United States Department of Homeland Security - Customs and Border Protection - United States Border Patrol, U.S. Government
End of Watch: Friday, May 11, 2007
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: BPM01568
Cause of Death: Drowned
Date of Incident: May 11, 2007
Weapon Used: Not available
Suspect Info: Not available
Border Patrol Agent Richard Goldstein drowned in the Coachella Canal near Niland, California, east of the Salton Sea.
After he went missing, Agent Goldstein's canine partner was found sitting alongside his vehicle, which was parked and idling near the canal. The Customs and Border Protection and California Highway Patrol Air divisions assisted several border patrol agents in the search for the missing agent. A short time later he was found drowned a few miles from his vehicle.
Agent Goldstein's canine partner, Carlo, was wet, and markings in the area indicate the dog had been in the water and struggled to get out of the canal. It is believed that Agent Goldstein entered the canal in an attempt to rescue Carlo.
Agent Goldstein was a five-year veteran of the United States Border Patrol and was assigned to the El Centro Sector's Indio Station. He is survived by his wife, two stepsons, parents, five siblings, and a granddaughter, who was born the night before his death.