Orange County, California – A recent training exercise at an FBI facility in Irvine resulted in injuries to sixteen Orange County sheriff’s SWAT deputies. The incident, which occurred on March 13, involved an unexpected explosion during the training session, leading to various injuries among the deputies.
Authorities have confirmed that the last of the injured deputies was discharged from the hospital over the weekend. Additionally, some of the deputies have already returned to work following the incident. One deputy, who underwent surgery for a leg injury, was released from the hospital on Saturday and is reportedly recovering well, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Matt Parrish.
Most of the deputies sustained injuries such as dizziness and ringing in their ears as a result of the explosion. By the next morning, all fifteen injured deputies had been released from the hospital, marking a significant step towards their recovery.
Details surrounding the cause of the explosion on March 13 remain sparse, as investigations are still ongoing. The incident occurred during an annual joint training exercise with the sheriff’s bomb squad at the FBI Special Agent Jerry Crowe Regional Tactical Training Facility near Irvine Boulevard and Magazine Road. The blast took place indoors, catching the deputies off guard and resulting in injuries.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks and dangers that law enforcement officers often face during training exercises. While authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the explosion, the injured deputies are focused on recuperating and returning to full health.