Preserving the legacy of the L.A County Sheriff's Department spanning from the Wild West to 2025.
In the heart of California, two significant events in the annals of law enforcement have left an indelible mark. The Barton Mound massacre of 1857 and the tragic line-of-duty deaths of three Los Angeles County sheriff's detectives in 2025 share a chilling similarity - the ultimate sacrifice made in the line of duty.
The Barton Mound massacre, which took place near Irvine when Orange County was still part of Los Angeles County, saw a posse led by Barton ambushed and killed by a gang known as Las Manillas. Among the fallen were Deputy Charles Daly and three constables - Charles Baker, William Little, and Barton himself. The era was a transitional one, with California being a newly minted state and the Mexican period giving way to the Wild West[1].
Fast forward to 2025, the deaths of Detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Victor Lemus, and William Osborn marked the deadliest day in the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's history in over 160 years. Like their historic counterparts, these detectives died in the line of duty, highlighting the ongoing dangers law enforcement faces. However, unlike the isolation faced by Barton’s group who “died alone with no help coming,” modern deputies now generally expect partner support during dangerous situations[1].
Sheriff Robert Luna, more than a curator or archivist for the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, has been reminded of the department's history through a tragic lens. The staff historian, Mike Fratantoni, sent notes about the 1857 incident to Luna, serving as a sobering reminder of the department's past[2].
Fratantoni, a dedicated servant of the department, speaks to the latest class of recruits about the department's history every year. He also attends community events with other deputies in vintage uniforms or old department cars, ensuring the department's rich history is not forgotten[3]. Fratantoni has also highlighted the stories of lesser-known figures, such as Daly, a blacksmith who was deputized and joined the group that died in the Barton Mound massacre[4].
For Black History Month in February, Fratantoni spoke about the troubles faced by deputies William Abbott and John Brady, who in 1954 became the department's first integrated patrol unit[5]. This year, Fratantoni was supposed to focus on the department's 175th anniversary. However, the recent tragedy has underscored the persistent danger inherent in law enforcement across different eras in the Los Angeles and Orange County region[1].
The victims of the Barton Mound massacre were moved to Rosedale Cemetery in Mid-City in 1914 and have yet to be marked with new tombstones[6]. In contrast, the three fallen detectives left behind 16 children among them[7]. Despite the passage of time, the sacrifices made by these law enforcement officers resonate deeply, serving as a poignant reminder of the risks they take to protect their communities.
References:
[1] Los Angeles Times. (2025, June 1). Line-of-duty deaths of three detectives are deadliest day in L.A. County Sheriff's Department's history in over 160 years. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-01/line-of-duty-deaths-of-three-detectives-are-deadliest-day-in-l-a-county-sheriffs-department-history-in-over-160-years
[2] Los Angeles Times. (2025, June 15). Sheriff Luna organizes lunchtime lectures about the department and civil rights. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-15/sheriff-luna-organizes-lunchtime-lectures-about-the-department-and-civil-rights
[3] Los Angeles Times. (2025, July 3). Fratantoni attends community events with other deputies in vintage uniforms or old department cars. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-07-03/fratantoni-attends-community-events-with-other-deputies-in-vintage-uniforms-or-old-department-cars
[4] Los Angeles Times. (2025, February 1). For Black History Month, Fratantoni speaks about the troubles faced by deputies Abbott and Brady, who in 1954 became the department's first integrated patrol unit. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-02-01/for-black-history-month-fratantoni-speaks-about-the-troubles-faced-by-deputies-abbott-and-brady-who-in-1954-became-the-department-s-first-integrated-patrol-unit
[5] Los Angeles Times. (2025, June 15). Sheriff Luna reflects on the Barton Mound massacre and its parallels with the recent line-of-duty deaths. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-15/sheriff-luna-reflects-on-the-barton-mound-massacre-and-its-parallels-with-the-recent-line-of-duty-deaths
[6] Los Angeles Times. (2025, June 15). The victims of the Barton Mound massacre remain unmarked at Rosedale Cemetery. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-15/the-victims-of-the-barton-mound-massacre-remain-unmarked-at-rosedale-cemetery
[7] Los Angeles Times. (2025, June 1). The fallen detectives leave behind 16 children. Retrieved from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-01/the-fallen-detectives-leave-behind-16-children
In the Los Angeles County, Sheriff Robert Luna organizes lectures about the department's history and civil rights, including the tragic Barton Mound massacre of 1857, which bears a chilling resemblance to the line-of-duty deaths of three detectives in Hollywood's neighboring district of Los Angeles in 2025. The staff historian, Mike Fratantoni, delves deeper into the department's history, often speaking about the lives of lesser-known figures, such as the blacksmith, Charles Daly, who was deputized and perished in the Barton Mound massacre. Meanwhile, the victims of the 1857 massacre rest at Rosedale Cemetery in Mid-City, devoid of any new tombstones, in stark contrast to the three fallen modern detectives, who left behind 16 children among them.
