Police Officer Philip N. Trust

Police Officer Philip N. Trust

Riverside Police Department, California

End of Watch Thursday, May 13, 1982

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Philip N. Trust

Officer Philip Trust and Officer Dennis Doty were shot and killed while serving a warrant at a home.

They were attempting to arrest a handicapped man who was sitting naked on a bed. As they helped him get dressed, the suspect pulled out a handgun and shot both officers. The suspect had been sitting on the gun. Officer Trust was able to return fire and struck the suspect in the hand.

The round remained in the suspect's hand and was a crucial piece of evidence in the ensuing trial. The suspect, 43, who had been paralyzed from the waist down two years earlier in a shootout with another Riverside police officer, was found guilty of their murders and sentenced to death. It is believed that the motive of the shooting was revenge over the previous shooting.

In 2005 a judge overturned the suspect's death sentence due to claims by the defense that the suspect suffered from schizophrenic. He was retried and again sentenced to death on January 28th, 2010. On December 3, 2022, now 84, he was still on death row. He is California's second oldest death row inmate. The oldest is 88.

Officer Trust was a Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Riverside Police Department for 10 years. He was survived by his wife and four children.

Bio

  • Age 36
  • Tour 10 years
  • Badge Not available
  • Military Veteran

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Handgun
  • Offender Sentenced to death

revenge, warrant service

Most Recent Reflection

View all 27 Reflections

Officer Trust,
On today, the 40th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community but for our Country as well when you served with the USN during the Vietnam War. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Fair Winds And Following Seas

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

May 13, 2022

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