San Diego County Sheriff's Department, California
End of Watch: Sunday, February 16, 1997
Age: 42
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Aircraft accident
Date of Incident: February 16, 1997
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Deputy Sheriff Patrick Coyle was killed, and another deputy was injured in a helicopter crash in the Sycamore Canyon area at 7:44 pm.
The two deputies were looking for possible trespassers when the Hughes 500 helicopter suddenly lost power and fell from the sky. The tail was sheared from the helicopter on impact, but the passenger compartment was left largely intact.
Deputy Coyle died of his injuries approximately three hours after the crash.
Deputy Coyle had served in law enforcement for 10 years. He is survived by his wife and two small children.
The Deputy Pat Coyle Memorial Helipad at the San Diego County Sheriff's Department is named in his honor.