Sergeant Daniel Takashi Sakai

Sergeant Daniel Takashi Sakai

Oakland Police Department, California

End of Watch Saturday, March 21, 2009

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Daniel Takashi Sakai

Sergeant Daniel Sakai and Sergeant Ervin Romans, SWAT team members, were killed when they attempted to apprehend a suspect that had earlier in the day shot and killed Sergeant Mark Dunakin and mortally wounded Officer John Hege during a traffic stop.

At approximately 1:15 p.m., Sergeant Dunakin and Officer Hege, patrolling on a motorcycle, pulled over a car at a traffic stop at 74th Avenue and MacArthur Boulevard. During the stop, the driver opened fire, killing the officers. Citizens who witnessed the incident called 911 and started CPR on both officers.

The suspect fled on foot, leading to an intense manhunt by dozens of officers from the Oakland Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and Alameda County Sheriff's Department.

At approximately 3:30 p.m., the Oakland Police Department received an anonymous tip that the suspect was barricaded inside an apartment building on 74th Avenue.

Officers first attempted to negotiate with the suspect, but a SWAT team was sent into the location to apprehend him when that failed. As the SWAT officers approached, the suspect opened fire with a rifle, killing Sergeants Ervin Romans and Daniel Sakai and wounding a third officer. Officers returned fire, killing the 26-year-old male suspect.

It was later determined that the suspect had an extensive violent criminal history and was on parole for assault with a deadly weapon. Additionally, he had a no-bail parole warrant at the time of the incident.

Sergeant Sakai had served with the Oakland Police Department for nine years. He is survived by his wife, a UC Berkley Police Officer, a daughter, and his parents.

In March 2012, the Keller Avenue Bridge over I-580 was renamed the "Sgt. Mark Dunakin Sgt. Ervin Romans Sgt. Daniel Sakai Officer John Hege Memorial Bridge."

Bio

  • Age 35
  • Tour 8 years
  • Badge 186

Incident Details

  • Cause Gunfire
  • Weapon Rifle; SKS
  • Offender Killed by other officers

arrest attempt

Most Recent Reflection

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I remember reading about your sacrifice in the TBTM book when I was a pledge and learning about great brothers who had gone before me. I few short years later I would be able to call you a brother in blue as I became a police officer. May your example shine for all brothers in blue and those in the Mystic Circle. My grandfather's badge number was also 186.

Charles McNeill, Zeta Pi '11
Patrol Officer, Cambridge Police Department
EOD/K9 Unit

Patrol Officer Charles J. McNeill Jr. #615
Cambridge Police Department

May 16, 2022

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