The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is mourning the loss of one of their own. Jacob Castroll, who served the Malibu community, died Friday morning while competing in the 2017 World Police and Fire Games. He served as a Level Three Reserve Deputy Sheriff.
An avid bicyclist, Castroll rode every year in the Police Unity Tour with the Sheriff’s Department. The tour is a bike ride to memorialize fallen deputies and officers. The 68-year-old Castroll joined the LA County Sheriff’s Department only eight years ago. He served for seven years as a reserve with the Lost Hills Station. Before that, he worked out of the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station as a volunteer on patrol. A coworker, John Mullin, who also serves as a reserve deputy, described Castroll as a “quiet giant who contributed mightily to everything he touched,” adding “He brought a joy to everything that he did. He was always fun to have around. He had a terrific sense of humor. He was a guy that really wanted to do a good job.”
Malibu SAR Operations Leader David Katz, who attended Castroll’s funeral on Monday, said that as a graduate of the academy at age 60 Castroll was obviously “very passionate about helping,” calling him “a consummate volunteer.” Katz described the ceremony at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park in Los Angeles filled with an “overflow crowd” of more than 50 uniformed sheriff’s department officers and hundreds of others wishing to pay their respects to a man who was described at the service as “always there for anyone in need.”
The top man in the department, Los Angeles County Sheriff James McDonnell, was in attendance as well. In an earlier statement, McDonnell offered condolences to Castroll’s family.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of Reserve Deputy Jacob Castroll,” McDonnell’s statement read. “We offer our prayers and condolences to his family, friends and partners during this difficult time … We honor his commitment to be part of our law enforcement family.”
Castroll, who is survived by his wife of 47 years, Rody, also had three children: Victor, Lea and Rica, all of whom spoke at the service. Daughter Lea Rookwood said earlier: “My heart is broken. My father dedicated a lot of time to fallen officers and here he is—a fallen officer.”
While competing in the World Police and Fire Games last week, Castroll apparently suffered a heart attack during his mountain biking event near Lake Castaic. He was found unresponsive, treated at the scene and then transported to a hospital. The World Police and Fire Games is an 11-day Olympics-style competition for active and retired police officers and fire fighters from around the world.
“He was more than an angel, he was such a good person,” Castroll’s widow, Rody, said. “He would look for something good to do on a daily basis and he loved the department.”
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story misstated Reserve Deputy Jacob Castroll’s role at the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station. The story has been updated with correct information.
