Slain Officer Leaves Behind Young Children and Family

It was a sad irony to note the confluence of events. In November of 2005 a CHP Officer was killed. This past week, the death sentence was handed down to his killer. Now just a few days later, a Yolo County Deputy Sheriff Jose Antonio Diaz was shot through his bullet proof vest during a pursuit of a man who was driving at speeds over 100 mph with a baby girl inside of the car.

The suspect has since been captured and the baby girl is safe and in foster care until a relative comes forward.

Meanwhile the young sheriff’s officer, only 37 years old has died. To make this story more tragic, the officer is the single father of three young children–ages 4, 6, and 14.

It gets more tragic. Diaz was engaged to marry his fiancee on August 8. She has five children of her own.

With the suspect now in custody, the focus must turn to ways to help the family of this young officer. The Vanguard will be following up on ways in which to provide assistance to the fiancee and the children.

—Doug Paul Davis reporting

Author

  • David Greenwald

    Greenwald is the founder, editor, and executive director of the Davis Vanguard. He founded the Vanguard in 2006. David Greenwald moved to Davis in 1996 to attend Graduate School at UC Davis in Political Science. He lives in South Davis with his wife Cecilia Escamilla Greenwald and three children.

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Law Enforcement

56 comments

  1. Tony Diaz was a good man, a professional and respectful officer. He will be missed by the law enforcement community and his loved ones.

    I am deeply saddened by this stunning loss. I am glad the perpetrator has been arrested and will face justice.

    Please join me in paraying for the families of all those touched by this senseless murder.

    Pat Lenzi

  2. Tony Diaz was a good man, a professional and respectful officer. He will be missed by the law enforcement community and his loved ones.

    I am deeply saddened by this stunning loss. I am glad the perpetrator has been arrested and will face justice.

    Please join me in paraying for the families of all those touched by this senseless murder.

    Pat Lenzi

  3. Tony Diaz was a good man, a professional and respectful officer. He will be missed by the law enforcement community and his loved ones.

    I am deeply saddened by this stunning loss. I am glad the perpetrator has been arrested and will face justice.

    Please join me in paraying for the families of all those touched by this senseless murder.

    Pat Lenzi

  4. Tony Diaz was a good man, a professional and respectful officer. He will be missed by the law enforcement community and his loved ones.

    I am deeply saddened by this stunning loss. I am glad the perpetrator has been arrested and will face justice.

    Please join me in paraying for the families of all those touched by this senseless murder.

    Pat Lenzi

  5. I agree, Tony was a very good person, and yes, I knew him from a professional standpoint. The person that murdered Tony was a “norteno”. norteno’s and sureno’s are mexican gang members. And now they will brag and wish they could emulate the worthless piece of garbage that murdered Tony. All gang members are human garbage.
    Anybody have any comments about cracking down on gang members? Also bear in mind when I lived in El Centro Calif., the gang members, I knew, would comment, when they ripped someone off that, “they were just white people”. My first hand experience, along with many others.
    Any bleeding heart liberal want to comment?

  6. I agree, Tony was a very good person, and yes, I knew him from a professional standpoint. The person that murdered Tony was a “norteno”. norteno’s and sureno’s are mexican gang members. And now they will brag and wish they could emulate the worthless piece of garbage that murdered Tony. All gang members are human garbage.
    Anybody have any comments about cracking down on gang members? Also bear in mind when I lived in El Centro Calif., the gang members, I knew, would comment, when they ripped someone off that, “they were just white people”. My first hand experience, along with many others.
    Any bleeding heart liberal want to comment?

  7. I agree, Tony was a very good person, and yes, I knew him from a professional standpoint. The person that murdered Tony was a “norteno”. norteno’s and sureno’s are mexican gang members. And now they will brag and wish they could emulate the worthless piece of garbage that murdered Tony. All gang members are human garbage.
    Anybody have any comments about cracking down on gang members? Also bear in mind when I lived in El Centro Calif., the gang members, I knew, would comment, when they ripped someone off that, “they were just white people”. My first hand experience, along with many others.
    Any bleeding heart liberal want to comment?

  8. I agree, Tony was a very good person, and yes, I knew him from a professional standpoint. The person that murdered Tony was a “norteno”. norteno’s and sureno’s are mexican gang members. And now they will brag and wish they could emulate the worthless piece of garbage that murdered Tony. All gang members are human garbage.
    Anybody have any comments about cracking down on gang members? Also bear in mind when I lived in El Centro Calif., the gang members, I knew, would comment, when they ripped someone off that, “they were just white people”. My first hand experience, along with many others.
    Any bleeding heart liberal want to comment?

