EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. — Deputy Brian Ishmael, a four-year veteran with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office, was tragically shot and killed on Wednesday morning responding to a call regarding someone stealing from a marijuana garden, Sheriff John D'Agostini confirmed.
An off-duty San Joaquin County Sheriff's deputy was also in the car at the time and was also shot, but has since been released from the hospital.
ABC10's Keristen Holmes reached out to Chaplain Mindi Russell, Senior Chaplain with the Sacramento Law Enforcement Chaplaincy with the Sacramento Police Department, to talk about mourning this loss and what people can do to express their condolences.
Holmes: First of all, I wanted to ask you, what does the department go through when something like this happens, internally, how it that?
Russell: Well right now, they're on autopilot and they're going to get the bad guys and find out if there's anything else in danger. So, while they put that on hold, there's still that pain of grief and great loss. It's way to frequent here in Sacramento County and El Dorado County, so they're having to revisit all those painful things that they haven't even healed from in the last two years.
Holmes: Yeah, we were talking about that, and you know this keeps happening. I think LA Peace Officers Association said there have been more than 70 police killed — police officers and law enforcement, because you know those are deputies too — in the line of duty this year. People are pouring in with condolences. Everyone wants to do something to help. What can the average Joe out there do to help out if they see or encounter a law enforcement official in this time?
Russell: So these are the people that we love and we know that they love the officers, so they are the ones that we are going to count on to show their support. Swam the area with blue ribbons. When you see an officer, it doesn't matter if you knew them personally or not, that officer, it's still part of the blue family, so go up and express your condolences. Send cards. Send flowers. Get your children involved. Let them know how important this is because it's not just a department, it's a whole nation that bleeds today.
Holmes: Oh, wow, that is... I got chills when you said that. Thank you so much for painting that picture and taking time out of your morning to hang out with us this morning.
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The statistic Holmes cites in this interview is from the Los Angeles County Professional Peace Officers Association. The association reported early on Wednesday that Deputy Ishmael represents the 81st officer to die in the line of duty this year, nationwide.
Deputy Ishmael is survived by his wife and three children. In solidarity, his former high school, Ponderosa High School, has lowered their flag to half-staff. Gov. Gavin Newsom also ordered flags at state buildings to be flown at half-staff in honor of the fallen deputy.
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