Family, colleagues lay to rest Orange County Sheriff’s deputy who spent 6 years in a coma
By Orange County on September 5, 2019
After passing the final chapter of his life in a coma, Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon was laid to rest Thursday, Sept. 5, at Fairhaven Memorial Cemetery in Santa Ana.
“For the past few days – for the past six years, really – we have mourned him,” Sheriff Don Barnes told attendees.
Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Investigator Maria Bowman, left, embraces LeNora Cookie Sturdivant, the mother of Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon following the memorial service for her son at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Sheriff’s deputies salute as pallbearers carry Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon’s casket to the burial site at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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The funeral procession for Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon leaves the Brown Colonial Mortuary
in Santa Ana on its way to Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes speaks during the memorial service for Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Sheriff’s deputies salute as pallbearers carry Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon’s casket from Brown Colonial Mortuary
in Santa Ana before the funeral procession to Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton.
(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Family members grieve during the memorial service for Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg speaks during the memorial service for Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes, left, presents the American flag that was on the casket of her son, Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon, to LeNora Cookie Sturdivant during a memorial service at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The funeral procession for Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon makes its way east on Fairhaven Avenue near Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of the Orange County Fire Authority hang a large American flag over the entrance to Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019, just before the funeral procession of Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon arrived. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Sheriff’s deputies salute as pallbearers carry Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon’s casket from Brown Colonial Mortuary
in Santa Ana just before the funeral procession to Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs Pipe Band plays Amazing Grace during the memorial service for Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon held at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Members of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department Honor Guard fold the American flag on the casket of Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon during the memorial service at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Helicopters fly over the memorial service for Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon held at Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange County Sheriff’s deputies salute as pallbearers carry Orange County Sheriff’s Deputy Carlos Cammon’s casket from Brown Colonial Mortuary
in Santa Ana before the funeral procession to Fairhaven Memorial Park in Santa Ana on Thursday, September 5, 2019. Carlos Cammon died August 23, 2019 from the injuries he suffered during a training exercise in 2013 and was a six-year veteran of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department assigned to patrol in Stanton. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Beginning with a procession of law enforcement vehicles, the tradition-steeped ceremony included a bagpipe performance of “Amazing Grace,” the playing of taps and a helicopter flyover.
A six-year veteran of the department at the time, Cammon collapsed during a SWAT tryout in 2013. Officials attributed his illness to “severe dehydration and cardiac issues.”
Cammon was was assigned to Stanton, where Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg then served as chief of police services.
In his tribute, Greenberg described Cammon as so confident and commanding that he might have seemed intimidating if not for his steadfast warmth.
“That was his face,” he said, pointing at a poster-sized photo of the grinning deputy.
“He lived life large – big washer and drier, big dogs, big truck,” Greenberg added, remembering Cammon’s huge Rhodesian Ridgeback. “And, big heart and big smile.”
Greenberg read Cammon’s obituary, which included a stint as a child actor on television commercials. “I told you he was handsome,” Greenberg inserted.
Cammon grew up in San Gabriel and graduated from UC Irvine in 2006 with a degree in criminology. He received the Medal of Courage in 2010 with three other off-duty deputies after they subdued a man with a knife assaulting a woman in a restaurant.
Every speaker took a moment to praise Cammon’s mother, LeNora “Cookie” Sturdivant, who stayed by her son’s bedside throughout.
“Thank you for raising an exceptional young man,” Barnes said. “He didn’t turn out that way by accident.”
Tom Dominguez, president of the Association of Orange County Deputy Sheriffs, said, “There is no greater blessing that a child can receive than the love of his mother. Carlos is truly blessed.”
Sturdivant concluded the service with a poignant prayer.
“Heavenly father,” she said, “I don’t understand. I love you and I trust you, but my heart is broken. Please put me back together again.”
She never gave up hope that she would walk into her son’s room to hear a welcoming hello.
Although that never happened, Sturdivant said, “I know that when my appointed time comes, he will greet me in heaven and say, ‘Hi, Mom.’”
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