
We Remember and Honor Hawthorne Police Officer Andrew Scott Garton, End of Watch (EOW) May 26, 2011
On May 26, 2011, Officer Andrew Garton, along with motor officers from several other agencies, were escorting a funeral procession for Manhattan Beach Police Officer Mark Vasquez who lost his life after a long battle against cancer. At the intersection of 227th Street and Hawthorne Boulevard Officer Garton collided with the motorcycle driven by a sergeant from the El Segundo Police Department. Officer Garton was tossed into the path of oncoming traffic and struck. Both he and the El Segundo sergeant were taken to Harbor-UCLA Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries upon arrival.
Officer Garton, 44, was a seven-year veteran of the Hawthorne Police Department and became the first officer killed in the line of duty in the 87-year history of that agency. In addition to being a motor officer he served on the department’s SWAT team. He was survived by his wife, Tracy, and two sons, age 7 and 12.
Sources: Los Angeles Times, Daily Breeze, KABC Channel 7 News, ODMP