The Sacramento Police Department recently marked a somber anniversary for one of their own. It was 26 years ago, on February 9, 1999, that Officer William "Bill" Bean, Jr. met a tragic end while bravely performing his duties. The department used a social media post to commemorate the fallen officer, reminding the community of the loss it suffered and the heroism Bean displayed that night.
According to the department's recollection, the last time a Sacramento officer had fallen to gun violence had been a long 25 years earlier. But that streak tragically came to end when Bean and his partner, attempting to conduct a routine traffic stop at Rio Linda Boulevard and Grand Avenue, touched off a chain of events that would ultimately take his life. The suspect, upon being asked to show identification, chose instead to flee, leading to a car chase that ended at Knightlinger Street and South Avenue when the suspect's vehicle became disabled. Officer Bean, in hot pursuit, was quick to exit the patrol car, but the fleeing suspect turned and opened fire, striking him. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Officer Bean did not survive the confrontation.
The manhunt that ensued that evening eventually resulted in the arrest of the suspect. Justice followed when in October 2003, the perpetrator was convicted of second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Before joining the Sacramento Police Department in 1995, Bean had served as a deputy with the Placer County Sheriff's Department, dedicating his career to the protection of his community. "It had been a quarter of a century since a Sacramento Police Officer had been gunned down," reflected the department in the post.
