Ventura County Community College District Police Department, California
End of Watch: Sunday, March 23, 1975
Age: 24
Tour of Duty: Not available
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 23, 1975
Weapon Used: Handgun; .22 caliber
Suspect Info: Sentenced to life
Police Officer James Doyle was shot and killed on the Ventura College campus while conducting building checks.
The special checks of the buildings were in response to a recent rash of burglaries. After shooting Officer Doyle, the suspect stole his service weapon and patrol car. The suspect, who was a student at the school and the son of a faculty member, was apprehended three days later in Idaho.
The suspect was convicted of murder and sentenced to life January 28, 1976.
Officer Doyle was a U.S. Army veteran.