Pinole Police Department, California
End of Watch: Monday, July 24, 1972
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 2 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: July 24, 1972
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Not guilty by reason of insanity
Patrolman John Sellers was shot and killed when he responded to a disturbance at a the Antlers Bar in Pinole.
A patron who was involved in an altercation with another patron pulled a pistol and shot the officer as he intervened. A personal friend with Patrolman Sellers disarmed the suspect and held on to him until police arrived. The suspect was suffering from an inoperable blood clot in his brain that caused anger issues which got worse when he was drinking.
The 69-year-old suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed on February 6th, 1973. On May 9, 1974, psychiatrists at Atascadero State Hospital told the judge in his case that he was sane. He only had a problem when he drank alcohol and he was aware of that. They warned the court that if he was released he could kill again if he drank. On May 13, 1975, hospital officials said they could not legally hold him and he was released. There were no other reported problems and he died in 1987.
Patrolman Sellers had served with the Pinole Police Department for two years. He is survived by his wife and two children. He was a U.S. Army Captain who served in Vietnam.