Officer Thomas J. Steiner

Officer Thomas J. Steiner was gunned down in front of a Pomona courthouse. Steiner had finished testifying in a series of traffic cases and was walking to his car. As he was about to cross the street, a car stopped, the driver got out, leaned over the hood, yelled obscenities at Steiner and fired four shots. The killer then got back into his vehicle and sped away. Steiner was struck twice in the chest and once in the head. He was transported to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center where he died several hours later from the gunshot wound to the head. The suspected killer, a 16-year-old gang member, was apprehended by the Pomona Police Department the next morning. He said he wanted to kill a cop and was bragging about the killing when he was taken into custody. Steiner was 35 years old. During his cadet training, he was the outstanding marksman in his class. He graduated from the CHP Academy April 23, 1999 and had been assigned to the Santa Fe Springs Area since graduation.