Yuma County Sheriff’s Office Fallen Officer

 
Sr. Deputy Michael Meyer

Sr. Deputy Sheriff Michael Benjamin Meyer

End of Watch: Monday, August 13, 2001
Tour of Duty: 3 years, 4 months; Reserve Deputy-1 year

Gravesite: Desert Lawn Memorial Park - Garden of Peace, Section C, Lot 4, Space 7

 
 

Senior Deputy Michael Benjamin Meyer was killed in the line of duty the afternoon of Monday, August 13, 2001 in a single-car rollover accident when his patrol truck hydroplaned during a brief but heavy rain storm.

On August 13, 2001 at approximately 2:25 p.m., the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office received a 9-1-1 call stating there had been an accident involving a Sheriff’s Office patrol vehicle at milepost 54 on U.S. Highway 95, about 50 miles northeast of Yuma. Emergency units from the Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) Security Police and the YPG Fire Department responded to the scene where they discovered that a single vehicle had traveled off the roadway and rolled over. The driver and sole occupant, Senior Deputy Michael Meyer, was still seat-belted in his patrol vehicle when found by motorists who immediately called for assistance. Senior Deputy Meyer was pronounced dead at the accident scene.

The accident investigation, which was conducted by the Arizona Department of Public Safety, revealed that Senior Deputy Meyer had been northbound on U.S. Highway 95 at milepost 53 when he encountered a storm cell consisting of heavy rain and high winds. The heavy rain caused puddling of water on the roadway, causing Meyer’s patrol truck to hydroplane. The investigation also revealed that Meyer’s patrol truck rolled approximately two and one-quarter times before coming to a final rest on its right side.

 

Senior Deputy Michael Meyer joined the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff on April 19, 1998 after serving 20 years with the United States Marine Corps, retiring as a Gunnery Sergeant. His last duty station was the Marine Corp Air Station-Yuma where he was assigned as an instructor and crew chief with the Marine Aviation Weapons Tactics Squadron 1 for the CH46 SeaKnight. Meyer attended the Law Enforcement Training Academy at Arizona Western College and received his peace officer certification in 1997. He served as a Reserve Deputy with the Sheriff’s Office during his last year of active duty.

Meyer was assigned to the Water Safety Division (Boat Patrol) on January 24, 1999, which meant he was often out on the water patrolling the area’s lakes and rivers. He was also a boating instructor. Meyer was promoted to the rank of Senior Deputy on April 15, 2001 and took charge of the Boat Patrol.

Senior Deputy Meyer was dedicated to his work and his performance did not go unnoticed. On November 1, 1997, Meyer received the “Reserve Officer Rookie of the Year” award during the YCSO 11th Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet. He also received the Patrol Officer of the Quarter award for the months of April-June 2000, and January-March 2001. Meyer was selected by his peers to receive the 2001 “Patrol Officer of the Year” award (posthumously) along with another fellow officer. The award was presented to his family on February 22, 2002, during the YCSO 15th Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet.

At the time of his death, Senior Deputy Meyer had been with the Sheriff’s Office for a little over 4 years (3 years and 4 months as a Deputy Sheriff, and one year as a Reserve Deputy). Northern Yuma County was a regular patrol assignment for Senior Deputy Meyer, who was ever aware of the changing desert conditions. A heavy storm was blowing through the area and it was Senior Deputy Meyer’s habit to check the washes and the roads for flooding and damage on such occasions.

Senior Deputy Meyer, 40 years old, was survived by his wife, Penny; sons Jacob, and Wayne; and daughters Charlene, Francine, and Kathlene.

Following are news articles regarding the death of Senior Deputy Meyer:

 
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