The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) has been fined more than $350,000 by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (CalOSHA) after an investigation into a fatal explosion that claimed the lives of three deputies in 2025.

Investigation Findings and Citations

CalOSHA issued eight citations totaling $351,500 against the department. These citations stem from multiple safety violations, including failures to correct unsafe work conditions and provide adequate training to deputies handling explosive ordnance.

Specific Violations Identified

  • Failure to ensure deputies used appropriate personal protective equipment when handling explosives like grenades.
  • Lack of effective methods for identifying and evaluating hazards related to explosive ordnance retrieval, transport, storage, and handling.
  • Leaving explosive materials unattended and improperly stored or contained during manual transport.
  • Failure to maintain required safety training documentation and complete a workplace hazard assessment for personal protective equipment.

Legal Challenges and Department Response

The Sheriff's Department has appealed the fines issued by CalOSHA. Currently, CalOSHA is engaged in a legal dispute with the department, seeking to compel the release of investigatory documents related to the explosion.

“This tragedy underscores the responsibility employers have to anticipate hazards and take meaningful steps to protect workers, especially in high-risk operations involving explosive materials,” CalOSHA stated. The agency extended condolences to the families, coworkers, and first responders affected by the incident.

The LASD stated they are collaborating with County Counsel to fulfill CalOSHA’s requests. “The Department is also working closely with County Counsel to ensure that all information provided complies with legal requirements and does not compromise the integrity of the ongoing investigations,” the department wrote. They indicated that some requested items have been provided, while others are still being processed or do not exist.

Details of the Incident

Detectives Joshua Kelley-Eklund, William Osborn, and Victor Lemus died on July 18, 2025, while handling two grenades in the parking lot of the Biscailuz Center Training Academy in East Los Angeles. One of the grenades detonated during the handling process.

Claims of Negligence

Nancy Lemus, the widow of Detective Victor Lemus, alleges the department failed to send her husband to the FBI’s explosives handling training program and did not provide sufficient in-house training before assigning him to the bomb squad. Attorneys for Ms. Lemus also claim that Detectives Eklund and Osborn did not adhere to departmental and legal protocols for handling explosives, alleging one of them removed the grenade’s pin prior to the explosion.

Ongoing Investigations and Training Updates

Following the explosion, the Sheriff’s Department consulted with the Los Angeles Police Department’s bomb squad, the FBI, and the ATF to revise its training manuals and guidelines. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing, including a post-blast investigation by the ATF. Authorities have not yet located the second grenade seized by the deputies.