Shortly after 11:00am on March 17, 2025, Deputy Hector Cuevas, Jr. initiated a pursuit of a stolen vehicle that had been reported to the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department just minutes earlier. Almost immediately after initiating the pursuit, Deputy Sheriff Cuevas’ vehicle collided with another car and then a nearby power pole at the intersection of El Evado and Seneca Roads in Victorville.

Tragically, Deputy Cuevas was critically injured in the traffic collision and, although first responders rushed to administer aid, he was pronounced deceased at the scene.  The driver of the other vehicle was transported to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. 
  
The driver of the stolen vehicle stopped at El Evado Road and Zuni Lane and fled of foot. He was apprehended a short time later and taken into custody, charged with vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, evading a police officer, and causing death or serious injury. He had a history of evading law enforcement and a lengthy criminal record for vehicular thefts.

Deputy Sheriff Cuevas had served with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for three years. He is survived by his wife, two children, his parents, and his siblings.

Shortly after 7:30 a.m., on Friday, July 18, 2025, an explosion occurred at the Los Angeles Co. Sheriff’s Department’s Biscailuz Training Facility in East Los Angeles where, tragically, three Detectives lost their lives. The incident transpired in the parking lot of the Special Enforcement Bureau at the facility. The Detectives were part of LASD’s Arson Explosives Detail, and officials reported that it appeared work was being done to render a device safe before it exploded. 

Detective William Osborn graduated from the deputy sheriff Academy Class 278 in February 1992 before being assigned to Men’s Central Jail. He then transferred to Pico Rivera Station in 1998 as a patrol Deputy. He transferred to Industry Station in 2001 and promoted to the rank of Detective, where he received commendations for his work recovering stolen vehicles. After working as a detective for over a decade, handling over a hundred cases each year, Detective Osborn transferred to Training Bureau as an Emergency Vehicle Operations Center Instructor in 2016. Yet his love for investigations drew him back to detectives. Detective Osborn later joined Special Enforcement Bureau as an Arson and Explosive Investigator in 2019. As an Arson investigator, he handled cases involving high dollar loss fires in residential properties, as well as fires involving the loss of life. He was a peer leader and took on the role of mentoring newly assigned investigators. He was described as “one of tenured bomb technicians regularly relied upon when faced with a new challenge. He has broad range of experience and could be relied upon to provide relevant insight on broad range of subjects.”

Also lost in the line of duty were Detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund and Victor Lemus

This incident represents the largest loss of life for the LASD since 1857.

 

Shortly after 7:30 a.m., on Friday, July 18, 2025, an explosion occurred at the Los Angeles Co. Sheriff’s Department’s Biscailuz Training Facility in East Los Angeles where, tragically, three Detectives lost their lives. The incident transpired in the parking lot of the Special Enforcement Bureau at the facility. The Detectives were part of LASD’s Arson Explosives Detail, and officials reported that it appeared work was being done to render a device safe before it exploded. 

Detective Victor Lemus joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on July 1, 2003, as a Security Assistant. He completed the Deputy Sheriff Academy as a part of Class 339 in 2003 before he was assigned to Twin Towers Correctional Facility where he ran on the Baker to Vegas running team. Following that, he transferred to Century Station, where he worked as a Senior Training Officer and Detective. At Century Station he continued running on Baker to Vegas teams as an anchor for some of the most difficult legs of the relay race. He transferred to the Special Enforcement Bureau in 2017 where he was assigned as a K-9 Handler prior to becoming an Arson and Explosive Investigator last year. He received commendations for his ability to mentor and train fellow deputies as well as notable arrests involving career criminals. Detective Lemus is survived by his wife, Sheriff’s Department Detective Nancy Lemus and three daughters. He has three sisters who are also on the Department, Sergeant Belen Lemus at Special Victims Bureau, Deputy Perla Lemus at Century Sheriff Station, and Custody Assistant Wendy Lemus of Population and Management Bureau. He is also survived by his brothers Alfredo, Pedro, Juan, and Efren and brother-in-law Sergeant Robert Catalan who is assigned to Carson Station.

Also lost in the line of duty were Detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund and William Osborn

This incident represents the largest loss of life for the LASD since 1857.

 

Shortly after 7:30 a.m., on Friday, July 18, 2025, an explosion occurred at the Los Angeles Co. Sheriff’s Department’s Biscailuz Training Facility in East Los Angeles where, tragically, three Detectives lost their lives. The incident transpired in the parking lot of the Special Enforcement Bureau at the facility. The Detectives were part of LASD’s Arson Explosives Detail, and officials reported that it appeared work was being done to render a device safe before it exploded.

Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department in March 2006 under Academy Class 348. He was later assigned to the Pitchess Detention Center North and North County Correctional Facility. Detective Kelley-Eklund later transferred to Lennox Sheriff Station in 2010 and became a Field Training Officer at South Los Angeles Station, mentoring several new deputies as trainees. He was known as an outstanding field training officer who was professional and articulate. Detective Kelley-Eklund later promoted to the rank of Detective at Narcotics Bureau in 2016 where he was assigned to the LA Impact Team investigating complex crimes, seizing large quantities of narcotics, and assisting in the arrests of murder suspects. In 2022 he became an Arson and Explosive Investigator with the Special Enforcement Bureau and received his bomb tech certifications as well as other training accolades. Detective Kelley-Eklund is survived by his loving wife, Jessica Eklund, and their seven children.

Also lost in the line of duty were Detectives Victor Lemus and William Osborn.

