Daniels had pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon on police officers, robbery, and being an ex-felon in possession of a concealed firearm. He later attempted to change his guilty plea, but was denied. Daniels had been sentenced to 13 years in state prison, but he had been free on bail while appealing his conviction. After the appeal failed, he was scheduled to report to court for final sentencing on April 28. Judge John H. Hews issued a bench warrant for his arrest when Daniels failed to appear in court.

Both officers were working in plain clothes, assigned to the warrant detail. They had driven to an address on Wolfe Street in Riverside, on the basis of recent information that the suspect they were looking for was at that location. When the officers arrived, they found Daniels, nude sitting in his wheelchair, in a bedroom at the front of the residence. The officers allowed Daniels to reach onto a bed post to grab a shirt. Daniels, however, pulled a gun from where it had been concealed under him and shot the two police officers. Officer Doty died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head, while Officer Trust died of gunshot injuries to his stomach area. Each officer was shot once. Officer Trust returned fire during the shootout, wounding Daniels in the hand. Daniels managed to escape and remain at large for approximately 60 hours. He was subsequently arrested in Rubidoux, California by Riverside police officers. The round remained in the suspect’s hand and was a crucial piece of evidence in the ensuing trial. The suspect, who had been paralyzed from the waist down two years earlier in a shootout with a Riverside police officer, was found guilty of their murders and sentenced to death. It is believed that the motive of the shooting was revenge over the previous shooting. In 2005 a judge overturned the suspect’s death sentence on claims by the defense that the suspect suffered from schizophrenia. Officer Doty, 35, was a 10-year veteran of the Riverside Police Department and is survived by his parents and two sisters who live in Riverside. Officer Doty was a U.S. Army Veteran of Vietnam and was the recipient of a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

Officer Doty is buried at Olivewood Cemetery, Riverside, California.

1982 – Phillip N. Trust – Officer – Riverside Police Department

Officer Phillip N. Trust

Biographical Info:

Born: Unknown
Age: 36
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 13, 1982
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Death sentence – overturned in 2005 – new trial and convicted second time

On Thursday, May 13, 1982, at about 8:30 am, Riverside Police Department Officer Phillip Trust and Officer Dennis Doty, who worked in the felony warrant section of the department, were shot and killed when they attempted to serve an arrest warrant at a house on Wolfe Avenue in the city of Riverside. They were attempting to arrest Jackson Chambers Daniels, Jr. a convicted bank robber, who had failed to report to court as ordered, to receive final sentancing and begin serving a 13-year sentence. Daniels had been convicted of involvement in a 1980 robbery of a Riverside bank and a high-speed chase that culminated in a shoot-out with Riverside Police Department officers. Daniels had been wounded during the shoot-out and paralyzed from the waist down as a result of his wounds. Daniels had pleaded guilty to assault with a deadly weapon on police officers, robbery, and being an ex-felon in possession of a concealed firearm. He later attempted to change his guilty plea, which was denied. Daniels had been sentenced to 13 years in state prison, but he had been free on bail while appealing his conviction. After the appeal failed, he was scheduled to report to court for final sentencing on April 28. Judge John H. Hews issued a bench warrant for his arrest when Daniels failed to appear in court.

Both officers were working in plain clothes, assigned to the warrant detail. They had driven to an address on Wolfe Street in Riverside on the basis of recent information that the suspect they were looking for was at that location. When the officers arrived, they found Daniels, nude sitting in his wheelchair, in a bedroom at the front of the residence. The officers allowed Daniels to reach onto a bed post to grab a shirt. Daniels, however, pulled a gun from where it had been concealed under him and shot the two police officers. Officer Doty died as a result of a gunshot wound to the head, while Officer Trust died of gunshot injuries to his stomach area. Each officer was shot once. Officer Trust returned fire during the shootout, wounding Daniels in the hand. Daniels managed to escape and remained at large for approximately 60 hours. He was subsequently arrested in nearby Rubidoux, California, by Riverside Police Department officers.

Officer Trust, 36, was a 10-year veteran of the Riverside Police Department. He is survived by his wife, Rhonda, and four children, Tammy, Jason, Jeromy and Joshua. He served in the war in Vietnam, with the Navy.

Officer Trust is buried at Olivewood Cemetery in Riverside, California.

