April 2024 Mission Moment
Deputy Alejandro Martinez
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department
On July 22,
2023, Deputy Sheriff Alejandro Martinez succumbed to injuries sustained on
November 16th, 2022, as he and other recruits from Los Angeles County Sheriff’s
Department Academy Class 464 ran in formation as part of their morning physical
fitness routine.
The academy class of 75 recruits was running in formation when an oncoming
vehicle veered over the center line and struck the group near the intersection
of Mills Avenue and Telegraph Road in Whittier. A total of 25 recruits were
struck by the vehicle before it came to a stop. Twelve of the recruits suffered
critical injuries that ended their careers.
Deputy Martinez was sworn in as a sheriff’s deputy two weeks after the
incident. He remained hospitalized in critical condition until succumbing to
his injuries eight months later.
The driver who struck the group was charged with two counts of vehicular
manslaughter with gross negligence and nine counts of reckless driving on a
highway.
Deputy Martinez was a U.S. Army National Guard soldier and had served with the
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for only eight weeks at the time he was
injured. He is survived by his father and sister.
