Calipatria Police Chief James Leonard Speer, 65, was killed on April 10, 1998 while responding to a call about a stolen tractor at a farm equipment yard in the southeast part of Calipatria. Officers say a dispute there involved 29-year-old Omar Deen; during an altercation Deen disarmed Chief Speer, shot him once in the abdomen penetrating the chest, and then fatally shot his mother, 59-year-old Rachel Deen, twice. Chief Speer was taken to Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley and died more than an hour later. The weapon was recovered at the scene and Omar Deen was captured in Mexicali after a 45-minute search. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder and pleaded not guilty.

Speer had served in law enforcement for over 40 years, including roles as Imperial County sheriff, Calexico police chief and a Brawley patrol sergeant, and was a National Guard veteran. His funeral at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in El Centro drew more than 1,000 mourners and a procession of over 300 vehicles.