L.A. County Sheriff's Suffer 4 Suicide Deaths of Former & Current Members Within 24 Hours

L.A. County Sheriff's Department is mourning the loss of four heroes who lost their lives in the past 24 hours.

According to reports, one retired employee and three current members of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office died by suicide within just 24 hours. The incidents have sent shockwaves throughout the department and have raised concerns about the mental health of officers in the line of duty.

Homicide officials are investigating the deaths, although no connection has been outlined in the sad occurrence. A serving officer from the department has called on surviving members of the department to "check on the well-being of other colleagues and friends."

The L.A. County Sheriff's Department was hit with a total of four deaths in the space of 24 hours. According to reports, the deaths all occurred by suicide, with three of them being active members of the department while one was a retired employee.

The LASD, in a statement, divulged that the first death occurred on Monday morning at about 10:30 a.m., the second one a little after noon the same day, the third one in the early evening, and the fourth one on Tuesday around 7:30 a.m.

According to the LA Times, one of the deceased has been identified as Commander Darren Harris, who was found dead in his home in Santa Clarita on Monday morning, with sources reporting that he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. 

The other deceased was identified as Greg Hovland, who was found in his home in Quartz Hill, California.

Although no link has been established between the deaths, the involvement of the Homicide Department suggests that there may be more to these deaths than initially thought. 

The department will be conducting a thorough investigation to determine if there were any external factors or foul play involved.

"Out of respect for their grieving families, we will not be disclosing the names of the employees at this time," a statement from the department read. "Homicide detectives and the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner will continue to investigate each incident independently."

Officials from the department, on condition of anonymity, said that members of the department got wind of the third and fourth deaths as news of the first two spread through the agency.

In the wake of the sad event, Sheriff Robert Luna is taking proactive steps to address the issue of work-related stress within the department, per CBS News. 

In his statement, Sheriff Luna also called on all service members to check on their colleagues and be vigilant about their well-being.

"Our LASD family has experienced a significant amount of loss and tragedies this year," he said in his statement. "We are stunned to learn of these deaths, and it has sent shockwaves of emotions throughout the department as we try and cope with the loss of not just one, but four beloved active and retired members of our department family."

He added, "During trying times like these it's important for personnel regardless of rank or position to check on the well-being of other colleagues and friends. I have the deepest concern for our employee's well-being, and we are urgently exploring avenues to reduce work stress factors to support our employee's work and personal lives."

In the aftermath of the tragic deaths, the LASD has taken immediate action to provide support and resources to the grieving families. 

According to KTLA, the department has mobilized its Psychological Services Bureau and the Injury and Health Support Unit to ensure that the families receive the assistance they need during this difficult time.

"Additionally, the department has a Peer Support Program that members can use for additional assistance," Sheriff Luna said in his statement.

According to studies reported by the LA Times, more officers have died by suicide than those killed on active duty. Officers are also more prone to suicide than the general populace.