  9. I’m a bleeding heart liberal and what happened is horrible beyond words.

    I hope the person who did this spends an eternity in prison having to think about this day after day.

    My prayers to his lovely bride to be, children and family.

  10. I’m a bleeding heart liberal and what happened is horrible beyond words.

    I hope the person who did this spends an eternity in prison having to think about this day after day.

    My prayers to his lovely bride to be, children and family.

  11. I’m a bleeding heart liberal and what happened is horrible beyond words.

    I hope the person who did this spends an eternity in prison having to think about this day after day.

    My prayers to his lovely bride to be, children and family.

  12. I’m a bleeding heart liberal and what happened is horrible beyond words.

    I hope the person who did this spends an eternity in prison having to think about this day after day.

    My prayers to his lovely bride to be, children and family.

  13. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I realized from reading the Davis Enterprise that the killer lived on the street just behind me, in a nice neighborhood. I suspect in a rental home, owned by some investor who did not bother to vet the background of his tenant. That really worries me.

    My heart goes out to the victim and his loved ones. It just makes me even more convinced we have to address the gang problem. It is occurring in nice neighborhoods, right on your street.

  14. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I realized from reading the Davis Enterprise that the killer lived on the street just behind me, in a nice neighborhood. I suspect in a rental home, owned by some investor who did not bother to vet the background of his tenant. That really worries me.

    My heart goes out to the victim and his loved ones. It just makes me even more convinced we have to address the gang problem. It is occurring in nice neighborhoods, right on your street.

  15. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I realized from reading the Davis Enterprise that the killer lived on the street just behind me, in a nice neighborhood. I suspect in a rental home, owned by some investor who did not bother to vet the background of his tenant. That really worries me.

    My heart goes out to the victim and his loved ones. It just makes me even more convinced we have to address the gang problem. It is occurring in nice neighborhoods, right on your street.

  16. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I realized from reading the Davis Enterprise that the killer lived on the street just behind me, in a nice neighborhood. I suspect in a rental home, owned by some investor who did not bother to vet the background of his tenant. That really worries me.

    My heart goes out to the victim and his loved ones. It just makes me even more convinced we have to address the gang problem. It is occurring in nice neighborhoods, right on your street.

  17. The statement by Worried really bothers me. So let us get this straight–criminals never live in nice neighborhoods near good people. They always live in the slums on the otherside of the tracks, where the good people can feel safe and secure in their homes.

    We presume that they must have lived in a rental since no one who owns a home could have perpetrated such a dead.

    Now that this has occurred we have to do something about the gang problem, which I can only assume has something to do with keeping the minorities out of your precious neighborhood since they bring with them the bad seeds.

    Look I’m sure you didn’t mean any of that, but that’s how it came across to me.

  18. The statement by Worried really bothers me. So let us get this straight–criminals never live in nice neighborhoods near good people. They always live in the slums on the otherside of the tracks, where the good people can feel safe and secure in their homes.

    We presume that they must have lived in a rental since no one who owns a home could have perpetrated such a dead.

    Now that this has occurred we have to do something about the gang problem, which I can only assume has something to do with keeping the minorities out of your precious neighborhood since they bring with them the bad seeds.

    Look I’m sure you didn’t mean any of that, but that’s how it came across to me.

  19. The statement by Worried really bothers me. So let us get this straight–criminals never live in nice neighborhoods near good people. They always live in the slums on the otherside of the tracks, where the good people can feel safe and secure in their homes.

    We presume that they must have lived in a rental since no one who owns a home could have perpetrated such a dead.

    Now that this has occurred we have to do something about the gang problem, which I can only assume has something to do with keeping the minorities out of your precious neighborhood since they bring with them the bad seeds.

    Look I’m sure you didn’t mean any of that, but that’s how it came across to me.

  20. The statement by Worried really bothers me. So let us get this straight–criminals never live in nice neighborhoods near good people. They always live in the slums on the otherside of the tracks, where the good people can feel safe and secure in their homes.

    We presume that they must have lived in a rental since no one who owns a home could have perpetrated such a dead.

    Now that this has occurred we have to do something about the gang problem, which I can only assume has something to do with keeping the minorities out of your precious neighborhood since they bring with them the bad seeds.

    Look I’m sure you didn’t mean any of that, but that’s how it came across to me.

  21. There is a myth common to many Davis residents that there’s “no crime in Davis,” leading people to leave doors unlocked and allow their 12 year olds to roam the streets at 3 a.m.

