Richard Earl Deffner was a 36-year-old sergeant with the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office who was killed on January 21, 1988, in Rancho Cordova, Sacramento County, California. He was leading a Special Operations Team pursuing an armed robbery suspect who had committed several robberies at gunpoint. After a high-speed chase and a crash, the suspect fled on foot, fired at officers, and initially eluded capture despite searches that included K-9 teams and helicopters.

Hours later the suspect was seen again and engaged officers, then fled to a public storage area near a large apartment complex. Sergeant Deffner went to search the complex roof with two team members; as he peered over the edge he was shot in the face by the hiding suspect and died that night. The suspect later held two women and an infant hostage and was fatally shot by officers after emerging and firing. Deffner was posthumously awarded the Medal of Valor and the Sheriff’s Training Academy gymnasium was dedicated in his name.

Are there readers who remember that 1988 pursuit or who can add details about Sergeant Deffner’s service and legacy?