1980 – Dirk Alan Leonardson – Deputy – Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

Deputy Dirk Alan Leonardson

Biographical Info:

Born: Unknown
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: 156

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental – Friendly Fire)
Date of Incident: October 4, 1980
Weapon Used: Handgun – shot by another officer
Suspect Info: N/A

Deputy Dirk Leonardson was employed with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department for two years.  He was hired on August 29, 1978. He was assigned to the Blythe Station.  In 1979, he transferred to the Blythe Jail and a year later he transferred back to the Blythe Station. Deputy Leonardson attended the Sheriff’s 73rd Basic Academy in the fall od 1978. He did not work for another law enforcement agency prior to his employment with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

On October 4, 1989, Deputy Leonardson was at home (Indio) during his off-duty time. At approximately 2:15 am, he heard a disturbance outside his apartment.  There had been incidents of vandalism in the parking lot area near Leonardson’s apartment complex. Deputy Leonardson had armed himself with his duty weapon and went outside to investigate the disturbance. While outside, he was mistaken for a criminal supect hen a Blythe Police Department officer spotted Leonardson’s handgun. The parking area was dimly lit and upon seeing the weapon in Deputy Leonardson’s hand, the Blythe officer shot and killed the off-duty deputy. Deputy Leonardson was survived by his wife. They did not have children. He was also survived by his parents, one brother and two sisters. Deputy Dirk Leonardson was born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

Deputy Leonardson’s burial site is not known.

1980 – James B. Evans, Sr. – Deputy – Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

Deputy James B. Evans, Sr.

Biographical Info:

Born: February 3, 1941
Age: 39
Tour of Duty: 4.5 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: May 9, 1980
Weapon Used: Full-Auto rifle
Suspect Info: Three captured – two shot and killed

Deputy James Evans was employed with Riverside County Sheriff’s Department four and a half years. He was hired on September 2, 1975, and assigned to Riverside Station Patrol. Deputy Evans began his law enforcement career in 1974 as a Reserve Officer with Colton Police Department. He attended the Riverside Sheriff’s Department 61st Basic Academy in the fall of 1975. In 1978, he received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from California Baptist College (now California Baptist University) and his Intermediate Peace Officer’s Certificate. Deputy Evans also received many citizen commendations for his services. At the time of his death, Deputy Evans was working toward his Master’s Degree in Business Administration and had future hopes of someday running for the office of sheriff.

On May 9, 1980, five men dressed in Army fatigues, robbed the Security Pacific Bank in Norco. The men were carrying automatic weapons and were heavily armed. The robbers were confronted with deputies at the bank and along a long and lengthy route through northwest Riverside County and eventually into San Bernardino County.  Scores of police vehicles and personnel were shot at, with many vehicles disabled due to gunfire. A San Beranrdino County Sheriff”s Department helicopter was shot down by the robbers.  While fleeing with approximately $20,000 in cash, the suspects were chased by many local law enforcement agencies. Many deputies and one CHP officer were struck by gunfire. The desperate suspects also shot a civilian children, striking two, who survived with minor wounds.

Towards the end of the vehiclular pursuit, Deputy Evans assumed as the lead car. Due to poor radio communications, the suspect’s were able to set up an ambush as Deputy Evans had feared. As Deputy Evans rounded a curve in the remote mountainous region called Lytle Creek, he observed that the suspects had stopped their vehicle and were waiting for him.  The suspects pointed their high-powered rifles and shot Deputy Evan who died moments later.

The suspects fled on foot and a massive manhunt for them was conducted through the night and into the next day. Three of the five suspects were captured. One suspect was killed at the Bank and another was killed while being apprehended. The remaining three are still in prision seving life terms (no death penalty in California at the time).

Deputy Evans was survived by his wife, Mary, and six children. He was also survived by his parents, two brothers and one sister. Deputy Evans was born in Brownfield, Texas.  Deputy Evans served in the U. S. Army as a Ranger and was awarded the Army’s Medal of Valor.  In 2002, Deputy James Evans was posthumously awarded the Riverside Sheriff’s Department Medal of Valor.  The Medal of Valor was presented to Mary and her son James Jr. Two ceremonies have been held honoring Deputy Evans, the deputies and CHP officer who were shot and survived, and the many other law enforcement personnel who responded to the call that day. Both ceremonies were sponsored by the Riverside Sheriff’s Association and were very well attended by departmental members, family, friends and others.

Deputy Evans is buried at Crestlawn Memorial Cemetery located in Riverside, California.

