Nov 2023. Blues Vol 39 No. 11

AROUND THE COUNTRY
MANHATTAN BEACH, CA.
Manhattan Beach Solo Officer Chad Swanson was killed on
Wednesday Oct. 4th in a crash on the 405 Freeway in California.
MANHATTAN BEACH, CA. - A
funeral procession and service
were held Wednesday for Chad
Swanson, a Manhattan Beach
Police motorcycle officer who
was killed in a crash on the 405
Freeway.
The funeral procession began
at 8:30 a.m. in Manhattan Beach
and was followed by a church
service in Cypress.
Manhattan Beach Police Department
personnel and city
staff joined the procession to
“show unity and respect,” according
to a police press release.
Community members who
wanted to attend the procession
were encouraged to wear red,
white and blue.
Swanson, 35, was a 13-year
veteran police officer. He died at
Harbor UCLA Medical Center in
Torrance, the police department
reported. According to Manhattan
Beach Police Lt. Kelly Benjamin,
Swanson was married with
three young sons.
Manhattan Beach officials
said Swanson was on his way
to work Oct. 4 when the crash
occurred.
According to the CHP, the officer
was in a crash that involved
three other vehicles. The driver
26 The BLUES
of one of those vehicles may
have been speeding and made
a possibly unsafe lane change,
striking another vehicle that careened
out of control, according
to the CHP.
The officer’s motorcycle was
struck by one of the vehicles,
knocking him to the ground. He
was taken to Harbor UCLA Medical
Center, where he was pronounced
dead. One other person
suffered minor injuries and was
also taken to a hospital.
The other motorists remained
at the scene and cooperated
with investigators, the CHP reported.
It was unclear which vehicle
struck the officer.
Manhattan Beach police Chief
Rachel Johnson said Swanson
joined the department 13 years
ago and became a motorcycle
officer in 2017. He previously
worked as a civilian parking
enforcement employee at the
Hawthorne Police Department,
Johnson said.
“Chad lived a life of service to
the community,” the chief told
reporters. “His love for his work
was evident each time I saw him.
I last spoke with Chad on Sunday
at the canine car show, and
OFFICER BRIAN HOLLEY
OFFICER CHAD SWANSON
I watched as he lifted one kid
after another kid onto his motorcycle
to let them see what it was
like to sit astride a police motor.
He never tired of it. And I think he
would have done it until sunset if
that’s what it took to make every
kid’s day.
“Chad was a bright star in a
world that wasn’t always the
same. Chad was what I refer to
as a seriously good dude. His
infectious smile and laugh lit up
every room he entered. To know
Chad was to love him. If you
weren’t laughing when he was
in the room, you simply weren’t
listening.”