On December 18, 2024, Chief Wayne Byerley passed away during an on-duty medical emergency. Chief Byerley was appointed as the Chief of Police for the Signal Hill Police Department on May 22, 2023 and served the community honorably. He was 58 years old.
Prior to coming to Signal Hill as our Chief, Chief Byerley served 32 years with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department until retiring in 2020 as a Division Commander. During his tenure with the Sheriff’s Department, Chief Byerley held the ranks of Deputy Sheriff, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain. Chief Byerley had extensive experience providing responsive community-based policing having worked various assignments in patrol and as a K9 Handler. Chief Byerley went on to supervise teams in patrol as well as a plain-clothes Directed Enforcement Team that provided specialized investigative services to the South Orange County region. Chief Byerley also served as a supervisor and Administrative Lieutenant at the Department’s largest maximum security jail complex, the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange. As a law enforcement manager, Chief Byerley served as a Division Commander overseeing operations for the Sheriff Department’s Professional Standards Division, Airport Police Services at John Wayne Airport, and at the S.A.F.E. Division which handles risk management, policy development, return to work, strategic planning, and internal affairs.
Chief Byerley continued his law enforcement career when he joined the Los Alamitos Police Department serving as a Captain overseeing the Investigations and Administrative Services Division. During his tenure there, Chief Byerley was responsible for managing the Detective Bureau and overseeing all the administrative functions of the Police Department. Chief Byerley was most recognized for his work on updating department branding which revitalized the staffs’ sense of pride in the organization.
Chief Byerley’s time at the Signal Hill Police Department was cut far too short. During his time at Signal Hill, he rebranded the department with a new badge to coincide the City’s Centennial celebration and worked with the POA and the City to implement a Lateral Incentive Program to attract highly qualified, experienced officers. Some of Chief Byerley’s goals for the department included bringing new vehicles and assignments to grow the department into a top-tier law enforcement organization.
Chief Byerley leaves behind a wife and a 15-year-old son, as well as many family members, colleagues, and friends. Please keep them and their family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Cause Details
Memorial
On December 18, 2024, Chief Wayne Byerley passed away during an on-duty medical emergency. Chief Byerley was appointed as the...
On December 18, 2024, Chief Wayne Byerley passed away during an on-duty medical emergency. Chief Byerley was appointed as the Chief of Police for the Signal Hill Police Department on May 22, 2023 and served the community honorably. He was 58 years old.
Prior to coming to Signal Hill as our Chief, Chief Byerley served 32 years with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department until retiring in 2020 as a Division Commander. During his tenure with the Sheriff’s Department, Chief Byerley held the ranks of Deputy Sheriff, Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain. Chief Byerley had extensive experience providing responsive community-based policing having worked various assignments in patrol and as a K9 Handler. Chief Byerley went on to supervise teams in patrol as well as a plain-clothes Directed Enforcement Team that provided specialized investigative services to the South Orange County region. Chief Byerley also served as a supervisor and Administrative Lieutenant at the Department’s largest maximum security jail complex, the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange. As a law enforcement manager, Chief Byerley served as a Division Commander overseeing operations for the Sheriff Department’s Professional Standards Division, Airport Police Services at John Wayne Airport, and at the S.A.F.E. Division which handles risk management, policy development, return to work, strategic planning, and internal affairs.
Chief Byerley continued his law enforcement career when he joined the Los Alamitos Police Department serving as a Captain overseeing the Investigations and Administrative Services Division. During his tenure there, Chief Byerley was responsible for managing the Detective Bureau and overseeing all the administrative functions of the Police Department. Chief Byerley was most recognized for his work on updating department branding which revitalized the staffs’ sense of pride in the organization.
Chief Byerley’s time at the Signal Hill Police Department was cut far too short. During his time at Signal Hill, he rebranded the department with a new badge to coincide the City’s Centennial celebration and worked with the POA and the City to implement a Lateral Incentive Program to attract highly qualified, experienced officers. Some of Chief Byerley’s goals for the department included bringing new vehicles and assignments to grow the department into a top-tier law enforcement organization.
Chief Byerley leaves behind a wife and a 15-year-old son, as well as many family members, colleagues, and friends. Please keep them and their family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
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