Lieutenant Varat, 35, a 14 year law enforcement veteran, was on a Search and Rescue training exercise in the Santa Susanna Mountains. He was bit by a tick and infected with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. He died four days later from the fever.

Hank helped develop the S.W.A.T. Team, deep-sea diving team and search and rescue team.

He is best remembered by his co-workers as his picture portrays, an organizer and an outdoors man. (Left: Lieutenant Varat is pictured on the right, without the hat.)