Country Fans Show Their Support For Fallen Deputy

El Dorado County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Ishmael was killed in the line of duty last week in El Dorado County

By kncitom on October 28, 2019

Sacramento is a big city now. But at the same time, it still very much feels like a small town. 

Case in point, the outpouring of love and support for fallen El Dorado County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Ishmael at Saturday night’s Luke Combs concert at Golden One Center downtown. Ishmael was gunned down early Tuesday morning after answering a service call near Somerset. An off-duty deputy riding with him was injured. Three men are in custody. It was another senseless killing of an LEO in our region, which has seen more than its share of such incidences in recent years.

Over the course of a couple hours, hundreds of country music fans stopped by the KNCI site on DOCO Plaza to sign a memorial card, pick up a blue ribbon of law enforcement support, and donate money to a fund for Deputy Ishmael’s family. Most who came by just wanted to pay their respects.

But some had a specific reason, like Taylor and William….

Deputy Ishmael’s patrol partner of two years, who was not with him the night of the shooting, also came by to say thank you to everyone for their outpouring of support. In this picture she shows her badge, with his badge number on a black memorial band. It was an emotional moment for all of us.

We don’t know how much money was collected. We can tell you when it was taken away by El Dorado Sheriff’s Deputies Nick Jones and Evan Vaughn, it was nearly full. Officers from the Sacramento Police force were also on hand to keep an eye on things.

This week we celebrate First Responders across the country. Take a moment, if you can, and think about the job our men and women in law enforcement, firefighting, emergency health services (EMTs, paramedics) and dispatchers do. Think about their families, their friends and loved ones, and how they’ve chosen careers that will undoubtedly leave them with scars, mentally if not physically. They do it because for whatever reason, they felt called to it. Are they all perfect? Of course not, and they’d be the first to say as much. But they’re out there anyway, doing the best they can to protect their communities, no matter what the population reads on their “welcome to” sign at the edge of town. And when one of them falls, we all feel it. Whether we’re in that community, or miles away.

We owe them-especially those who make the ultimate sacrifice-a debt of gratitude that cannot ever fully be repaid. If you would like to donate to deputy Ishmael’s family, you can do so here, via an account set up by the CHP Employees Credit Union.

And there will be a public memorial for him Tuesday, November 5th, 10am, at Bayside Adventure Church in Roseville. 

Thank you, First Responders. You’re the best of us.