Four County Sheriff's Department Employees Found Dead in Suspected Suicides Over 24 Hours

Investigations show the deaths, including a 25-year veteran and a retired sergeant, are unrelated and involve no foul play; LA County Sheriff's Department increases focus on reducing work stress and improving mental health support among employees.

Four employees of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, including a 25-year veteran named Cmdr. Darren Harris and a retired sergeant, Greg Hovland, were found dead within a 24-hour span on Monday and Tuesday, in suspected unrelated suicide cases.
Despite no indications of any foul play involvement, sources revealed that news of the third and fourth deaths circulated within the department following news of the first two. The department's homicide bureau in collaboration with the County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner will investigate each death.
The sudden deaths sent 'shockwaves of emotions' throughout the department, prompting Sheriff Robert Luna to openly express concern for the employees’ well-being and make prompt provisions to explore effective avenues to reduce work stress factors.
Studies indicate a higher likelihood of police officers and firefighters dying by suicide than in the line of duty, attributing this to a lack of resources, stigma associated with seeking treatment, the stress and scrutiny of police work, and access to firearms.
In what is seen as a crisis in the LASD, there are reports of four other suicides this year within the department, now bringing attention to the Psychological Services Bureau and Injury and Health Support Unit to provide counseling and needed assistance to their officers' families.