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Remembering Our Fallen Deputies
In Memory of Our Fallen Deputies
Pierce County sheriff's deputies swear under oath to dedicate themselves to serve and protect our community. Each day our deputies put their lives on the line. This page honors our fallen deputies, whose dedication led them to perform great acts of heroism and bravery.
Deputy Dom Calata #440
Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Dom Calata died on March 16, 2022 from injuries sustained during a shooting on March 15 while he was part of a SWAT operation.
Deputy Calata, 35, served with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department for 6.5 years and was assigned to patrol with the Edgewood Police Department. He was a U.S. Army veteran (5 years) and served in the Washington National Guard for the last 7 years. Deputy Calata was a member of the SWAT team for 4 years. He left behind his wife and young son.
Sergeant Rich Scaniffe was critically injured during the incident.
Deputy Daryl Shuey #342
Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Daryl Shuey died on November 10, 2020 after suffering a medical emergency while on duty.
At 6:16 a.m., a passerby called 911 to report that a deputy was found unresponsive in a parking lot in the 14900 block of Pacific Ave. S in Parkland. Deputies and medics rushed to the scene and attempted CPR.
Deputy Shuey was transported to a nearby hospital, but did not survive the medical event.
Deputy Shuey served with our department as a deputy sheriff for 26 years. He was 57 years old, a proud husband and father, and a beloved member of our department. He worked dayshift central patrol and had just started his shift when the incident occurred.
Deputy Cooper Dyson #579
Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Cooper Dyson was killed in a single-vehicle crash on the early morning of December 21, 2019, while responding priority backup other deputies at a domestic violence incident.
The deputies who responded to the initial incident at 3:00 am were immediately attacked by a male subject who engaged them in a violent struggle. The deputies believed that the man was attempting to access a shotgun that was inside of the home and called for backup during the struggle.
Deputy Dyson was responding to their call for assistance when his vehicle left the roadway and struck a commercial building along 112th St. E. in the Parkland area. Deputy Dyson was found deceased by responding deputies and rescue personnel.
Deputy Cooper Dyson was 25 years old and is survived by his wife, young son, and baby girl who was born two weeks after his passing. Deputy Dyson was a deputy with the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department for two years after serving in the United States Coast Guard.
Deputy Sheriff Daniel McCartney #484
Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Daniel McCartney was shot on the night of January 7, 2018, while responding to a home invasion robbery in progress in the Frederickson area. Deputy McCartney was the first deputy on scene when he heard screaming and children crying inside the residence. Deputy McCartney ran after two armed suspects as they fled the home and entered a nearby vacant lot. Deputy McCartney and the suspects exchanged gunfire; Deputy McCartney was struck once. One of the suspects died at the scene and the other fled on foot; he was later located the following morning after a massive search of the areas surrounding the crime scene.
Deputy McCartney was transported to a nearby hospital where he passed away on the early morning of January 8, 2018.
Deputy Daniel McCartney was 34 years old, and is survived by his wife and three young sons. Deputy McCartney was a three-year veteran of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, after serving for six years with the Hoquiam Police Department and for the United States Navy.
Deputy Sheriff Shandon Wright #495
Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Shandon Wright died on March 3, 2011, after undergoing shoulder surgery for an injury suffered during an on duty assault in August of 2010. Deputy Shandon Wright was 29 years old, and is survived by a wife and young daughter. Deputy Wright was a five-year veteran of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.
Deputy Sheriff Kent Mundell #423
Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Kent Mundell was shot on December 21, 2009, while responding to a domestic violence call in Eatonville. Deputy Mundell and his sergeant had responded to a house where a man was fighting with his daughter and brother. The deputies had convinced the intoxicated man to leave the house when he produced a previously concealed gun and fired ten rounds at the officers.
Despite being wounded, Deputy Mundell returned fire and killed the subject. The suspect's brother and daughter put themselves at risk to pull the wounded sergeant out of the line of fire by pulling him into another room. Deputy Mundell was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he remained on life support in the intensive care unit until succumbing to his wounds on December 28, 2009.
Deputy Kent Mundell was 44 years old, and is survived by his wife, daughter and son. Deputy Mundell was a 10-year veteran of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.
Deputy Sheriff John Bananola #271
Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy John Bananola was shot and killed on October 16, 1995, during a drug raid on a house in Tacoma.
Deputy Bananola was the first of a six man team to enter the house. He was confronted by the suspect and identified himself as an officer. The suspect fired at least ten shots with a nine millimeter handgun, striking Deputy Bananola nine times. Deputy Bananola was able to return fire and struck the suspect in the groin.
The suspect was found guilty of drug charges but there was a hung jury on the first degree murder charges. A second trial found the suspect guilty of second degree murder and he was sentenced to a total of 40 years. During an appeal of the conviction he was found guilty and given an even longer sentence.
Deputy Bananola was 36 years old, and is survived by his daughter and stepson. Deputy Bananola was a eight-year veteran of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.
Deputy Sheriff Ken Moran #201
Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Ken Moran was shot and killed on October 6, 1978, while attempting to protect a woman during a shootout with bank robbery suspects.
The woman had come out of her house during the shootout to see what was going on. As she advanced towards Deputy Moran he attempted to warn her to go back into her home but she did not understand what he was saying. As she continued to walk towards Deputy Moran he left his cover to try to protect the woman. As he stood up he was struck by gunfire and killed instantly.
Eight suspects were apprehended and charged with robbery and first degree murder.
Deputy Ken Moran was 30 years old and is survived by his wife and two sons. Deputy Moran was a two-year veteran of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.
Deputy Sheriff Lawrence Bunce
Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Lawrence Bunce, Deputy Arthur Varco, Tacoma Police Officer Paul Trent and Officer Martin Joyce were killed on November 23, 1941, when their two patrol cars collided at an intersection in downtown Tacoma.
The deputies were responding to an accident and the officers were responding to an attempted suicide. Deputy Bunce, Deputy Varco and Officer Trent were killed instantly; Officer Joyce succumbed to his injuries two days later.
Deputy Lawrence Bunce was 29 years old and was survived by his wife and son. Deputy Bunce was a two-year veteran of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.
Deputy Sheriff Arthur Varco
Pierce County Sheriff's Deputy Arthur Varco, Deputy Lawrence Bunce, Tacoma Police Officer Paul Trent and Officer Martin Joyce were killed on November 23, 1941, when their two patrol cars collided at an intersection in downtown Tacoma.
The deputies were responding to an accident and the officers were responding to an attempted suicide. Deputy Varco, Deputy Bunce and Officer Trent were killed instantly; Officer Joyce succumbed to his injuries two days later.
Deputy Arthur Varco was 45 years old and was survived by his wife, son and daughter. Deputy Varco was a 10-year veteran of the Pierce County Sheriff's Department.