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Sacramento Police Officers Association
550 Bercut Drive Sacramento, CA 95811 Phone: (916) 446-7661 Fax: (916) 446-7665
Mark Tyndale, President

Fallen Officers - Sacramento Police Department

Detective Doyle A. Popovich

End of Watch: August 3rd, 1974

Biographical Information

Age: 37
Tour of Duty: 9 years
Badge Number: Not available

Incident Details

Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Saturday, August 3, 1974
Weapon Used: Gun; Unknown type
Suspect Info: Not available

During the arrest of a suspected auto thief, Officer Popovich was shot and killed at point-blank range with his own revolver on August 3, 1974.  The auto thief struggled with Officer Popovich and his partner.  As the suspect was being handcuffed, he pulled Officer Popovich's gun from its holster and fired, hitting the officer in the stomach.  The suspect fled from the crime scene.  After committing another crime, ironically at the home of another officer, the suspect was cornered, but escaped again.  The suspect was recaptured after being reported to police by community members.  Officer Popovich was 37 years old and a nine-year veteran of the police department.

550 Bercut Drive Sacramento, CA 95811
Phone: (916) 446-7661
Fax: (916) 446-7665

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