Fallen in the Line of Duty

The deaths of two Compton police officers Monday raised to 379 the number of law enforcement officers countywide who have been killed in the line of duty since 1900. Since 1985, 39 officers have died of injuries suffered in the line of duty. Of that number, 23 were shot to death and are listed here. NAME: Thomas Williams DEPARTMENT: LAPD DIED: 10/31/85 CIRCUMSTANCE: Ambushed and shot by an accused robber he had testified against the day before. NAME: George Arthur DEPARTMENT: Sheriff DIED: 6/1/85 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot in his van on a downtown freeway ramp. NAME: Thomas Keller DEPARTMENT: Torrance DIED: 4/17/86 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot in sporting goods store by a deranged man. NAME: Charles Anderson DEPARTMENT: Sheriff DIED: 1/24/87 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot as he confronted a burglar in his home. NAME: Roosevelt Ferrell DEPARTMENT: Compton Unified Schools DIED: 3/9/87 CIRCUMSTANCE: Ambushed and shot by young trespassers; died seven days later. NAME: James Pagliotti DEPARTMENT: LAPD DIED: 6/22/87 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot by narcotics suspect. NAME: Jack Miller DEPARTMENT: Sheriff DIED: 1/8/88 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot while serving a search warrant in connection with a cocaine case. NAME: Paul Seema, George Montoya DEPARTMENT: DEA DIED: 2/5/88 CIRCUMSTANCE: Both agents were gunned down by drug suspects. NAME: George Aguilar DEPARTMENT: Inglewood DIED: 3/31/88 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot while pursuing robbery suspect. NAME: James Beye DEPARTMENT: LAPD DIED: 6/7/88 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot by burglary suspect. NAME: Daniel Pratt DEPARTMENT: LAPD DIED: 9/3/88 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot in a gang-related drive-by. NAME: Kelley Key III DEPARTMENT: LAPD DIED: 12/27/89 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot in 1970 while serving a search warrant. NAME: Norman R. Eckles DEPARTMENT: LAPD DIED: 4/24/89 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot in 1983 while serving a search warrant. NAME: Russell Kuster DEPARTMENT: LAPD DIED: 10/9/90 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot repeatedly in the chest by a prison parolee. NAME: Tina Kerbrat DEPARTMENT: LAPD DIED: 2/11/91 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot in the head during routine investigation of two men drinking beer. NAME: Nelson Yamamoto DEPARTMENT: Sheriff DIED: 3/31/92 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot in gun battle with murder suspects in Walnut Park. NAME: Richard Hammack DEPARTMENT: Sheriff DIED: 5/12/92 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot during drug raid in Palmdale. NAME: John Hoglund DEPARTMENT: Maywood DIED: 5/29/92 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot as he confronted armed robbers fleeing a neighborhood market. NAME: Fidel Aleman DEPARTMENT: CHP DIED: 7/23/92 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot in chest by freeway motorist. NAME: Edward Kislo DEPARTMENT: LAPD DIED: 8/22/92 CIRCUMSTANCE: Shot in chest by a prowler. NAME: James McDonald, Kevin Burrell DEPARTMENT: Compton DIED: 2/22/93 CIRCUMSTANCE: Both shot while stopping a suspicious vehicle. Source: L.A. County Sheriff’s Department Compiled by Times researcher Cecilia Rasmussen