Sergeant Thomas Alan Hontz, Scottsdale Police Department, Arizona

Sergeant Thomas Alan Hontz

Scottsdale Police Department, Arizona

End of Watch Wednesday, February 20, 2002

Thomas Alan Hontz

Sergeant Thomas Hontz was killed following a training exercise when a piece of equipment exploded at about 1700 hours.

He was conducting SWAT exercises at two vacant homes when a device used to puncture a wall and pump tear gas into a room exploded. 14 other officers and firefighters from several agencies were injured as a result of the explosion.

Sergeant Hontz had been employed with the Scottsdale Police Department for 24 years, and was one of the officers responsible for the creation of the agency's SWAT team.

He is survived by his wife and three sons.

Bio

Age 45
Tour 24 years
Badge 273

Incident Details

Cause Training accident

Most Recent Reflection

View all 81 Reflections

It's hard to believe it was 16 years ago yesterday since you passed at our training in Gilbert. The knowledge that you shared with me still is with here and i thank you for that - you kept me safe. Please continue to look down upon us and we miss you.

Det Ben Felice (Retired)
Scottsdale, AZ Police Dept

February 21, 2018