Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, California
End of Watch Monday, October 24, 1988
Add to My HeroesJames Daniel McSweeney
Deputy Sheriff James McSweeney was killed in a helicopter accident while working on a multi-agency narcotics task force along the United States border.
A suspicious vehicle was spotted in a canyon on a remote access road in the Mountain Springs Grade area. The UH-1H helicopter began to descend when its rotor blades struck power lines and caused it to crash in the foothills of the Laguna Mountains.
Also killed in the accident were Investigator Michael Davis of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Deputy Roy Chester of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Sergeant Richard Romero of the Imperial County Sheriff's Department, Deputy Mark Tonkin of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, and the three California National Guard crew members operating the flight.
Deputy McSweeney had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for 12 years.
Bio
- Age 43
- Tour 12 years
- Badge Not available
Incident Details
- Cause Aircraft accident
Most Recent Reflection
View all 22 ReflectionsJim, his partner, Roy Chester and I were Academy classmates in 1976. They were both great guys and I enjoyed working with them at MCJ. I recall how shocked I was to hear of their untimely deaths. They were both doing what they loved doing and being part of that elite task force speaks to the quality of deputy they both were. I’m honored to have known them
Sgt. Bill Horwitz (Ret)
LASD
February 19, 2022
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