Signal Hill police chief dies following medical emergency at work, city officials say
Wayne Byerley grew up in Lakewood and attended Cal State Long Beach where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree.
Signal Hill's Police Chief Wayne Byerley died Wednesday evening after suffering a medical emergency at work, city officials announced Thursday.
It's unclear what type of medical emergency Byerley suffered.
Byerley grew up in Lakewood and attended Cal State Long Beach where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree, according to city officials.
He spent 32 years working with the Orange County Sheriff's Department, rising through the ranks before retiring as a division commander in 2020.
Despite retiring from the OCSD, he continued his law enforcement career when he joined the Los Alamitos Police Department as a captain. In May 2023, he was appointed as the Signal Hill's police chief.
"Chief Wayne Byerley's leadership, optimism, and unwavering dedication to our community will leave a lasting legacy in Signal Hill," the city's Mayor Keir Jones said in a statement Thursday. "We are deeply grateful for his service and profoundly saddened by his loss."
Byerley is survived by his wife and 15-year-old son, according to city officials.
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