Memorial services will be held Friday, June 3, for a Hawthorne Police officer who lived in Rossmoor with his wife and two sons.
Hawthorne Police Officer Andrew Garton, 44, who died in the line of duty in a traffic accident on Thursday, May 26, while he was among the officers escorting a Manhattan Beach officer’s funeral procession.
Garton’s remains will be viewed from 4–9 p.m., Thursday, June 2 at Seacoast Grace Church, 5100 Cerritos Ave., in Cypress.
The memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m., Friday, June 3.
Officer Garton will be buried at Forrest Lawn immediately following the memorial service.
Garton was participating in a police motorcycle escort for a deceased Manhattan Beach Police officer who had died of cancer, according to a statement issued by Gov. Jerry Brown.
According to the Torrance Police Department, the collision occurred near the intersection of 227 Street and Hawthorne Boulevard, in the city of Torrence.
Apparently a collision occurred between an El Segundo Police Department motorcycle officer and Officer Garton.
The Hawthorne officer was thrown into the number one northbound lane of Hawthorne Boulevard, according to the Torrence Police Department.
Both officers were transported to Harbor General Hospital. There, Garton succumbed to his injuries, according to the Hawthorne Police Department.
The El Segundo officer survived the accident.
The collision is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol.
Garton was a seven-and-a-half year veteran of the Hawthorne Police Department. He spent the last four-and-a-half years of his life as a motorcycle officer in the Traffic Bureau.
Officer Garton also served as a long time member of the department’s SWAT team.
Gov. Brown ordered flags to be flown at half mast in Garton’s honor.
A Facebook page has been created in Garton’s memory: “Rest in Peace Officer Andrew Garton.”
One of the many people who commented on the Facebook page was Tracey House-King, a former Hawthorne reserve officer, wrote, “Rest in Peace, Officer Garton… You will be missed … ”
The post was accompanied by a photograph of a police badge with a black band across it.
Police officers traditionally wear a black band across their badges for 30 days following the line-of-duty death of a fellow officer.
Garton is survived by his wife Tracy and his two sons, Garrett, 12 and Grant, 7.
The Hawthorne Police Officers Association has established a trust fund for Officer Garton’s family.
Donations may be made at the following locations:
• Western Federal Credit Union
14500 South Aviation Blvd.
Hawthorne, CA 90250
• Hawthorne Police Department
12501 S. Hawthorne Blvd.
Hawthorne, CA 90250
For more information, call Western Federal Credit Union at (877) 254-9328 or the Hawthorne Police Department at (310) 349-2835.
Checks should be made out to:
Officer Andrew Garton’s Family c/o HPOA. Write account Number 654404-006 on the check.
