Charitable Causes

Today, on National Peace Officers Memorial Day, and every day, we honor those brave men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line to protect others and tragically lost their lives in the process. We pay tribute to one of our own, Deputy Sheriff Carlos J. Cammon, who passed away in the line of duty on August 23, 2019.

Please join us in honoring, remembering and paying tribute to the law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. 

One of our members has experienced the tragic loss of both his sister-in-law and niece in a multi-vehicle accident on the Garden Grove (22) Freeway. Deputy Anthony Alvarez and his family are mourning the loss of 33-year-old Jolene Castillo and her nine-year-old daughter, Payton Castillo. Jolene’s young son survived the crash and was not hurt but he and his older brother are now left without a mother and sister.

This is a tragic day, one that has become far too common. A gunman opened fire last night at the Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks. The shooter killed 12 people, including Sheriff’s Sgt. Ron Helus from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department. Sgt. Helus was a 29-year law enforcement veteran, who was set to retire soon. Helus entered that bar with the intention of saving lives and sadly lost his own life in doing so. He is a true hero and will always be remembered as such.

We are saddened to tell you that one of our own and his family are going through a very difficult time right now. Sixteen-year-old Timothy Schwitters, son of OCSD Sergeant Shawn Schwitters and his wife Michelle, was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin Lymphoma last December.

Matt Gabrino ran the full 160 miles across the state, starting at the Fallen Heroes Monument in Oakland County and working his way west, ending Thursday at the Protectors Monument in front of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office in West Olive.

We have been working tirelessly for many months to bring you a new website that is among the best in the law enforcement field. We are very excited to announce that it is completed and has been officially launched.

You’re encouraged to come support one of your own, his wife and their young family during this very difficult time.

The deadly deputy shooting on Sunday in Douglas County, Colorado hits closer to home than we first realized. Deputy Zackari Parrish, the deputy killed, was actually the area partner of former Orange County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Steve Maracine.

It is with deep and profound sadness that I inform you that recently retired Sergeant Steve Torres, 54, a beloved member of AOCDS and OCSD, passed away unexpectedly yesterday afternoon. Steve and his wife, Jeanette, are close personal friends of mine and my family. Steve retired a little over a year ago after nearly 31 years of service with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.