1977 – Edward A. Parker, III – Officer – California Highway Patrol

Officer Edward A. Parker, III

Biographical Info:

Born: Unknown
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: 5027

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Heart attack during vehicle pursuit
Date of Incident: April 30, 1977
Weapon Used: N/A
Suspect Info: N/A

State Traffic Officer Edward Parker suffered a fatal heart attack during a vehicle pursuit of a high speed motorcyclist in the unincorporated portion of Riverside County called Woodcrest. He was found slumped, unconscious, behind the wheel of his patrol car.  He was taken to a local hospital. While enroute to the hospital, he suffered two more heart attacks.  He died two days later. Officer Parker is survived by his wife and two children.  Officer Parker was assigned to the CHP’s Riverside Area office.

Officer Parker’s burial site is not known.

1974 – Edward M. Schrader – Deputy – Riverside County Sheriff’s Department

Deputy Edward M. Schrader

Biographical Info:

Born: May 15, 1950
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 1 year, 4 months
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 11, 1974
Weapon Used: Officer’s handgun
Suspect Info: Not convicted

Deputy Edward Schrader was hired by Riverside County Sheriff on February 20, 1973. He employed with this department for 17 months. Deputy Schrader was assigned to the Elsinore Station. Deputy Schrader attended the Riverside Sheriff’s 55th Basic Academy in the fall of 1973. He began his career with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and did not work for any other agency prior to his hire. Deputy Schrader received numerous commendations from citizens while employed with this department.

On July 11, 1974, Deputy Schrader responded to a family disturbance (Domestic Violence) call in Rancho California (now the city of Temecula). A man and wife were arguing over the custody of their children. The wife called the Elsinore Station for assistance. When Deputy Schrader arrived, he talked to the wife about the disturbance. Deputy Schrader was informed by a neighbor that the woman’s husband (suspect) was hiding. When Deputy Schrader tried to locate the suspect, he was “surprised” by the suspect. The suspect, a U. S. Marine, had a rifle and pointed the rifle at Deputy Schrader.  He ordered Schrader to give up his duty weapon or he would shoot.  With no options, Deputy Schrader hoped the suspect would not shoot if he surrendered his weapon. The suspect eventually got Deputy Schrader’s gun and shot him. Deputy Schrader was killed instantly. The suspect was not convicted due to the Deputy’s gun’s evidence being compromised during the shooting investigation.

Deputy Schrader was survived by his wife, Sheryl. They did not have children. Deputy Schrader was also survived by his parents, one brother and two sisters. Deputy Schrader was born in Lynwood, California.
Deputy Schrader’s burial location is not known.

1974 – Larry Eugene Walters – Officer – Riverside Police Department

Officer Larry Eugene Walters

Biographical Info:

Born: August 28, 1943
Age: 31
Tour of Duty: 8 years
Badge Number: 45

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: November 13, 1974
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Shot and killed

On Wednesday morning, November 13, 1974, there was a disturbance inside the Riverside Municipal Courthouse at 10th and Orange Streets in Downtown Riverside. A Riverside Police Department sergeant and detective, who were already at the courthouse to testify, intervened and learned from a woman that she and her husband had been threatened with a knife by the woman’s ex-boyfriend, Gerald Monroe. The detective searched Monroe and failed to find a weapon. The sergeant called the Riverside Police Department and requested a uniformed officer be assigned to the investigation. Officer Rick Albee, who by coincidence was in front of the Municipal Court, was assigned to handle the call. Traffic Officer Larry Walters volunteered to assist Officer Albee.

