Cal/OSHA Fines Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department $350,000 Over Deadly Grenade Blast

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) has levied more than $350,000 in fines against the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department following a deadly explosion that killed three bomb squad detectives at the agency’s Biscailuz Center Training Academy on July 18, 2023.

The state investigation concluded that a series of “willful” safety violations contributed to the fatal incident, including inadequate training and failing to secure explosives. Dets. Victor Lemus, Joshua Kelley-Eklund, and William Osborn lost their lives when a grenade detonated in a department parking lot. The detectives had recovered two grenades from a Santa Monica apartment garage a day earlier, but only one device was accounted for at the facility when the blast occurred. The whereabouts of the second grenade remain unknown.

Cal/OSHA’s probe, which began three days after the explosion, led to eight citations and highlighted serious lapses in procedures and documentation. According to agency filings, sheriff’s officials provided only a fraction of the requested records, citing ongoing criminal investigations as a reason for withholding sensitive documents. In January 2024, Cal/OSHA filed a lawsuit to compel the release of files necessary to complete its fatality inquiry, warning that current Sheriff’s Department employees could still face unmitigated hazards.

The fines include $250,000 for failing to provide proper protective gear, as well as penalties for training deficiencies and improperly handling and storing explosive devices. In a statement, Cal/OSHA emphasized the need for employers to anticipate and prevent dangers associated with hazardous materials.

The sheriff’s department has appealed the findings and asserts it is cooperating within legal constraints, as two internal investigations and a separate federal probe into the incident are ongoing. The outcome of Cal/OSHA’s lawsuit and the status of the missing grenade remain unresolved.