In less than two weeks, two Riverside County Sheriff’s Department officers have lost their lives in the line of duty: first was Hispanic Sheriff Isaiah Cordero, and this week, African-American Sheriff Darnell Calhoun was killed, raising a wave of concern and indignation among the community and the various state police forces.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) posted on its official Twitter account: “Tragic news to learn that Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Darnell Calhoun was killed today in an line of duty. The LAPD sends his condolences to his friends and loved ones. Rest in peace Sheriff Calhoun.”
Cordero, 32, who had been with the Riverside Sheriff’s Department for 8 years, died December 29 when he was killed while patrolling on his motorcycle and trying to stop a vehicle in Jurupa Valley.
Suspect William Shae MacKay, 44, opened fire on Sheriff Cordero as he approached the vehicle, then fled, sparking a massive manhunt in the area of Inland Empire until he crashed on the 15 Freeway, got into a gunfight with other sheriffs, and ended up dead.
McKay had an extensive criminal record with convictions for kidnapping, robbery and multiple assaults with a deadly weapon.
On Friday night, January 13, when he was just 30 years old, Sheriff’s Deputy Calhoun died in the hospital after failing to overcome injuries sustained when he was shot in Lake Elsinore70 miles south of Los Angeles, while approaching the residence where he had been sent to attend to a domestic violence matter.
Suspect Jesse Navarro shot him multiple times. Another sheriff’s deputy, whose name was not released, soon arrived, whom he also began shooting. Finally, the attacker was injured and was taken into custody at a hospital where he is in critical condition.
Calhoun had joined the Sheriff’s Department on February 24, 2022, after working two years with the San Diego Police Department.
The Riverside Sheriff’s Department posted on Twitter: “We are devastated to announce the death of Sheriff’s Deputy Darnell Calhoun who was killed in the line of duty this afternoon.”
The Riverside Sheriffs Association (RSA) issued a statement noting that Sheriff Darnell Calhoun responded to the call to serve, defend and protect our community, but also stressed that in a span of two weeks, Riverside County has lost another hero too early in life.
“Sheriff Calhoun was a leader in community policing, he believed in people and their ability to speak respectfully to the community, meet them where they were in their lives, try to understand their needs and work together to find solutions to the problems they face.
They added that for Darnell, being a police officer in San Diego and a sheriff in Riverside meant making the community a better and safer place for everyone.
“The senseless death of Sheriff’s Deputy Calhoun is a real and painful reminder of the daily risks men and women face every time they don a uniform to protect our communities.”
And they concluded that losing an officer is a tragedy that deeply affects the families of police officers and sheriffs and the community that supports their courageous efforts.
California Attorney Rob Bonta said Sheriff Calhoun represented the best of the spirit of California by courageously protecting and serving.
“On behalf of the nearly 6,000 men and women of the California Department of Justice, I offer my deepest condolences to the Calhoun family and the entire Riverside community. Your service and delivery will not be forgotten.”
Gov. Gavin Newsom himself said he and his wife were heartbroken over the loss of Calhoun, whom he described as a dedicated public servant who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all those he served with on the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, who are mourning the painful loss of another deputy a few weeks ago. Agent Calhoun died a hero and his bravery and selfless service will always be remembered.”
In memory of Sheriff Calhoun as well as Officer Cordero, at the State Capitol and the annex space of the same building in Sacramento, the flags were flown at half mast.
After the deadly shooting in which sheriff’s deputy Cordero succumbed, Assemblyman Bill Essayli said we must do more than cry. He called instead for an honest look at how our laws and their enforcement led to tragedy.
“What makes this death in the line of duty more than tragic is that it was completely preventable: The perpetrator was on his third round of felonies as of 2021, but instead of 25 years to life in prison, a judge of San Bernardino had the discretion to give this career criminal a reduced bond and set him free on our streets.”
He added that as a result of California’s soft crime laws, criminals are protected more than victims.
“Although the perpetrator died in the subsequent persecution, justice has not been served. I am committed to fixing our laws so that violent career criminals like the one who murdered Sheriff Cordero cannot return to our streets to terrorize our communities.”