LAPD Officer Thomas Denton dies during training exercise

Los Angeles Police Department Officer Thomas Denton died on Thursday during an on-duty training exercise. The incident occurred around 11 a.m., with reports indicating the exercise took place in Huntington Beach.

Denton, a 20-year veteran of the department serving in the Metropolitan Division, was transported to Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, where he was pronounced dead. The Huntington Beach Fire Department responded to a medical emergency call in the 17000 block of Crown Circle during the incident.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department stated that the coroner’s office has Denton’s body and will perform a full autopsy. Governor Gavin Newsom ordered flags at the state Capitol to be lowered to half-staff in Denton’s memory.

According to the Los Angeles Police Protective League, Denton was a member of the LAPD’s Dive Team. Denton is survived by his wife and two children.