Sacramento County Deputy Sheriff Vu Nguyen

[gringoscott]

http://www.odmp.org/officer/19104-de...riff-vu-nguyen

Deputy Sheriff Vu Nguyen
Sacramento County Sheriff's Department
California
End of Watch: Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Biographical Info
Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 10 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: At large

Deputy Sheriff Vu Nguyen was shot while chasing a suspect.

The deputy was performing a routine gang patrol when someone bolted from a house in south Sacramento. He started chasing the suspect through backyards when he was shot in the neck. When his partner found him, though he had been wounded, he had drawn his gun. He was airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center where he underwent surgery before succumbing to the gunshot wound.

Deputy Nguyen served as a Sacramento County Sheriff's deputy for ten years. He was a gang detective for three years. He is survived by his wife.

Rest in Peace Deputy Nguyen. You're a hero.

[hitnrun]

Hunt for deputy's killer

Officer in anti-gang unit is shot during south-area foot pursuit.

By Christina Jewett and Chelsea Phua - cjewett@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PST Thursday, December 20, 2007

More than 100 police, sheriff's detectives and federal agents scoured south Sacramento late Wednesday night in a massive manhunt for the killer of a Sacramento County sheriff's deputy.

Detective Vu Nguyen, 37, died Wednesday evening from a bullet wound to the neck.

About 2 p.m., Nguyen was scaling backyard fences in pursuit of a young man in a puffy camouflage jacket when his partner heard shots ring out.

The partner found Nguyen lying in a backyard, his gun drawn.

Sheriff's spokesman Tim Curran said Nguyen was in the neighborhood with his partner to make routine contacts with gang members, gathering intelligence on ongoing cases. The men wore sheriff's vests and plain clothes and drove an unmarked car.

Curran said Nguyen and his partner pulled up at a house where known gang members live and made eye contact with a slender, 5-foot-4 Asian man, whom they did not know.

Officials said the suspect appeared to be 18 to 20 years old, or maybe even younger.

Sheriff John McGinness appeared subdued as he broke the news Wednesday evening that the officer had not survived. It was the second time in 15 months that he had lost a deputy.

"This is the time to be strong and stay focused and committed to our job, which is to make the streets safer," McGinness said. "We'll pay appropriate tribute to our fallen officer at the right time."

At a second news conference about 9 p.m., he said the search for the gunman was the "top priority above anything else."

The sheriff said Nguyen and others in law enforcement understand the risk they take each day protecting the community.

"The courage within him allowed him to go out and confront that risk. Unfortunately, he paid the ultimate price," McGinness said.

The sheriff said Nguyen was the department's first deputy of Asian descent to be killed in the line of duty.

The perimeter around the shooting scene had been removed Wednesday night, but the search continued, McGinness said.

Officers were questioning residents of the house where Nguyen spotted the young man for information about him and his whereabouts.

"This is a very active scene out there," McGinness said.

Nguyen's slaying sparked lockdowns at area schools that affected thousands of elementary through high school age children. By 7 p.m. there were still 52 students at two schools who had not been picked up by family members; they were taken home by bus.

Curren said that after Nguyen began chasing the suspect, his partner drove around the block, hoping to head off the young man.

The partner broadcast a "foot pursuit" on the police radio and called for officers to rush to the area and form a perimeter, Curran said.

Then he heard two gunshots.

Nguyen's partner parked and ran into a backyard near 37th Street and 41st Avenue, where he found Nguyen shot in the neck.

Nguyen's service revolver was drawn, McGinness said, noting that it's not clear whether it had been fired.

Nguyen was airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center, where he underwent surgery Wednesday afternoon and was later pronounced dead.

Officers streamed to the area, driving six and eight cars side by side on Highway 99, pouring into the parking lot at the Campbell's Soup plant, which became an impromptu command center.

Officers in SWAT gear and with canines spread out in the neighborhood, known among law enforcement officials as a haven for gang and drug activity. The sheriff's helicopter and a CHP plane thundered overheard.

McGinness said deputies found a weapon, but it may not be the gun used in the shooting.

Onlooker Rich Mott said he'd never seen so many police cars, as cruisers lined both sides and the median of Franklin Boulevard for a half-mile.

"This is just incredible," he said. "If this is the way they respond when one of theirs is shot – good for them."

Fifteen months ago, deputies fanned out over the rolling hills near Sloughhouse after Deputy Jeffrey Mitchell was slain during a routine traffic stop in the early-morning hours of Oct. 27, 2006.

Despite the efforts of hundreds, then dozens, and then two detectives assigned to the case full time, that murder has not been solved. A $225,000 reward for information leading to Mitchell's killer stands.

On Wednesday night, a Sacramento law enforcement chaplain's cruiser was parked in front of Nguyen's home in west Natomas. A man whom neighbors identified as Nguyen's brother sat in the passenger seat talking to the chaplain.

McGinness said Nguyen had married in April, which was about the time he became a detective with the gang suppression unit.

Nguyen, a seven-year veteran of the department, was described by friends and colleagues as quiet but upbeat, and a strong liaison to the Vietnamese community.

"It's one of those unfortunate things that could happen to anybody," said sheriff's Capt. Trang To, who oversaw Nguyen when the officer worked patrol. "Unfortunately it happened to a great human being. It's a great loss to Vu's family, a great loss to our department and a great loss to the community as a whole."

Nguyen was assigned to security at Sacramento Superior Court, then as a patrol officer before joining the gang unit three years ago.

