On Thursday, February 25, 2021, at 8:58 AM, Deputy Thomas J. Albanese of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was on patrol on his department motorcycle traveling northbound on Paramount Blvd., approaching Del Amo in the city of Lakewood, when he attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle ahead of him. As Deputy Albanese entered the intersection, he was struck by a sedan traveling westbound on Del Amo Boulevard. The force of the collision was extreme and Deputy Albanese died instantly.

Deputy Albanese was a seven-year veteran of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He started his career as a Security Assistant in 2013 in the Aero Bureau. In 2015, he took an oath of office to serve his duties as a peace officer faithfully and was assigned to Men’s Central Jail. He went to patrol at Transit Services Bureau and then transferred to Lakewood Station as a Field Training Officer. Deputy Albanese’s last assignment was as a Pico Rivera Station Motor Deputy but was working overtime at the Lakewood Station when the tragic accident occurred. Deputy Albanese was also a highly decorated veteran of the United States Marine Corps, serving from March 2001 through March 2010, which included four tours of duty in Iraq.

Deputy Thomas Albanese, age 41, is survived by his wife of 12 years, Erica, and his two young boys.