Jan. 31, 2013 — A Lassen County deputy, killed in the line of duty in 1915, will be enrolled in the California Peace Officers Memorial.

     Deputy Raymond C. Bogart’s name will be included on a bronze plaque that will be dedicated during a May 6 ceremony in front of the state capitol. The plaque, attached to the Memorial Monument, contains the names of officers who have died in the line of duty both recently and in the past.

     Lassen County Sheriff Dean Growdon said, “It has been 98 years since deputy Bogart’s life was taken, but I am proud that we are going to be able to honor his sacrifice to our community. In furtherance of that goal, we are seeking the help from the community in seeking any family members of deputy Bogart in hopes that they may be able to attend the enrollment ceremony.”

     The inquiry into Bogart’s death began after Jeff Church, a retired Reno Police Department sergeant, contacted Growdon in July 2011.

     According to Growdon, Church had been researching peace officer deaths in the region that occurred in the 1800s and early 1900s. He found information related to a deputy who was killed in Westwood in 1915 and provided a copy of an article from the Nevada State Journal that described the incident.

     With the assistance of the Lassen County Clerk’s Office and local historian Tim Purdy, the sheriff’s office was able to locate a death certificate for Bogart and a copy of the transcripts from the coroner’s inquest into his death.

     On Jan. 11, 1915, Bogart arrested a subject named Tim Collins for bringing alcohol into Westwood, which was a dry town.

     Bogart took Collins to a jail facility in Westwood. A short time after they entered the jail, witnesses in the area heard shooting. The witnesses ran to the jail and found both subjects lying on the floor. Bogart was barely breathing and died as the witnesses were administering first aid. Collins died a short time later.

     Based on evidence at the scene, it appeared that Collins started shooting at Bogart at short range about the time he was being placed in the cell. Bogart was struck in the hand, leg and back. Bogart then engaged Collins with his colt auto pistol.

     In October 2011, Growdon submitted a “Line of Duty Death Enrollment” application to the California State Peace Officers Memorial.

     The May 6 ceremony will be held the week preceding National Police Week.

     Several hundred peace officers from nearly every jurisdiction in the state will come together in Sacramento to honor California peace officers who have laid down their lives and protecting their fellow citizens.

            The morning ceremony will be held at 10th Street and Capitol Mall.