YCSO - Killed In the Line of Duty

In the Line of Duty

This page is dedicated to the fallen officers who made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives while serving and protecting the citizens of Yuma County.

The policeman stood and faced God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, policeman.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?"

The policeman squared his shoulders and said,
"No lord, I guess I ain't,
Because those of us who carry a badge
can't always be a saint."

I've had to work most Sundays,
and at times my talk was rough,
and sometimes I've been violent,
Because the streets are awfully tough.

But I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at time I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fear.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod.
As the policeman waited quietly,
For the judgment of his god.

"Step forward now, policeman,
You've born your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in hell"

Anonymous

	Sheriff Cornelius Sage
	End of Watch: Wednesday, May 3, 1865
	Tour of Duty: 5 months
	Sheriff Sage was shot and killed when he and two associates were ambushed by Yavapai Apache tribe members. The three were en route to Prescott, Arizona, on official business when the ambush took place.

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	Sheriff James T. Dana
	End of Watch: Wednesday, September 20, 1871
	Tour of Duty: 3 years
	Sheriff Dana, along with a posse, went into a river bottom to arrest an Indian named Big Charlie for killing a woman in Arizona City (Yuma). In a shootout involving the posse and the local Indians, a cousin of Big Charlie's shot Dana in the side with a glass tipped arrow which imbedded itself in his liver. Dana died two days later. His killer, Que-Cha-Co, was captured and tried. He was convicted and sentenced to hang but he escaped from the Yuma County jail before the sentence could be carried out. A year later, he was recaptured and sentenced to 25 years in prison. However, he escaped again and was never recaptured.

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	Under Sheriff Matthew B. Devane
	End of Watch: Tuesday, January 8, 1901
	Tour of Duty: Not available
	Under Sheriff Devane was summoned by Paul Moretti who told him that someone had stolen a case of liquor from his store. Under sheriff Devane and Moretti then went to the area of Main Street and Second in downtown Yuma. Devane spotted three men acting suspiciously in the shadows and he approached them. Devane told the men he would have to search them and one of the men pulled a gun and shot Devane once. The suspect then took a shot at the fleeing Moretti and missed. Devane was able to walk across the street and with the assistance of some men, was taken to Cottell's Store where attempts were made to treat him. He died less than an hour later. The three suspects were eventually apprehended and taken to Yuma Prison. Undersheriff Devane, 29 years old, was survived by his brother, D.L. Devane.

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	Deputy Sheriff Sylvester Villa
	End of Watch: Saturday, January 24, 1948
	Tour of Duty: 13 years
	Deputy Villa was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a burglary suspect. He and two other deputies had tracked the suspect to a river, where they lost the track. The other two deputies returned to the patrol car and Deputy Villa began to backtrack. He located a man sleeping in the brush and nudged him with his foot. The man suddenly turned over and shot Deputy Villa in the groin. He was transported to Yuma Hospital where he died a short time later. The man fled the scene but was later apprehended. He was sentenced to 75 years in prison. Sylvester Villa was survived by his wife and six children. An annual shooting competition, the Sylvester Villa Match, is held in Yuma in Deputy Villa's honor.

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	Deputy Sheriff Walter Akers
	End of Watch: Wednesday, February 4, 1948
	Tour of Duty: Not available
	Deputy Akers was shot and killed while attempting to arrest a drunk man, Jack Franklin, at the Parker train depot. Franklin had not been allowed to board the westbound Santa Fe train because he was drunk. He left the depot, but returned ten minutes later with a shotgun, and threatened the conductor, who then went to get Constable Jack Harold. Constable Harold knew the man well and knew that he could be dangerous so he called Deputy Akers for assistance. As Constable Harold worked his way behind Franklin, Deputy Akers drove slowly toward the him. Deputy Akers got out of his car and called out to Franklin and attempted to talk the him into putting the shotgun down. Franklin fired his shotgun striking Deputy Akers behind the left ear. Franklin walked away while Harold took Akers to the Parker Indian Agency Hospital where he died. Franklin turned himself in, was tried and convicted of murder and received a life sentence at the Arizona State Prison. Deputy Akers, 36 years old, was survived by his wife and one child.

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	Senior Deputy Michael B. Meyer
	End of Watch: Monday, August 13, 2001
	Tour of Duty: 4 years
	On August 13, 2001 at approximately 2:25 p.m., the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call stating there had been an accident involving a Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle at milepost 54 on U.S. Highway 95, north of Yuma. Emergency units responded to the scene where they discovered that a single vehicle had traveled off the roadway and rolled over. At that time, the preliminary investigation indicated the vehicle left the roadway and turned over one and one-quarter times. The driver and sole occupant, Senior Deputy Michael Meyer was still seat-belted in his patrol vehicle when found by motorists who immediately called for assistance. Senior Deputy Meyer was pronounced dead at the accident scene. Senior Deputy Meyer had been employed by the Sheriff’s Office for 4 years and was in charge of the Water Safety Division. Northern Yuma County was a regular patrol assignment for Deputy Meyer who was ever aware of the changing desert conditions. A heavy storm was blowing through the area and it was Senior Deputy Meyer’s habit to check the washes and the roads for flooding and damage on such occasions. Senior Deputy Meyer, 41 years old, was survived by his wife and five children.