Sheriff deputy convicted of staging drive-by shooting

For release on January 16, 2024

CONTACT: 
Jason Malinsky
Deputy District Attorney
Public and Law Enforcement Integrity Unit
(408) 792-2428

Sheriff deputy convicted of staging drive-by shooting

A former Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputy was convicted today of making up a mysterious drive-by in which he was shot near Morgan Hill.

Sukhdeep Gill, now 30-years-old, was not injured and - as it turned out - had not been shot four years ago, contradicting the story he told investigators that a single bullet fired from a passing car precisely struck his body-worn camera.

The court, over the People’s objection, reduced Gill’s felony vandalism charge to a misdemeanor. Gill pleaded to that reduced charge and the crime of false report of an emergency in exchange for the court’s offer of 150 hours of community service, payment of restitution, and the surrender of Gill’s certification to the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training. This permanently prevents Gill from acting as a peace officer in California.

“I have gone to officers’ funerals after they are shot,” District Attorney Jeff Rosen said. “I hope to never hear again about an officer faking being shot. It’s outrageous, diverts public resources, and dishonors officers who put their lives on the line to protect us.” 

At approximately 10:32 p.m., on Jan. 31, 2020, the deputy hit the emergency broadcast button on his department issued radio and broadcast, “Shots fired! Shots fired!” Officers responded from the Sheriff’s Office as well as the San Jose, Morgan Hill, and Gilroy police departments.

Gill told the first officer on scene that he had parked on the dirt shoulder to urinate during a routine patrol. While walking back towards the driver side of his patrol car he was shot at by the passenger in a silver sedan that had turned off its lights as it approached him. The deputy said he fired two shots towards the suspect vehicle, which fled on Uvas Road.

An investigation found evidence, including ballistics, that exposed serious discrepancies in the deputy’s account.                                           

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