In the summer of 2004, he was given the high-profile assignment of investigating the double homicide of a couple who were slain in their Stockton Boulevard jewelry store.

Asian gang violence boiled over in late 2004 and in early 2005, with a string of apparently retaliatory homicides.

Sheriff's Lt. Harvey Woo said Nguyen was put on the case when Asian gangs were most volatile.

"He was one of those really special people," Woo said. "Right from the start, he came into the job with all the right motivations."

Woo said Nguyen was well known in the Asian community.

"Business owners up and down Stockton Boulevard knew him very well," Woo said. "Throughout his career, he won over numerous friends."

Nguyen made a strong impression on Sacramento attorney Don Heller, who recalls him working in a jailhouse courtroom.

"I knew him as a bright young man, very courteous and very professional," he said.

Deputy Henry Harry said he worked patrol with Nguyen in the same area where he was gunned down.

"He really was a guy who came to work with no chip on his shoulder, treated everyone across the races fair," he said. "He did his job and he did it well."

Capt. To said Nguyen was in the assignment he wanted most as a gang detective.

"He really wanted to make a difference," To said. "He's one of the bright young officers who had a great future with our department."

Go to: Sacbee / Back to story

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[Frogdiver]

RIP Deputy. Prayers for his family.

[hitnrun]

BTW, one in custody!

SSD Detective Shot and Killed In The line Of Duty
DETECTIVE VU NGUYEN WAS ASSIGNED TO THE GANG UNIT

It is with deep regret that we announce the death of Detective Vu Nguyen. Detective Nguyen was shot and killed in the line of duty today as he chased a subject over fences in a neighborhood in South Sacramento. Detectective Nguyen was assigned to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department Gang Unit. The City and County of Sacramento have experienced an increase in gang related violence in recent years. Detetective Nguyen was assigned the task of stemming the violence through proactive police work and that is what he was doing today.

Members of the SSD K9 Unit were preparing to conduct a demonstration and bring toys to the Children’s Receiving Home around 2 p.m. today when we heard the “Officer Down” over the radio. Wednesdays are our K9 Units overlap day so we had numerous K9 teams available to respond. K9 Units and SWAT team members from all surrounding agencies responded to assist and the response was overwhelming and quick. We would like to thank those who arrived and followed leads and put themselves in harms way to search for the suspect who tragically took Deputy Nguyen’s life.

Throughout the evening information was relayed to the command post and all leads were followed up on. Just after midnight we were met with a sigh of relief as it was announced that a suspect was in custody and will be charged with the murder of Detective Nguyen.

Detective Nguyen gave his life while serving to protect the citizens of Sacramento. He paid the ultimate sacrifice assuming the risk that comes with law enforcement to make the community a better place. We are indebted to him and his family, as citizens, as we all share this loss.

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[motorwife]

Prayers for this officer's wife, family, and fellow officers. :( I'm glad they've got a suspect in custody - too bad he's in jail rather than the morgue.

Onlooker Rich Mott said he'd never seen so many police cars, as cruisers lined both sides and the median of Franklin Boulevard for a half-mile.

"This is just incredible," he said. "If this is the way they respond when one of theirs is shot – good for them."

Damn straight!

[Aussie George]

RIP Deputy NGUYEN.

I hope the bad guy enjoys Hell! :mad:

[Darin]

RIP Deputy....we'll take the next call.

[hitnrun]

A 16-year-old boy has been arrested in connection to the death of Sacramento Sheriff's Detective Vu Nguyen, Sheriff John McGinness announced Thursday morning.

"We're confident that we got our guy," McGinness said during a 9 a.m. news conference, smiling as he broke the news.

The boy was arrested at 12:30 a.m. at a family member's home in the Meadowview area on suspicion of murdering Nguyen on Wednesday. The boy is being held without bail in the county's juvenile hall.

McGinness declined to identify the juvenile because of his age but described him as "relatively cooperative." McGinnis said the boy, who is not believed to be enrolled in school, has identified himself as a "gang affiliate."

McGinness said he believes that charges will be filed against him as an adult.

No one else is facing charges at this time in connection to the shooting death, McGinness said.

Officials have recovered several weapons and are working to determine if one of them is the murder weapon.

Nguyen, 37, a seven-year department veteran who was assigned to the gang team, was shot Wednesday afternoon as he chased after a young man through the backyards of south Sacramento homes.

He died later that night from a bullet wound to the neck.

The shooting prompted a manhunt involving more than 100 police, sheriff's detectives and federal agents that lasted through the night.

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:mad:

[shook494]

I have to say the news today was bad. Vu was one of my best friends during my teenage childhood. I went to school with him all the way through Junior college. I will miss him dearly. RIP Shook

[gringoscott]

I'm so sorry Shook. You have the support of the entire community behind you.

[Aussie George]

I'm so sorry Shook. You have the support of the entire community behind you.

And from over the oceans and far away.

RIP

[hitnrun]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/kcra/20071221/lo_kcra/14908911

Public memorial services for slain Sacramento County sheriff's Detective Vu Nguyen will be held Dec. 27 at the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament in downtown Sacramento, authorities announced Friday.
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Nguyen died after he was shot Wednesday while on duty in south Sacramento.

Services will start at 11:00 a.m.

At about 1 p.m., a procession will travel five miles from the cathedral to East Lawn Memorial Park.

The procession will travel south on 12th Street, west on L Street, south on Ninth Street, east on N Street and then east on Folsom Boulevard to East Lawn.