Calif. Police Chief Dies after On-Duty Medical Emergency

Dec. 20, 2024

Signal Hill Police Chief Wayne Byerley, who had led the department since May 2023, "was taken too young and with so much more to give," said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes.

By Sydney Barragan

Source Press-Telegram, Long Beach, Calif.

Signal Hill, CA, Police Chief Wayne Byerley.

Signal Hill police Chief Wayne Byerley died after experiencing a medical emergency while at work on Wednesday, Dec. 18, the department said.

The agency did not provide any other details.

“Chief Wayne Byerley’s leadership, optimism, and unwavering dedication to our community will leave a lasting legacy in Signal Hill,” Mayor Keir Jones said in a statement. “We are deeply grateful for his service and profoundly saddened by his loss.”

Byerley became chief in May 2023. Prior to joining the Signal Hill Police Department, Byerley was a captain for the Los Alamitos Police Department and had retired from the Orange County Sheriff’s Department as a division commander after 32 years of service.

“I always found him to be very bright and committed to the people he worked with and served,” Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes said in a statement. “He had a tremendous heart for people, especially for his family. As we have seen too many times this year, Wayne was taken too young and with so much more to give.”

In keeping with police tradition, a procession to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office was held at around 1:30 a.m. Thursday morning. Law enforcement and fire officials from Signal Hall, Los Angeles County and Orange County saluted as the line of police vehicles made their way down the street.

Byerley grew up in Lakewood, and he was a graduate of Long Beach City College and Cal State Long Beach.

Byerley is survived by his wife and 15-year-old son.

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