Memorial service to be held for fallen sheriff's deputy

Community members and fellow law enforcement officers will join together Friday to honor the memory of Deputy Jim Mathiesen, a nine-year veteran of the Marin County Sheriff’s Department

SAN RAFAEL – Community members and fellow law enforcement officers will join together Friday to honor the memory of Deputy Jim Mathiesen, a nine-year veteran of the Marin County Sheriff’s Department. Mathiesen was shot and killed during a July 19 altercation in Petaluma.

The deputy was off-duty at the time, and had been offering guidance to a family friend regarding threats from her former boyfriend, Thomas Edwin Halloran. According to press reports, Halloran, 28, arrived on the scene and gunned down the unarmed Deputy Mathiesen, a 49-year-old father of two. Halloran was then himself fatally shot by his ex-girlfriend’s brother. News coverage indicated that Halloran had taken his ex-girlfriend’s mother hostage.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department is conducting an investigation into the tragic encounter. According to a Press-Democrat story, Halloran was the subject of two restraining orders stemming from previous relationships, and was prohibited from possessing firearms.

In a press release, Undersheriff Timothy Little was quoted as telling fellow employees of the Marin County Sheriff’s Department “our focus needs to be on taking care of the family Jim left behind, and that includes Jim’s Sheriff’s Office family as well.”

A public memorial service for Deputy Mathiesen will take place at the Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium at 11 a.m. Friday, July 29.

The Marin County Deputy Sheriff’s Association has created a trust fund for the Mathiesen family. Donations should be directed to Mathiesen Trust Fund c/o The Marin County Federal Credit Union, 30 North San Pedro Road, Suite 115, San Rafael, CA 94903.

Marin County Sheriff Bob Doyle said in a press release that Mathiesen “was known for his kindness and his helpful nature.”