Holly MatkinEl Dorado Hills, CA – El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office (EDCSO) Deputy Austin Ramsey died from an apparent suicide on Oct. 14.
The 25-year-old deputy’s body was discovered inside his home, the EDCSO said in a Facebook post later in the day.
“It is with very heavy hearts that we report the tragic loss of one of our own,” the agency said. “This morning, deputies responded to the home of an El Dorado County Sheriff’s Deputy who was found deceased from an apparent suicide.”
The EDCSO said Deputy Ramsey was a dedicated deputy who served his community for 18 months.
“Please keep the Deputy, his family, and our agency in your thoughts and prayers,” the sheriff’s office said. “We also ask that you please respect that family’s privacy through this extremely difficult time.”
Deputy Ramsey was a U.S. Army Ranger and combat veteran who served in Afghanistan prior to joining the EDCSO, according to a fundraising page established to help his family in the wake of their loss.
“He had recently started his career with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office and was fulfilling a lifelong goal of working in law enforcement, following in his father’s footsteps,” the page read. “Sadly Austin’s life of service was cut short.”
Deputy Ramsey was a devoted friend, wonderful brother, and a loving son, according to the fundraising page.
Donations above and beyond the expense of Deputy Ramsey’s funeral costs will be donated to a nonprofit organization, “22 Until Valhalla,” which seeks to help prevent military veteran suicides.
The page has raised over $51,000 so far.
Deputy Ramsey will be laid to rest on Wednesday, according to a post on the El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office’s Facebook page.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Austin Ramsey, both blood and blue. Thank you for your service.
Rest easy, hero. We’ll hold the line from here.
Sandy Malone
