Berkeley Police Department, California
End of Watch: Saturday, June 16, 1973
Age: 50
Tour of Duty: 23 years
Badge Number: S-15
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: June 16, 1973
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Shot and killed
Sergeant Jimmie Rutledge was shot and killed with his own weapon while attempting to arrest a prowler in the 2200 block of Russell Street.
Officers had responded to the scene for reports of a burglary but were unable to find the prowler. Sergeant Rutledge remained on the scene, and the suspect returned. As he attempted to arrest the man, the suspect began to struggle and gained control of Sergeant Rutledge's weapon. After shooting him, the suspect took hostages in a nearby home. The suspect killed a four-year-old hostage before being shot and killed by other officers.
Sergeant Rutledge was a United States Navy WWII and Korean War veteran who served with the Berkeley Police Department for 23 years. He was survived by two daughters and a son.