Sheriff’s Department Investigates Recent Suicide Deaths of 1 Retired, 3 Current Employees

LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Nov. 8 (KNN) — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is grieving the loss of one retired and three current employees found deceased hours apart over two days prompting an investigation by the Sheriff’s Homicide Bureau.

The four suicide deaths included one retired and three current members of the department, according to the Sheriff’s Information Bureau (SIB).

Homicide Bureau detectives responded to the first employee death on Monday, Nov. 6, at approximately 10:30 a.m. in Valencia, reported the SIB in a statement.

The second death occurred in the afternoon at 12:53 p.m. in Lancaster, according to the SIB.

LASD deputies from the Lancaster Station responded to a report of shots fired on the 5100 block of West Rela Way. Upon arrival, a male adult was found deceased in the backyard of the location suffering from a single gunshot wound.

The Los Angeles Fire Department was on scene and immediately administered lifesaving techniques, however, the male adult was pronounced deceased on scene. He was later identified as a retired LASD Sergeant of Lancaster Station.

Key News Network video in this report shows the response by the department to the death at the Lancaster location.

Later Monday evening at 5:40 p.m., the LASD Homicide Bureau responded to the third death located in Stevenson Ranch. Then on Tuesday, Nov. 7, at approximately 7:30 a.m., homicide detectives responded to another death of a current employee to a local hospital in the city of Pomona, said the SIB in a statement.

“Out of respect for their grieving families we will not be disclosing the names of the employees at this time. Homicide detectives and the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner will continue to investigate each incident independently,” the SIB stated.

The sheriff had also made a statement regarding this tragic loss to the department.

“Our LASD family has experienced a significant amount of loss and tragedies this year,” said Sheriff Robert Luna. “We are stunned to learn of these deaths, and it has sent shockwaves of emotions throughout the department as we try and cope with the loss of not just one, but four beloved active and retired members of our department family. During trying times like these it’s important for personnel regardless of rank or position to check on the well-being of other colleagues and friends. I have the deepest concern for our employee’s well-being, and we are urgently exploring avenues to reduce work stress factors to support our employees work and personal lives.”

Anthony Cheval, Video Journalist / KNN