Deputy Sheriff Roy Hugo Dirks, Lane County Sheriff's Office, Oregon

Deputy Sheriff Roy Hugo Dirks

Lane County Sheriff's Office, Oregon

End of Watch Friday, April 11, 1975

Roy Hugo Dirks

Deputy Sheriff Roy Dirks was shot and killed by a copy-cat killer mimicking the famous serial killer Charles Manson. The suspect was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 10 years in prison. The leader of the copy-cat cult was charged with murder in this case, but was aquitted.

Deputy Dirks was survived by his four children, brother, sister, and several nieces and nephews.

Bio

Age 39
Tour Not available
Badge 40

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Released from prison

Most Recent Reflection

View all 19 Reflections

I was a young Trooper assigned to the Multnomah Patrol Office in Portland at that time. I had stopped a van s/b on I-5 near Wilsonville. Inside the van were several white female adults as passengers. The driver was an adult Black male who's name escapes me now. This traffic stop was shortly before Deputy Dirks was killed. The occupants told me or I learned that they were from a commune called Children of Valley of Light. I was very apprehensive during this traffic stop. After releasing the vehicle and occupants I went back to my office and discussed the stop with my Sgt., one Sgt. Lovejoy. Sgt. Lovejoy created a teletype message and sent it out via the Law Enforcement Data System to other agencies. I have always wondered if my stop and the subsequent advisory had a bearing on Sgt. Dirks going up to the Blue River area later. Sgt. Bob Wilson Portland Police Bureau retired.

Sgt. Robert Wilson Retired
Portland Police Bureau

June 8, 2017