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Saturday May 18, 2024

Bizarre suicides of four Los Angeles Sheriff's officials within two days spark controversy

Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office is yet to confirm the exact causes of death

By Web Desk
November 12, 2023
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna speaks during a press to announce an arrest in the ambush killing of sheriffs deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer Monday, September 18, 2023, in Palmdale, California.—AFP
Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna speaks during a press to announce an arrest in the ambush killing of sheriff's deputy Ryan Clinkunbroomer Monday, September 18, 2023, in Palmdale, California.—AFP 

In a tragic turn of events, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department faced a sombre ordeal as four present or former employees were discovered dead within 48 hours on Monday and Tuesday.

Authorities are currently probing the deaths as suicides, and although the incidents are independent of each other, they have ignited controversy within the department.

The series of unfortunate events began with the discovery of a captain deceased at his Saugus residence on Monday morning, followed by the later revelation of a retired deputy's death in the Antelope Valley on the same day.

Furthermore, a custody assistant, identified as a jail official, was found lifeless in the Santa Clarita area on Monday. The distressing sequence continued into early Tuesday, with a deputy employed in a jail found unresponsive at home, eventually pronounced dead at a Pomona hospital.

While all the cases are being treated as suicides, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office is yet to confirm the exact causes of death. As a gesture of respect for the grieving families, the sheriff's office has refrained from disclosing the names of the deceased individuals.

The department conveyed profound sorrow over the losses, emphasising the emotional shockwaves reverberating throughout the entire department family.

Sheriff Robert Luna expressed the deep impact of losing not just one but four cherished members of their team, highlighting the collective struggle to come to terms with these tragic events.