Joseph James DeAngelo and the Exeter Police Department: Employment Connection

Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., identified as the Golden State Killer, was employed as a police officer with the Exeter Police Department in Tulare County, California, from 1973 to 1976. This verified connection places DeAngelo in a position of authority during the early years of his criminal activities, which spanned from 1974 to 1986 and included at least 13 murders, 50 rapes, and over 120 burglaries across California. His role in law enforcement has been a focal point in understanding how he evaded capture for over four decades until his identification through forensic genealogy in 2018.

Timeline and Nature of the Relationship

DeAngelo began his employment with the Exeter Police Department on January 1, 1973, serving as a sworn officer until 1976. During this period, the nearby city of Visalia experienced a wave of over 100 burglaries attributed to an individual dubbed the Visalia Ransacker. Law enforcement and investigators have since linked DeAngelo to these crimes, marking them as some of his earliest known offenses. His tenure at Exeter overlapped directly with the start of his criminal spree, which later escalated to sexual assaults and murders under the monikers East Area Rapist and Original Night Stalker. In 1976, DeAngelo transferred to the Auburn Police Department, where he continued his law enforcement career until his termination in 1979 for shoplifting.

Evidence and Significance to the Golden State Killer Case

The connection between DeAngelo and the Exeter Police Department is substantiated by employment records and historical documentation of his service in Tulare County. His position as a police officer provided him with knowledge of law enforcement tactics, access to restricted information, and potentially the ability to avoid suspicion during his early crimes. This background is considered a critical factor in his ability to operate undetected for years, as he likely used his training to cover his tracks and evade investigation. The proximity of Exeter to Visalia, where the Ransacker crimes occurred, further supports the timeline of his offending while employed. DeAngelo's eventual identification in 2018 via DNA evidence and forensic genealogy revealed the full extent of his crimes, and his guilty plea in June 2020 to multiple charges confirmed his identity as the Golden State Killer. His employment in law enforcement remains a chilling aspect of the case, highlighting vulnerabilities in oversight and the potential for abuse of authority.