Project 999, which helps support the survivors of peace officers killed in the line of duty, is one of the Orange County charities that benefit from United Way contributions.

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Deputy Mark Tonkin, an eight year veteran of the Sheriff-Coroner Department, lost his life in a helicopter crash on Monday night, October 24, 1988, while assigned to DESERT RANGER, a multi-agency cooperative narcotic enforcement program in the state. Mark was one of eight victims aboard a California National Guard UH1H Huey Helicopter which went down and burned in mountainous terrain near El Centro, California.

Other members of the narcotic team on the ill-fated mission were two deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, one each from Riverside County and the Imperial County Sheriff's Departments, and three officers from the California National Guard. Operation DESERT RANGER has, in the past, involved personnel from the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs, Border Patrol, San Bernardino County Sheriff and San Diego County Sheriff.

Deputy Tonkin joined the department on August 21, 1981. He was initially assigned to the Main Jail upon completing basic training. He worked a short time as a court bailiff and then assigned to North Patrol. Deputy Tonkin was assigned to the Career Criminal Apprehension Team in January of 1988.

To see the 1988 Department Bulletin that reported his death click: tonkin.pdf (1.23 mb)  

The Orange County Register reported his death this way:

8 officers killed in copter crash
Orange County deputy among group involved in a drug-fighting mission
October 25, 1988

Byline:   James V. Grimaldi; Edward Humes

The Register

An Orange County Sheriff's deputy, three local National Guardsmen and four other law-enforcement officers were killed Monday night when an Army National Guard helicopter from Los Alamitos crashed during a drug-fighting mission near the Mexican border. More...

The number of felonious line-of-duty deaths for law enforcement officers reached 41 in 2008, the lowest number of the decade.  It included three California law enforcement officers.

To see the full report click here.

The FBI report on the statistics gave this information on the slain officers:  

Felonious Deaths

The 41 felonious line-of-duty deaths took place during 38 separate incidents. All 38 incidents have been cleared by arrest or exceptional means. The felonious deaths occurred in 19 states. The number of officers feloniously killed in 2008 decreased by 17 compared with the 2007 figure (58 officers). The five and ten year comparisons also showed decreases in the number of felonious deaths, down 16 from the 2004 number (57 officers) and a decrease of one from the 1999 total (42 officers).

Officer Profiles: Among the officers who were feloniously killed, the average age was 39 years. The victim officers had served in law enforcement for an average of 10 years at the time of the fatal incidents. Thirty-seven of the victim officers were male and four were female. Thirty of the officers were white, nine were black, and one was American Indian/Alaskan Native. Race information was not reported for one of the victims.

Circumstances: Of the 41 officers feloniously killed, nine of the slain officers were involved in arrest situations; eight were performing traffic stops; seven were investigating suspicious persons/circumstances; seven were involved in tactical situations (e.g., high-risk entry); six were ambushed; two were performing investigative duties; one was handling, transporting, or maintaining custody of a prisoner; and one was answering a disturbance call.

Weapons: Offenders used firearms to kill 35 of the 41 victim officers. Of these 35 officers, 25 were slain with handguns, six with rifles, and four with shotguns. Four officers were killed with vehicles that were used as weapons, and two officers died from injuries as a result of a bomb.

Region: Twenty of the felonious deaths occurred in the South, nine in the West, nine in the Midwest, and three in the Northeast.

Suspects: Law enforcement agencies identified 42 alleged assailants in connection with the 41 felonious line-of-duty deaths. Thirty-six of the assailants had prior criminal records, and eleven of the assailants were under judicial supervision at the time of the felonious incidents. Five of the offenders had received a juvenile conviction on a prior criminal charge

Matthew R. Davis was born in Porterville, California on August 1, 1964. He grew up in Corona, California and graduated from Corona High School in 1982. He attended Riverside Community College and graduated with an Associate of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice in 1984.

Matt joined the Orange County Sheriff's Department in 1986 as a Deputy Sheriff Trainee. He graduated from the Sheriff's Basic Academy and was assigned to the Theo Lacy Branch Jail. Two years later he was promoted to the rank of Deputy II and in 1990 Matt transferred to the South Operations Division.

While working patrol, Matt became a member of the Major Accident Reconstruction Team (M.A.R.T.). After a few years of working patrol, Matt was assigned to Commercial Vehicle Enforcement in the City of Laguna Niguel. In 1994, Matt successfully passed Motorcycle Enforcement Training and was selected as a Motor Officer in the City of Mission Viejo, he was also a motor training officer.

Matt received numerous citizen commendations from the community and was honored by Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) for his continual efforts in the enforcement of drunk driver offenders.

In 1999, Matt was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was assigned to the Theo Lacy Branch Jail. In 2000, Matt transferred to the South Operations Division as a Motor Sergeant.

On the afternoon of Friday, September 20, 2002, tragedy struck the family of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. While on duty, in the City of Mission Viejo Sergeant Matt Davis was involved in a traffic collision. Matt was traveling southbound on his motorcycle on Marguerite Parkway approaching the intersection of La Sierra Drive. Suddenly, a vehicle trying to make a left turn onto northbound Marguerite Parkway pulled out into Sergeant Davis' lane causing the two vehicles to collide.

Matt fought vigilantly for two days, and despite heroic medical efforts, succumbed to his injuries on September 22, 2002.

Matt will always be remembered not only as a friend, but also as a hero. He always maintained a friendly, professional, and business like demeanor as he dealt with his co-workers and members of the community he served.

Matt is survived by his wife and three children and his parents.