Death of Deputy Yamamoto

A member of our family died today (March 31). Yamamoto won’t smell the sweet fragrance of flowers blooming this spring. His fiancee will never feel his kiss at the altar. His parents will never meet grandchildren of his seed.

Yamamoto represented the best the community could offer in a young man; he was honest, friendly, strong, and considerate of his fellow human beings. He selected a profession that made him swear to uphold the law and protect the citizens of our community. He died fulfilling that oath.

His vicious killer could never understand a man of Yamamoto’s integrity. You see, Yamamoto was not murdered because of who he was. He was killed because he wore the uniform and star of the Sheriff’s Department. He died protecting us against everything that’s wrong in our society. The citizens of Los Angeles County lost a member of their family. The world lost a great human being.

DEPUTY JAMES M. ESPINOSA

Los Angeles