Thomas J. Albanese, 41, was a veteran and is survived by his wife and two young children
On Thursday, February 25 at 8:58 a.m. Deputy Sheriff Thomas J. Albanese was killed in a traffic collision at the intersection of Del Amo Boulevard and Paramount Boulevard in the City of Lakewood.
Deputy Albanese was traveling northbound on Paramount Boulevard approaching Del Amo, when he attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle ahead of him. As Deputy Albanese entered the intersection, he was struck by a Mercedes-Benz traveling westbound on Del Amo Boulevard. The extreme force of the collision caused him to die instantly on impact.
The driver in the Mercedes survived and was treated on the scene.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva gave a press conference in front of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station at 3 p.m. that same day. There he disclosed that Albanese was working overtime for the Lakewood Station when he was killed.
“It’s tough,” Villanueva said. “I spoke to the deputies on [the] scene, they were heads down doing what they had to do.”
Deputy Albanese’s portrait was put on display during the conference, as well as several flower arrangements donated by community members.
Albanese, who was 41 years old, is survived by his wife of 12 years, Erica and their two sons ages 7 and 11. He served in the Marine Corps for 10 years from 2001 to 2010 and served four tours in Iraq.
He was a seven-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department. Albanese started his career with the Sheriff’s Department as a Security Assistant in 2013 in the Aero Bureau. In 2015, he was assigned to Men’s Central Jail. He went to patrol at the Transit Services Bureau and then transferred to Lakewood Station as a Field Training Officer. His last assignment was at Pico Rivera Station as a motor deputy.
“He received many commendations because of his attention to duty and service to the community, he will be greatly missed,” Villanueva said.
Villanueva confirmed that Albanese will be memorialized on the wall dedicated to fallen deputies in front of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station.
