On February 8, 1989, Deputy Ted Beckmann died when a cargo truck crossed the center dividing line on a roadway in Bonsall, striking Deputy Beckmann’s patrol car head-on. Deputy Beckmann was responding to cover a fellow deputy on a burglary-in-progress call when the accident occurred. Detective James Rhem, riding with Beckmann, was hospitalized for injuries.
Born in San Francisco, Deputy Beckmann graduated from Vista High School in 1972 and joined the US Navy. After a tour of duty in Vietnam, Deputy Beckmann became a civilian helicopter mechanic for the Navy. His life-long dream, however, was to become a law enforcement officer. The dream became a reality in 1980 when Beckmann was appointed a Deputy Sheriff for San Diego County.
Deputy Beckmann enjoyed a distinguished career. In 1985, he was awarded a Medal of Merit for his work on a special detail that resulted in the apprehension of suspects in a string of burglaries in the Vista area. In 1988, Deputy Beckmann was commended for single-handedly disarming a suspect who was holding Fallbrook Hospital staff members at gunpoint in the emergency room.
Deputy Beckmann was known as a loyal friend to many inside and outside the Sheriff’s Office. His colleagues praised him as a courageous and professional Deputy who would stand his ground, support his partners, and lighten a tense situation with a joke and a smile. Deputy Beckmann gave unselfishly of himself, putting his heart and soul into the protection of his family and the community. Deputy Beckmann was survived by two sons, Ted and Steve. Today, his legacy lives on in an academic scholarship awarded to the children of Sheriff’s Deputies.
End of Watch
February 8, 1989
Service Tenure
8 years
Age
35