Kern County Sheriff's Office, California
End of Watch: Friday, March 3, 1989
Age: 33
Tour of Duty: 7 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: March 2, 1989
Weapon Used: Officer's handgun
Suspect Info: Committed suicide
Deputy Rick McHale was killed after being beaten and shot at a family disturbance call at 303 Decatur Street in Oildale at 6 pm.
The mentally ill suspect attacked Deputy McHale, beat him with his baton, and then shot him with his service weapon. The man then committed suicide.
Deputy McHale was taken to Kern Medical Center, where he succumbed to his wounds the next afternoon.
Deputy McHale was a United States Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Kern County Sheriff's Office for seven years. He was survived by his wife, mother, father, and brother.