On July 13, 1978, Deputy Machado was shot and killed with his own service weapon during a struggle with an escaped mental patient in Auburn. With the help of citizens who witnessed the shooting, officers from the California Highway Patrol and an Auburn Police sergeant quickly located the suspect near Interstate 80 and Highway 49. When the suspect confronted the officers with Deputy Machado’s service weapon, the officers fired several shotgun rounds at the suspect. The suspect was killed. Law enforcement officers from throughout the state attended the funeral of Deputy Machado.

In 2008 Deputy Machado was posthumously awarded the Placer County Sheriff’s Purple Heart. James had served the Sheriff’s Office for four years. He was survived by his wife, Nancy, and three young children; Jim, 7; Joy, 3; and Jeanne, 1.

Deputy Machado’s family will be flying in from numerous states, along with his son who serves in the military. The adjacent business is going to clear space and make room for the unveiling. After the dedication ceremony, family, friends and former co-workers are invited to the Auburn Justice Center to visit and have refreshments. The project was paid for by the Placer County Deputy Sheriffs’ Association, the Placer County Sheriff’s Council and the Placer 10-35 Foundation.