For many years, The Patriot Post has published an End of Watch memorial page, image tributes honoring every law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty. Having served four years as a uniformed officer early in my career, these tributes reflect a fraternal brotherhood and deep respect for the men and women on that thin blue line.

The last time I wrote about the murder of a police officer in California was two years ago, after Los Angeles DA George Gascon released a felony offender who then killed two officers.

At the time, LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, a strong critic of Gascon, protested: “Gascon’s policies have grave consequences. Unfortunately, it’s the innocent person who pays the price. In this case, two cops are just doing their jobs. George Gascon’s self-proclaimed ‘science-driven’ reforms have eviscerated the entire architecture of our justice system and mock the oath of office he took. His reforms victimize our victims even more after the tragedies they suffered. Not even peace officers are safe from his science experiments.”

Last weekend, a third generation law enforcement officer, LA County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, was murdered by a sociopathic assailant, as he was stopped at a traffic light outside the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station. He was 30 years old, following in the blue line tradition of his father and grandfather.

His suspected murderer has been captured.

Those leftists, whose policies most directly have enabled the culture of violence that cost Deputy Clinkunbroomer his life, issued their statements of “regret” with no sense of their abject hypocrisy.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said: “In this time of mourning, we honor this legacy and send our deepest sympathies to Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s fiancée, his loved ones, and the men and women of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Deputy Clinkunbroomer’s devotion to community and country will never be forgotten.”

DA Gascon asserted: “I extend my deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of Deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer, who made the ultimate sacrifice last night in the line of duty. We mourn the loss of a dedicated and courageous deputy, whose unwavering commitment to upholding the law and ensuring the safety of our community will never be forgotten. We stand united with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and all of our law enforcement community in this time of profound grief, and we will tirelessly pursue justice for Deputy Clinkunbroomer.”

There were no words of condemnation for Gascon and Newsom from their lap dog, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna, who succeeded Sheriff Villanueva in 2022. For his part, Luna said: “Our hearts go out to his family. We cannot fully understand their pain, but we will stand with them in solidarity and support them during this difficult time. They deserve unwavering compassion, and we will do everything in our power to provide them with assistance and care.”

If Luna was truly committed to stand with his deputy’s family and all of his other deputies, much less the people of California he has sworn to protect, he would have done what his predecessor did and call out Gascon and Newsom for creating the lawless culture where the ambush/murder of this young deputy was deemed justifiable by his assailant.

Notably AWOL was leftist cop-hating Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, who was apparently too busy worrying about her “sanctuary city” being overrun by illegal immigrants, and the deadly “fentanyl crisis” they have brought with them.

The extent of California’s cultural and social debauchery under Newsom and Gascon was exemplified in this one violent act.

Ryan’s family issued this statement: “Our son Ryan was a dedicated, hard-working Deputy Sheriff, who enjoyed working here at the Palmdale Station. He was proud to work along the side of his partners, that he considered brothers and sisters as he sacrificed daily to better the community that he served. Ryan made the ultimate sacrifice in doing so.”

I ask for your prayers for his family, friends, and his fellow law enforcement officers.