ALHAMBRA, Calif. — A pre-dawn police pursuit in Alhambra ended in devastating loss early Thursday, leaving two people dead — including 28-year-old Officer Alec Sanders, a rookie officer remembered by colleagues as one of the department’s most dedicated rising stars. Two other people were hospitalized with injuries.

The crash, which unfolded around 3 a.m. near Valley Boulevard and Edgewood Drive, marked yet another tragedy in what has become the deadliest year for Los Angeles County law enforcement in more than three decades. According to the L.A. County Peace Officers’ Memorial, Sanders is the seventh peace officer killed in the line of duty in 2025 — the most since 1994.

City officials, fellow officers, and loved ones gathered outside L.A. General Medical Center late Thursday morning, where Police Chief Garrett Kennedy confirmed Sanders had succumbed to his injuries. The young officer had been transported there immediately after the fatal collision.

Sanders, who had been with the Alhambra Police Department for only eight months, leaves behind a fiancée, two younger sisters, and a brother. His sudden death sent shockwaves through the tight-knit department.

“He Responded to Every Call”: Chief Kennedy Honors Sanders’ Service

Speaking through visible emotion, Chief Kennedy described Sanders as a standout officer whose passion for law enforcement was matched only by his determination to serve the community.

“He’s known for his unwavering reliability,” Kennedy said. “He was the type of officer who responded to every call, whether he was dispatched to it or not. He was just one of those officers.”

Kennedy added that Sanders had volunteered to cover another officer’s shift on Wednesday night.

“He was dedicated,” the chief continued. “He was passionate about fitness, he was disciplined, he was intelligent, and he was steady. His work ethic made him a respected partner and a friend.”

Though new to the department, Sanders had already made an impact. Fellow officers described him as upbeat, committed, and always willing to help another officer or community member in need.

The Crash: A Pursuit That Turned Deadly

Little is known so far about what triggered the police chase or what led to the violent collision, which investigators say involved the patrol vehicle driven by Sanders and another car carrying three people.

A witness who lives nearby told Eyewitness News he heard a “very loud crash”, followed by cries for help. He reported seeing a woman who had been ejected from the other vehicle; she died at the scene. A male passenger was also injured.

Authorities have not confirmed the cause of the crash or the speeds involved. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) is now leading the investigation with assistance from Alhambra police and the district attorney’s office.

Aerial footage from AIR7 showed two vehicles:

Sanders’ heavily damaged patrol SUV on Valley Boulevard

The second vehicle, crumpled and lodged in a parking lot behind a nearby Wienerschnitzel restaurant

A covered body lay in an alley nearby as investigators combed the scene.

Police later confirmed the second vehicle carried three individuals:

One died at the scene

One suffered significant injuries

One sustained non-life-threatening injuries

Their names have not yet been released.

A Somber Procession: Officers Walk Beside Their Fallen Colleague

Around 11:30 a.m., a flag-draped gurney carrying Sanders was escorted from the hospital to a coroner’s transport van. What followed was a solemn, deeply emotional procession that stretched less than a mile — but felt far longer for those who walked alongside it.

Officers lined the hospital driveway, saluting as the casket was carried out. Many had worked closely with Sanders. Some had trained him. Others had been with him only months — but described feeling connected to him from the beginning.

As the van began its slow journey to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office, dozens of Alhambra police officers and loved ones followed on foot, walking silently behind the vehicle. For a moment, Valley Boulevard was still — traffic blocked, sirens quiet, the only sounds the footsteps of those mourning a fallen officer.

It was the kind of procession that law enforcement prays they never have to perform — and one that seemed to weigh heavily on everyone present.

A Grim Milestone in Los Angeles County

With Sanders’ passing, 2025 has become Los Angeles County’s deadliest year for peace officers since 1994. The circumstances vary — traffic collisions, assaults, unexpected medical emergencies during service — but the emotional toll is cumulative.

Law enforcement agencies across the county have held multiple vigils, processions, and flag ceremonies in recent months, each one amplifying a growing sense of grief and exhaustion among first responders.

Sanders’ death adds another painful chapter to a year already marked by loss.

CHP: “It Is a Tragedy”

A spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol addressed the media Thursday morning, expressing condolences and reinforcing the agency’s commitment to investigating thoroughly.

“It is a tragedy, and we offer our sincere condolences to the Alhambra Police Department, to the residents of Alhambra, and to Officer Sanders’ friends and family,” the spokesperson said. “At this time, I don’t have a lot of information about the incident itself, other than the fact that we are investigating in cooperation with the district attorney’s office.”

CHP investigators are expected to review:

dashcam footage

communications recordings

potential surveillance footage from nearby businesses

vehicle event data recorders

roadway conditions and lighting

possible impairment or evasive maneuvers

The findings may take weeks.

Who Was Officer Alec Sanders?

Though only 28, Sanders had embraced his career with a sense of purpose and enthusiasm that colleagues said was rare and refreshing.

He was known around the department for:

Reliability

Sanders reportedly answered calls even when he was not the assigned unit — a sign of both eagerness and commitment.

Fitness and discipline

He maintained a rigorous workout routine that impressed fellow officers and mirrored his disciplined approach to policing.

Calm under pressure

Even in his short time on the force, Sanders had reportedly shown a steady, focused demeanor during unpredictable situations.

Kindness

Kennedy described him as someone who made a positive impact “on everyone,” whether colleague or community member.

Sanders’ decision to come in on a night he was not originally scheduled to work speaks to the dedication that defined his career.

The Community Responds: Grief and Gratitude

As word of Sanders’ death spread, tributes began appearing on social media and in statements from civic leaders.

Residents described him as polite, professional, and hardworking. One man recalled Sanders speaking kindly to his elderly mother after helping her with a minor traffic issue. Another remembered him calming two frightened children during a domestic disturbance call.

Local businesses placed blue ribbons and handwritten signs in their windows. Several residents left flowers and candles near the crash site.

City officials say a public vigil will likely be organized in the coming days.

Unanswered Questions: What Led to the Crash?

Authorities have not released details about:

why the vehicle Sanders was pursuing fled

how the chase unfolded

what speeds were involved

whether the second vehicle struck the patrol cruiser or vice versa

whether road conditions played a role

how far the pursuit extended before the collision

CHP investigators say a full reconstruction is underway.

The district attorney’s office may review the findings to determine whether charges are warranted against any surviving passenger from the chased vehicle.

A Department in Mourning, A City in Shock

As the investigation begins, the Alhambra Police Department is grappling with the immediate emotional weight of losing a young colleague who many saw as the future of the department.

Chief Kennedy promised the department would support Sanders’ fiancée and siblings, adding:

“He will be remembered for his dedication, his kindness, and the positive impact he had on everyone.”

Plans for a funeral with full police honors are expected to be announced soon.

A Promising Life, A Painful Loss

Officer Alec Sanders had been on the force for only eight months, but in that time, he built a reputation that many officers spend decades developing. His commitment, kindness, reliability, and discipline left a mark on his department and community.

His death — one of several among Los Angeles County officers this year — underscores the profound risks first responders take each day, often in split-second moments the public never sees.

An investigation will answer the technical questions surrounding the crash.
But nothing will change the fact that a young officer, a fiancé, a son, a brother, and a friend was lost far too soon.

For the city of Alhambra and its police department, the grief is deep, the impact lasting, and the tribute to Sanders’ service only just beginning.