Reserve (Auxiliary) Deputy Patten was shot while working a roadblock on Casitas Pass Road. The suspects in a $150 liquor store robbery shot Patten to avoid being caught. The three suspects were caught in Bakersfield six days later and prosecuted. Bruce was a full-time history teacher at Ventura High School. His students described him as a teacher you liked to work with. He donated many hours to improve his patrol skills, and served the children in the community as a Cub Scout Master.