Veteran Officer Remembered After Being Killed While Aiding Crash Victims in Brentwood
Family, colleagues, and fellow officers gathered Thursday morning to honor Los Angeles Police Department Sgt. Shiou Deng, a 26-year veteran who was killed in the line of duty last month while assisting victims of a freeway crash.
The memorial service, held at Forest Lawn Covina Hills Mausoleum, paid tribute to Deng’s life, career, and enduring commitment to public service. Speakers remembered him as a dedicated leader and compassionate officer whose work left a lasting mark on the LAPD and the community he served.
Deng, 53, died on June 23 after being struck by a vehicle on the southbound 405 Freeway near Moraga Drive in Brentwood. Authorities said he had responded to a single-car collision shortly after 2 a.m. and was assisting those involved when another vehicle fatally struck him and a second person, 34-year-old Jesus Garcia.
LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell, speaking at the service, called Deng the “gold standard of selflessness” and praised his service record, particularly his time with the department’s Mental Evaluation Unit. Deng joined the LAPD in 1998, serving in the Central and Southwest divisions before spending more than 16 years working with the specialized unit focused on mental health crisis response. He was promoted to sergeant in 2023 and later assigned to the West Los Angeles division.
The crash that claimed Deng’s life prompted the closure of the 405 Freeway for several hours as authorities investigated the incident. The California Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal collision.