Officer Albee and Officer Walters contacted all of the involved parties at the Municipal Court and determined that Monroe was not armed and was acting cooperative. Monroe told the officers he had no vehicle and had taken the bus to Riverside from Corona. The situation was resolved when Monroe voluntarily left the Municipal Court, since he was not a party to any action there. About 15 minutes later, as Officer Albee was leaving the courthouse, Officer Walters stopped Monroe, now driving a Ford Pinto, for a right-of-way violation at 9th and Lime Streets, about a block away from the courthouse. Officer Albee arrived at the location moments later, and Officer Walters told him he was going to write Monroe a citation for the observed traffic violation. As Officer Walters wrote the citation, Officer Albee approached Monroe who was still seated in his vehicle. Officer Albee told Monroe he wanted to ask him some questions regarding his investigation into the matter at the courthouse and asked him to step out of the vehicle. As Officer Albee began to open the driver’s door, Monroe pushed the door into Officer Albee and then slammed the door shut. When Monroe attempted to start his vehicle, Officer Walters quickly approached to assist. Officer Walters leaned inside the driver’s side window and attempted to pull the key from the ignition while Officer Albee attempted to pull Monroe from the car. Monroe got the vehicle started, but it stalled immediately. Monroe then reached under the front seat, pulled out a four- inch, .38 caliber revolver, and shot Officer Walters in the head. A fierce gun battle ensued in which both Officer Albee and Monroe fired several shots at each other. Monroe was struck several times and died at the scene. Officer Larry Walters was transported by ambulance to the Riverside Community Hospital, where he died of his wound.
Officer Larry Walters was born on August 28th, 1943 and was employed as a Riverside Police Officer on January 3rd, 1966. He was transferred to Traffic Division on July 17th, 1970, where he was assigned as a traffic enforcement motorcycle officer. Officer Walters held an Associate of Arts Degree and had received his P.O.S.T. Intermediate Certificate. Officer Larry Walters is survived by his wife Ladonna and three children.

In October 2007, the city of Riverside dedicated a newly built baseball field (Walters Field) to the memory of fallen Officer Larry Walters.

Officer Walters is buried in Riverside, at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Park at 11500 Arlington Ave.

1973 – William C. Prettyman – Officer – Riverside Police Department

Officer William C. Prettyman

Biographical Info:

Born: Unknown
Age: 29
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Physical Assault/Battery
Date of Incident: December 12, 1973
Weapon Used: Personal weapons (legs/feet)
Suspect Info: Not available

Officer Prettyman succumbed to injuries sustained when he was kicked in the chest by a suspect with both feet.

On December 12, 1973, off-duty Riverside Police Officer William Prettyman was driving home from the mountains after a three-day vacation with his wife and infant daughter. As he drove south on the State Route 91 freeway towards Central Avenue, in the city of Riverside, he turned to his wife and told her, “I think I’m going to faint.” Officer Prettyman was able to pull his vehicle over onto the freeway shoulder and safely stop his car before losing consciousness. Mrs. Prettyman, a Registered Nurse, pulled her husband out of the car and began administering CPR. After a few moments, an unidentified passing motorist, a woman, stopped and took over administering the heart massage while Mrs. Prettyman began emergency breathing for her husband. By chance, two Riverside Police Department detectives, Larry Fogleman and Ernie Luera, passed by the scene, saw the action being taken and stopped to assist at the scene. Luera said he did not attempt to interrupt the two women because they “had a rhythm going.” He said he did not at first realize the fallen motorist was a fellow officer from his own department. “His wife said he was a policeman,” Luera said. “I looked at his wallet and saw it was Bill (Prettyman).” Detective Luera then radioed for an ambulance, which arrived a short time later to transport Prettyman to a nearby hospital. Officer Prettyman was pronounced dead upon arrival. Officer William Prettyman first joined the Riverside Police Department as a patrolman in May, 1972, after serving as a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deputy, since 1970. Prior to that time, he had served two years in the U. S. Army and attended Cal State Los Angeles where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in English. The Prettyman’s had been married for a year and a half and had a daughter at the time of his death. Officer Prettyman had no known history of medical problems prior to his death. It was later determined that his death had been due to complications resulting from a blow to the chest (kicked with suspects feet) received in a fight with a suspect prior to his leaving on vacation. According to the County Coroner, “By the time the car stopped, he was unconscious. He was probably decased at that time. His wife thought he had died almost instantly.”

Officer Prettyman’s burial location is not known.

1971 – Paul C. Teel – Officer – Riverside Police Department

Officer Paul C. Teel

Biographical Info:

Born: Unknown
Age: 26
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 2, 1971
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Multiple suspects were tried – hung jury

