Deputy Sheriff Dirk Alan Leonardson
Riverside County Sheriff's Department
California
End of Watch: Saturday, October 4, 1980

Biographical Info
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: 156

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)
Date of Incident: Saturday, October 4, 1980
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Not available

Deputy Leonardson was accidentally shot and killed by another officer in a case of mistaken identity. Deputy Leonardson was at home when he went outside to investigate suspicious noise in his apartment complex, which had recently been the target of vandals. Deputy Leonardson was carrying his gun when an officer from the Blythe Police Department observed him in a dim light and shot him after mistaking him for an armed criminal.

Deputy Leonardson had been with the agency for two years and was survived by his wife and parents.