This incident represents the largest loss of life for the LASD since 1857.

 

At approximately 12:50pm on Thursday, July 17, 2025, Parole Agent Joshua Byrd of the Oakland Division of Adult Parole Operations (DAPO) was shot inside a parole office at the corner of Edgewater Drive and Pardee Lane in East Oakland. He was immediately transported to a Highland Hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. A suspect has been detained by the Oakland Police Department. The recently released parolee entered the state parole office in Oakland, where Byrd was on duty, and started shooting, striking Byrd before fleeing. 

“Our hearts are heavy as we remember Parole Agent Joshua Byrd, whose bravery and dedication led to his tragic death in the line of duty. We extend our deepest condolences to the law enforcement community, as well as to Agent Byrd’s family and friends,” said CDCR Secretary Jeff Macomber. “Those who violate the law will ultimately face consequences. We are grateful to the law enforcement agencies, for their role in apprehending a suspect.”

Agent Byrd, age 40, joined CDCR as a cadet at CDCR’s correctional officer academy in June 2014. After serving as a Correctional Officer (promoted to Correctional Sergeant in 2020) at the California Medical Facility, he joined DAPO’s Oakland office as a Parole Agent in October 2024.

Agent Byrd is survived by his wife and three children.

 

At approximately 1:58 a.m. on Monday, June 23, 2025, Sergeant Shiou L. Deng of the Los Angeles Police Department was traveling south on the 405 in his marked patrol vehicle when he witnessed a collision. After activating his emergency lights, he exited his patrol vehicle to assist the victims in the crash when he was struck from the rear by oncoming traffic hit by another driver.

Sergeant Deng was transported to UCLA Medical Center, however, despite all life-saving efforts, he did not survive. An unidentified victim from another vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. A third person involved in the incident was also transported to a local hospital in unknown condition.

Sergeant Shiou Deng served the LAPD with honor, courage, and compassion for more than 26 years. He was a deeply respected leader within the Department who dedicated 17 years to the Mental Evaluation Unit. “He was out there every day caring for the most vulnerable in our society,” said LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell.

Additional details will be provided as available.

At approximately 7:12 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2025, Baldwin Park Police Officers Samuel Riveros and Anthony Pimental responded to a call of a male suspect firing a rifle in the street and an unresponsive person lying on the ground in a neighborhood near the 4200 block of Filhurst Avenue.

Upon their arrival on scene, they found one man down with a gunshot wound before they were met with gunfire from the suspect. The officers returned fire, according to LASD. “These officers, they didn’t hesitate,” Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna said. “They get a dispatch, somebody may need help, there’s shots fired, they go right over there without hesitation. That’s what these men and women do every day.”

Both Officer Riveros and Officer Pimental were struck in the exchange of gunfire. Additional responding Officers returned fire, striking the suspect, who was taken into custody and to a local hospital in stable condition. The suspect has not yet been publicly identified. The man found unresponsive was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Officer Pimental, transported by ambulance, is reported in stable condition and has since been released from the hospital. Officer Riveros was airlifted to USC Medical Center. Tragically, his injuries were not survivable.

Officer Samuel Riveros, age 35, began his service with the Baldwin Park Police Department as a Public Safety Trainee on April 3, 2016, and was sworn in as a Police Officer on September 11, 2016. His commitment to excellence led to his selection for the SWAT Team on July 1, 2019, where he served with honor for over five years. Most recently, he was appointed as a Field Training Officer on July 21, 2024, a testament to his leadership and mentorship.

A proud UC Irvine graduate, Officer Samuel Riveros was known not only for his tactical skills and professionalism, but for his love of snowboarding and his unwavering loyalty to the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

 

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, March 26, 2025, multiple law enforcement agencies executed a series of over 20 search warrants across Yuba, Sutter, Tehama, and Butte counties as part of a years-long transnational drug trafficking investigation by the Yuba-Sutter Narcotics and Gang Task Force Unit.

As part of this operation, officers from several area agencies were executing a search warrant at a home on Kestral Court in Olivehurst. Upon entry, at approximately 7:50am, the subject opened fire and Marysville Police Department SWAT member Officer Osmar Rodarte was shot during the exchange. Officer Rodarte was transported to Adventist Health and Rideout Hospital in Marysville, where, tragically, he succumbed to his injuries. The suspect was also struck during the exchange of gunfire and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Officer Rodarte, age 27, was a two-year veteran of the Marysville Police Department. “This is a sad day in the City of Marysville,” said Police Chief Christian Sachs, adding Rodarte was a U.S. Army veteran, a brother, a father, and “a close friend.”

This is Marysville Police Department’s first Line-of-Duty loss in more than 100 years.

On October 4, 2023, Officer Chad Swanson of the Manhattan Beach Police Department was killed in a motorcycle crash on the 405 Highway at Del Amo Avenue.

At approximately 5:15am, a vehicle struck his department motorcycle after another vehicle made an unsafe lane change. The impact threw Officer Swanson off his motorcycle. He was transported to Harbor Medical Center where, despite all life-saving measures, he died from his injuries.

Officer Swanson earned a Medal of Valor for saving the life of a burglary suspect in 2015. In 2017, despite being wounded at the Route 91 Harvest Country Music Festival, Officer Swanson repeatedly ran into the crowd, bringing people to safety.

Officer Swanson had served with the Manhattan Beach Police Department for 13 years and previously served with the Hawthorne Police Department. He is survived by his wife, three sons, and parents.