Command/HQ

Officer Down: Sergeant Dominic Vaca

June 1, 2021

CALIFORNIA-Sergeant Dominic Vaca, of the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, died May 31, 2021. Sergeant Vaca was in a vehicle pursuit with a motorcycle at two in the afternoon. He and other deputies were conducting enforcement operations for vehicle and roadway violations. They tried to stop a motorcycle that did not have a license plate. The driver left their motorcycle and waited for deputies. As the officers approached the motorcycle, the suspect opened fire, fatally wounding Sergeant Vaca. The other deputies returned fire and killed the suspect.

Sergeant Vaca served with the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department for seventeen years.

Source: ODMP

About the Author

Hilary Rodela

Hilary Rodela is currently a Surveillance Officer, a former Private Investigator, a former Crime Scene Investigator, and Evidence Technician. She worked for the Ruidoso (NM) Police Department as well as the Lubbock (TX) Police Department. She has written for several public safety publications and has extensive law enforcement and forensic training and is pursuing forensic expertise in various disciplines. Hilary is a freelance public safety writer and curriculum developer for the National Investigative Training Academy.