Riverside Police Department Officer Paul Teel and Officer Leonard Christiansen responded to a reported burglary call at 4792 Ottawa, Riverside, on the night of April 2nd, 1971. Ottawa Avenue had no street lights, and with no moon in the sky on that Friday evening, it was unusually dark. In reality, no one living at 4792 Ottawa had reported a burglary; it was an abandoned house. Upon arrival, the officers looked around from their car and saw nothing but darkness and thick shrubbery; no one was waiting outside to meet the officers to report the crime. Officer Teel turned on the patrol car’s spotlight mounted on the front of the driver’s door, but it revealed nothing suspicious in the dense shrubbery concealing the front of the house and surrounding the driveway. The officers, in no hurry to step out of their car during the routine call, activated their car’s interior dome light and waited for a break in the radio traffic to call in their arrival at the address. However, radio traffic that night was heavy. Officer Teel finally gathered his clipboard and flashlight and proceeded to exit their patrol car. Officer Christiansen, preparing to follow, opened his door and stepped out of the car. Shots and blinding muzzle flashes, from three ambushing gunmen, burst from the nearby shrubbery concealing the driveway. Officer Paul Teel never knew what hit him. He never touched his duty gun. Several shots slammed into his chest – one piercing his badge – knocking him backwards toward the rear of the patrol car. The flashlight and clipboard flew from his hands as his body hit the ground. He was killed instantly. Officer Leonard Christiansen was hit by a similar fusillade as he stepped from the passenger side of the patrol car, but he was at first only wounded. He grabbed for his revolver and fired off three shots towards his hidden assailants. Trapped, frantic in the face of death, he stumbled back to his patrol car, snatched up his radio, and screamed into it: “SEND HELP!” More shots were fired, these striking his chest, and the assassins were gone.

Officers, responding from all over the city, arrived to find both officers on the ground. Officer Teel was dead, on his stomach with his head facing the street. Shift supervisor, Sergeant Leadell Lee, arrived to find Officer Christiansen also on the ground but still conscious, his right arm outstretched with his gun in hand. He was put into an ambulance, but died while still on the way to the hospital. Officer Teel was survived by his wife, Callie Teel.

Officer Teel is buried at Olivewood Cemetery, Riverside, Califiornia.

1971 – Leonard A. Christiansen – Officer – Riverside Police Department

Officer Leonard A. Christiansen

Biographical Info:

Born: October 1, 1941
Age: 30
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: 55

Incident Details:
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: April 2, 1971
Weapon Used: Shotgun
Suspect Info: Suspect know, tried and multiple hung jury findings

Officer Leonard Christiansen and Officer Paul Teel responded to a reported burglary call at 4792 Ottawa, Riverside, on the night of April 2nd, 1971. Ottawa Avenue had no street lights, and with no moon in the sky on that Friday evening, it was unusually dark. In reality, no one living at 4792 Ottawa had reported a burglary; it was an abandoned house. Upon arrival, the officers looked around from their car and saw nothing but darkness and thick shrubbery; no one was waiting outside to meet the officers to report the crime. Officer Teel turned on the patrol car’s spotlight mounted on the front of the driver’s door, but it revealed nothing suspicious in the dense shrubbery concealing the front of the house and surrounding the driveway. The officers, in no hurry to step out of their car during the routine call, activated their car’s interior dome light and waited for a break in the radio traffic to call in their arrival at the address. However, radio traffic that night was heavy. Officer Teel finally gathered his clipboard and flashlight and proceeded to exit their patrol car. Officer Christiansen, preparing to follow, opened his door and stepped out of the car. Shots and blinding muzzle flashes, from three ambushing gunmen, burst from the nearby shrubbery concealing the driveway. Officer Paul Teel never knew what hit him. He never touched his gun. Several shots slammed into his chest – one piercing his badge – knocking him backwards and toward the rear of the patrol car. His flashlight and clipboard flew from his hands as his body hit the ground. He was killed instantly. Officer Leonard Christiansen was hit by a similar fusillade as he stepped from the passenger side of the patrol car, but he was only wounded at the time. He grabbed for his revolver and fired off three shots towards his hidden assailants. Trapped, frantic in the face of death, he stumbled back to his patrol car, snatched up his radio, and screamed into it: “SEND HELP!” More shots were fired, which struck his chest, and the assassins were gone.
Officers responding from all over the city, arrived to find both officers on the ground. Officer Teel was dead, on his stomach with his head facing the street. Shift supervisor, Sergeant Leadell Lee, arrived to find Officer Christiansen also on the ground, but still conscious, his right arm outstretched with his gun in hand. He was put into an ambulance, but died while still on the way to the hospital. Officer Christiansen, born on October 1, 1941, was the child of Edith and Svend Christiansen. He was married to Janice Christiansen and had three children, Steven, Karen, and Keith. His son, Steven, has since gone on to become a Police Detective for the Riverside Police Department.

Officer Leonard Christiansen is buried at Olivewood Cemetery, Riverside, California.