Four officials, presently and formerly associated with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, were declared dead within 24 hours, sparking concerns and raising questions within the law enforcement community. The tragic events occurred on November 6, 2023, and November 7, 2023, and are being investigated as apparent suicides.
The first of these incidents was reported on Monday, November 6, when a captain, identified as 56-year-old Commander Darren Harris, a 25-year veteran of the department, was found dead at his home in Santa Clarita, California. Later the same day, another devastating discovery was made – a retired deputy, Greg Hovland, 67, was found dead in Quartz Hill.
Further adding to the alarming sequence of events, Corina Thompson, 59, a custody assistant working in the jail system was also found dead in Stevenson Ranch on the same day. These incidents were followed by the death of a sheriff’s deputy, employed in a jail, who was found unresponsive at his home in Pomona, California, and later pronounced dead at the hospital on November 7.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is deeply affected by these losses, with Sheriff Robert Luna acknowledging the significant impact on the department. While investigations continue, no connection between these incidents has been established yet.
This series of deaths within the law enforcement community underscores the ongoing struggles faced by those in the line of duty. Mental health awareness and support for law enforcement officers remain critical issues that need continuous attention and resources.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, as well as external agencies, are investigating these incidents. In the meantime, the department focuses on providing support to the families of the deceased and the officers within the department coping with these losses.