    If nothing else, perhaps this event will help dispel that myth, explain why serious law enforcement is needed in Davis (police officers, not candy cops), and remind citizens why police officers are tactical in every car stop they make.

    Only a twist of timing and fate prevented this horrible event from happening within Davis to a city officer.

  22. There is a myth common to many Davis residents that there’s “no crime in Davis,” leading people to leave doors unlocked and allow their 12 year olds to roam the streets at 3 a.m.

    If nothing else, perhaps this event will help dispel that myth, explain why serious law enforcement is needed in Davis (police officers, not candy cops), and remind citizens why police officers are tactical in every car stop they make.

    Only a twist of timing and fate prevented this horrible event from happening within Davis to a city officer.

  23. There is a myth common to many Davis residents that there’s “no crime in Davis,” leading people to leave doors unlocked and allow their 12 year olds to roam the streets at 3 a.m.

    If nothing else, perhaps this event will help dispel that myth, explain why serious law enforcement is needed in Davis (police officers, not candy cops), and remind citizens why police officers are tactical in every car stop they make.

    Only a twist of timing and fate prevented this horrible event from happening within Davis to a city officer.

  24. There is a myth common to many Davis residents that there’s “no crime in Davis,” leading people to leave doors unlocked and allow their 12 year olds to roam the streets at 3 a.m.

    If nothing else, perhaps this event will help dispel that myth, explain why serious law enforcement is needed in Davis (police officers, not candy cops), and remind citizens why police officers are tactical in every car stop they make.

    Only a twist of timing and fate prevented this horrible event from happening within Davis to a city officer.

  25. To Gentrification: I understand where you are coming from (I think), but wouldn’t you be nervous if you discovered that an alleged killer, from a gang, lived right in back of you? Any normal person would.

    Secondly, I am familiar with this neighborhood the alleged killer was living in, and most of the houses on that street are rentals. It is just a simple fact.

    Thirdly, gangs are everywhere, and they particlarly prey in nice neighborhoods where the money is. My thought was that this should alert all citizens of Davis that we are not insulated from societal problems. That sort of thinking will get you dead.

    It means we need to take precautions, such as someone on this blog suggested – locking doors, get a dog, install a burglar alarm, become involved in neighborhood watch groups.

    And yes, maybe Davis needs more police officers. Too many in this town – and IMHO the Davis Enterprise tends to be complicit in this by literally minimizing crime in its pages – paint Davis as a perfect little town with bike theft as the most serious type of crime we can expect. If we have gang members in our midst, especially one that had a long criminal record who was in and out of jail, I don’t want to have a false sense of security.

    Obviously I hit a nerve, but I honestly think you took what I said incorrectly. Your interpretation is certainly not what was meant. Frankly, sometimes I find the need to be politically correct all the time, parsing every word carefully so as not to offend anyone, a bit daunting at times and almost impossible to achieve.

  26. To Gentrification: I understand where you are coming from (I think), but wouldn’t you be nervous if you discovered that an alleged killer, from a gang, lived right in back of you? Any normal person would.

    Secondly, I am familiar with this neighborhood the alleged killer was living in, and most of the houses on that street are rentals. It is just a simple fact.

    Thirdly, gangs are everywhere, and they particlarly prey in nice neighborhoods where the money is. My thought was that this should alert all citizens of Davis that we are not insulated from societal problems. That sort of thinking will get you dead.

    It means we need to take precautions, such as someone on this blog suggested – locking doors, get a dog, install a burglar alarm, become involved in neighborhood watch groups.

    And yes, maybe Davis needs more police officers. Too many in this town – and IMHO the Davis Enterprise tends to be complicit in this by literally minimizing crime in its pages – paint Davis as a perfect little town with bike theft as the most serious type of crime we can expect. If we have gang members in our midst, especially one that had a long criminal record who was in and out of jail, I don’t want to have a false sense of security.

    Obviously I hit a nerve, but I honestly think you took what I said incorrectly. Your interpretation is certainly not what was meant. Frankly, sometimes I find the need to be politically correct all the time, parsing every word carefully so as not to offend anyone, a bit daunting at times and almost impossible to achieve.

  27. To Gentrification: I understand where you are coming from (I think), but wouldn’t you be nervous if you discovered that an alleged killer, from a gang, lived right in back of you? Any normal person would.

    Secondly, I am familiar with this neighborhood the alleged killer was living in, and most of the houses on that street are rentals. It is just a simple fact.

