Hawthorne Police Department Mourns Officer Killed In Crash
TORRANCE (CBS) — The Hawthorne Police Department is mourning a motorcycle officer who was killed in a collision with another officer during a funeral procession in Torrance.
Hawthorne Police officer Andrew Garton was killed and El Segundo Sgt. Rex Fower was injured Thursday in the crash on Hawthorne Boulevard near 227th Street in Torrance.
The officers were part of a funeral procession honoring Manhattan Beach officer Mark Vasquez, who died of cancer.
Garton, 44, was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. He is the first Hawthorne officer to die in the line of duty.
Alex Vargas, the Mayor Pro Tem of Hawthorne, told KNX 1070's Chris Sedens about the last time he met with Garton the day before he was killed.
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"He was so happy, we talked about how the police department was so special to him, talking about his family," said Vargas, calling Garton's death "a shock to the community".
For the last four and a half years, Garton was assigned to the traffic bureau as a motorcycle officer. He also served as a long-time member of the department's SWAT team.
He leaves behind a wife, as well as two sons, ages 12 and 7.
The Hawthorne Police Department has established a trust fund for Garton's family. Anyone wishing to make a donation can do so at:
Western Federal Credit Union
14500 South Aviation Boulevard
Hawthorne, CA 90250
(877)254-9328
Or at the:
Hawthorne Police Department
12501 S. Hawthorne Boulevard
Hawthorne, CA 90250
(310)349-2835
Donations should be made out to:
Officer Andrew Garton's Family C/O HPOA
Account Number: 654404-006
