Father and son killed in the line of duty 26 years apart

One of two officers killed in Sacramento Friday has ties to Riverside County. Michael Davis Jr.’s father worked with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department three decades ago and like his son, also died in the line of duty.

Retired Riverside County Sheriff’s Officer Rick Kothlow remembers the good times with his friend and fellow officer Michael Davis. The two lived in La Quinta and had sons around the same age. Davis and Kothlow were like brothers.

“We made a pact together. If something happened between the two, one of us would take care of the others’ family,” said Kothlow.

On the night of October 24th, 1988, Kothlow had to keep that promise. Davis Senior died in a helicopter crash in the mountains above imperial county during a drug raid.

“We went up to Mike’s door in Indio, Sandy came up, saw the three of us there, and it was a typical movie scenario. She saw us, knew immediately and she fell to the ground,” said Kothlow.

When Davis’ wife Sandy collapsed, Kothlow turned to her son Michael Davis Junior.

“Michael Junior came to the door and let us in and we separated and let them know what was going on,” said Kothlow.

Davis Junior followed in his fathers’ footsteps, becoming a Sheriff’s investigator Placer County.

“We’re all the sort of type that can’t do a 9 to 5 job. We need to be able to go out in the community, and some people run away from the gunfire. Some people run towards the fire,” said Kothlow.

Friday, 42-year-old Michael Davis Junior ran toward the gunfire.

He was zeroing in on a suspect in the Sacramento area who had just killed another officer in a rampage when Davis Jr. was shot and killed. It was 26 years to the day his father also died in the line of duty.

“What are the odds? What really are the odds that a father and son should die on the same day 26 years apart?” said Kothlow.

While it’s hard to dust off the old photos and relive the pain, Kothlow says there’s some sort of peace in knowing father and son are together again.

“I think that somewhere they are meeting right now and probably having a beer or two,” said Kothlow.

The two suspects in Davis’s shooting have been booked into Sacramento County Jail.

The shootings covered six crime scenes scattered across 30 miles.

Thirty-four-year-old Marcelo Marquez was being held on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and carjacking.

A woman who was with him, 38-year-old Janelle Marquez Monroy, was held on suspicion of attempted murder and carjacking.

Two sheriff’s deputies including Davis were killed, another was wounded. A bystander is also recovering in the hospital.