    Thirdly, gangs are everywhere, and they particlarly prey in nice neighborhoods where the money is. My thought was that this should alert all citizens of Davis that we are not insulated from societal problems. That sort of thinking will get you dead.

    It means we need to take precautions, such as someone on this blog suggested – locking doors, get a dog, install a burglar alarm, become involved in neighborhood watch groups.

    And yes, maybe Davis needs more police officers. Too many in this town – and IMHO the Davis Enterprise tends to be complicit in this by literally minimizing crime in its pages – paint Davis as a perfect little town with bike theft as the most serious type of crime we can expect. If we have gang members in our midst, especially one that had a long criminal record who was in and out of jail, I don’t want to have a false sense of security.

    Obviously I hit a nerve, but I honestly think you took what I said incorrectly. Your interpretation is certainly not what was meant. Frankly, sometimes I find the need to be politically correct all the time, parsing every word carefully so as not to offend anyone, a bit daunting at times and almost impossible to achieve.

  28. To Gentrification: I understand where you are coming from (I think), but wouldn’t you be nervous if you discovered that an alleged killer, from a gang, lived right in back of you? Any normal person would.

    Secondly, I am familiar with this neighborhood the alleged killer was living in, and most of the houses on that street are rentals. It is just a simple fact.

    Thirdly, gangs are everywhere, and they particlarly prey in nice neighborhoods where the money is. My thought was that this should alert all citizens of Davis that we are not insulated from societal problems. That sort of thinking will get you dead.

    It means we need to take precautions, such as someone on this blog suggested – locking doors, get a dog, install a burglar alarm, become involved in neighborhood watch groups.

    And yes, maybe Davis needs more police officers. Too many in this town – and IMHO the Davis Enterprise tends to be complicit in this by literally minimizing crime in its pages – paint Davis as a perfect little town with bike theft as the most serious type of crime we can expect. If we have gang members in our midst, especially one that had a long criminal record who was in and out of jail, I don’t want to have a false sense of security.

    Obviously I hit a nerve, but I honestly think you took what I said incorrectly. Your interpretation is certainly not what was meant. Frankly, sometimes I find the need to be politically correct all the time, parsing every word carefully so as not to offend anyone, a bit daunting at times and almost impossible to achieve.

  29. To Rich Rifkin,
    I do agree with that we should wait for the trial to determine culpability. Do you think the accused person is not a norteno and not a lowlife mexican gang banger? What do you really think about his innocense or guilt. Do you remain neutral until the trial is over? Do you think he is a good person that just had a bad family life.

  30. To Rich Rifkin,
    I do agree with that we should wait for the trial to determine culpability. Do you think the accused person is not a norteno and not a lowlife mexican gang banger? What do you really think about his innocense or guilt. Do you remain neutral until the trial is over? Do you think he is a good person that just had a bad family life.

  31. To Rich Rifkin,
    I do agree with that we should wait for the trial to determine culpability. Do you think the accused person is not a norteno and not a lowlife mexican gang banger? What do you really think about his innocense or guilt. Do you remain neutral until the trial is over? Do you think he is a good person that just had a bad family life.

  32. To Rich Rifkin,
    I do agree with that we should wait for the trial to determine culpability. Do you think the accused person is not a norteno and not a lowlife mexican gang banger? What do you really think about his innocense or guilt. Do you remain neutral until the trial is over? Do you think he is a good person that just had a bad family life.

  33. Obviously, I’m not Rich Rifkin, but I would suggest regardless of what he is, he is still entitled to due process.

    After that, he should get whatever sentence is handed down to him.

    I’m confused as to what more you want?

  34. Obviously, I’m not Rich Rifkin, but I would suggest regardless of what he is, he is still entitled to due process.

    After that, he should get whatever sentence is handed down to him.

    I’m confused as to what more you want?

  35. Obviously, I’m not Rich Rifkin, but I would suggest regardless of what he is, he is still entitled to due process.

    After that, he should get whatever sentence is handed down to him.

    I’m confused as to what more you want?

  36. Obviously, I’m not Rich Rifkin, but I would suggest regardless of what he is, he is still entitled to due process.

    After that, he should get whatever sentence is handed down to him.

    I’m confused as to what more you want?

  37. All our prayers go out to the family he left behind, but none more than his wife and three girls. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

  38. All our prayers go out to the family he left behind, but none more than his wife and three girls. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

  39. All our prayers go out to the family he left behind, but none more than his wife and three girls. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

  40. All our prayers go out to the family he left behind, but none more than his wife and three girls. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.

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