West Hollywood Sheriff’s station personnel honored the memory of fallen WHD Detective Amber Leist on the one-year anniversary of her death. The off-duty Los Angeles County Sheriff’s detective died after being struck by a vehicle in Valley Village on January 12, 2020.
“This morning our station personnel honored the memory of fallen WHD Detective Amber Leist, EOW 1/12/2020 [sic],” reads a post on the West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station Facebook page. “The portrait of Detective Leist will hang in our memorial hall that honors three other fallen WHD personnel over the years. We never forget their service and sacrifice.”
West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station Facebook screen grabThe 41-year-old mother of two sons was off duty when she was helping an elderly woman cross the street. Leist was stopped in her car near the intersection of Riverside Drive and Whitsett Avenue around 11 a.m. when she saw the woman stumble as she tried to cross the street. Leist put her car in park and went to help the woman cross.
Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Leist was struck by the car while she was returning to her vehicle. The car was heading eastbound on Riverside after the light had turned green.
According to reports, the driver who struck Leist remained on the scene and tried to assist the deputy.
Leist was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.
Leist was a 12-year veteran of the department. She served as a deputy and school resource officer before being promoted to detective five years prior to her passing. She is survived by her parents, three sisters and 17- and 20-year-old sons.
Dozens of law enforcement vehicles formed a procession, and a line of deputies saluted Leist as her flag-draped coffin was taken inside the morgue last year. It was “to ensure the safe passage of our fallen sister…”
West Hollywood Sheriff’s Station Facebook screen grabPhotos of the memorial on Facebook show Leist’s family gathered at the memorial today. They took part in the releasing of doves during the ceremony.
