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Palmdale Walmart suicide victim was an LAPD detective

by The AV Times Staff • December 6, 2014

The body was found on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 27 inside a Toyota Prius in the Walmart parking lot at 40130 10th Street West in Palmdale. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)
The body was found on the morning of Thursday, Nov. 27 inside a Toyota Prius in the Walmart parking lot at 40130 10th Street West in Palmdale. (Photo by LUIS MEZA)

PALMDALE – The man found dead outside a westside Palmdale Walmart on Thanksgiving Day was an LAPD detective, who killed himself after two male relatives accused him of sexual abuse, according to published media reports.

The body was found on the morning of Nov. 27 inside a Toyota Prius in the Walmart parking lot at 40130 10th Street West in Palmdale.

The LA Times broke the story about the suicide victim’s identity Friday night.

According to the LA Times article, 52-year-old Dennis Derr of Acton died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau detective confirmed to the LA Times that Derr was under investigation in connection with sexual abuse allegations.

Derr’s wife had recently become aware of the allegations and had left the family’s Acton house on the eve of the suicide, the newspaper reports. On Thanksgiving, Derr sent an email to family members alluding to suicide, and then he was found dead in the Palmdale Walmart parking lot a few hours later, according to the LA Times article.

Read the LA Times story at: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-lapd-detective-suicide-20141205-story.html

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Filed Under: Crime/ Safety, Palmdale

24 comments for "Palmdale Walmart suicide victim was an LAPD detective"

  1. Mark says

    December 14, 2014 at 11:38 am

    I’d say his suicide is an admission of guilt..

    cops are sic mutha F___kas

  2. kls says

    December 14, 2014 at 12:23 am

    I want to know why he wasn’t arrested immediately after allegations? Did the boys get talked out of pressing charges? I’m really curious because a lot of sex crimes are not handled properly by our legal system, sadly. I guess nobody will ever know. He’s in purgatory or hell… now. Hope those boys don’t live with ptsd…. it is a horrific thing to deal with. Prayers for the family that they heal.

  3. Pleased citize says

    December 8, 2014 at 11:09 pm

    Rest in pee Nasty CHOMO this pig deserves to rot I’m hell

  4. Tom says

    December 8, 2014 at 4:52 pm

    I have never heard of a good Walmart story ever.

    • kls says

      December 14, 2014 at 12:11 am

      Neither have I…. it’s unbelievable.

  5. Lancaster commuter says

    December 8, 2014 at 12:36 pm

    Why did he get a car to commute to the antelope valley. I’m tired of LAPD cops using their police cars to commute at the expense of tax payers. I notice too many LAPD vehicles on the 14 fwy

    • P says

      December 8, 2014 at 3:19 pm

      Hey Lancaster commuter, I think you need to re-read the article, where in the heck does it say he was driving an LAPD vehicle? I swear I read he was in a white Toyota prius..

      • Greg says

        December 8, 2014 at 3:34 pm

        I doubt the commuter takes into account prisoner transportation, court appearances by officers, and investigations throughout the state.

        Also willing to bet commuter thinks all shields are the same. I have seen LAPD, LCSD, CHP, LAX Security Police, US Marshal, make believe cops going between movie locations, lots of security cars.

    • Lancaster commuter says

      December 8, 2014 at 4:10 pm

      I know of many LAPD officers who use their cars to commute to the antelope valley. Do some detective work.

    • bird says

      December 8, 2014 at 4:36 pm

      Lancaster commuter—If you are going to make a comment on an article, you might want to read the article first.

    • I'm literate says

      December 8, 2014 at 7:21 pm

      Just ignore
      Lancaster Dumb mute derr, he can’t read…he just looks at the pictures ;)

      • Lancaster commuter says

        December 8, 2014 at 7:37 pm

        I read the article but wanted to get my point across.

        • p says

          December 10, 2014 at 9:39 am

          But your point has nothing to do with this situation.

  6. callitasitis says

    December 8, 2014 at 10:49 am

    The only option for him since prison would not be a GREAT option either. Molester and an ex-cop in prison. If you are not guilty why kill yourself? The wife leaves the home after learning of the allegations. ?????????

  7. Michelle Egberts says

    December 8, 2014 at 5:14 am

    Another law abiding citizen made a bad choice and would have had a criminal record if he didn’t commit suicide. Such a tragedy for his victims (relatives) of the alleged molestation including family and friends as they will never get justice.

    No one is above the law, including those who wear a badge. However, the accused are entitled to due process which includes an investigation into allegations as to ensure the prosecutors have enough evidence to prosecute/convict. As I’ve posted many times in regards to sex offenders, it’s not the ones on the registry who we should worry about, its the ones that haven’t been reported.

    • callitasitis says

      December 8, 2014 at 1:14 pm

      Justice was served, even if it was self-imposed. No more taxpayer’s dollars spent on a trial and PC time in prison . One less molester it is a win-win for all.

      • Michelle Egberts says

        December 9, 2014 at 5:14 am

        @ Callitasitis… The only justice that was served is that the victims have been spared the trauma of having to go through the criminal justice process as it is like being victimized again.

        As for the PC time in prison, it costs no more to put an inmate on a Special Needs Yard (aka “PC”) than it is for a general population inmate… $60,000/year.

        He took the “cowards” way out instead of facing the accusers. I commend the victims who came forward and reported it and the wife for exposing him and being loyal to the victims. It’s still a loss which ever way you look at it.

  8. mark says

    December 7, 2014 at 6:50 pm

    It’s a shame a life was lost, but somtimes officers get peged as the good guy, and peace keeper when its all but true. The only thing that really seprates a cop from bad guys is a badge, that says thier the “good guy”. Bad guys are all charming and cool to be around as long you are doing what they want you to do.

  9. David says

    December 7, 2014 at 8:43 am

    So sad for this man’s family. Between dealing with the molestation and the suicide they will need lots of support to heal and get on with life. A permanent solution to a temporary crisis. Yes his actions would have significantly altered the rest of his life. But, he crossed that line. However, the way sex offenders are treated in society is a greater indecency. Our kill them all attitude makes this man’s unfortunate choice seem logical and maybe even desirable. With over 100,000 sex offenders in California alone they have become an industry providing millions for connected individuals, thousands of jobs in law enforcement for after care and careers for self righteous politicians. I’m really not sure what we should do, but what we’re doing now is more damaging than healing for everyone and sucking millions on strategies that don’t work.

  10. bill says

    December 6, 2014 at 9:41 pm

    you gotta know that a Cop knows the ramifications
    of this kind of charge. Cops have a pretty large will
    to live, you got to its the driving force behind the daily
    grind.
    that said he opted to see jesus than justice
    I wonder how that conversation went down

    • bob says

      December 6, 2014 at 10:42 pm

      If the inevitable ramifications of this kind of charge in death then there is seriously something wrong with this society.

  11. tori says

    December 6, 2014 at 7:42 pm

    Burn for all eternity piggy

    • You are Sick says

      December 7, 2014 at 10:04 am

      First I would like to state that I DO NOT know any of the parties involved…but all around this is a very sad and tragic story…a man convicted, tried and found guilty by the public audience before an investigation is completed and evidence brought forward and now no one will ever know if he was innocent or guilty of the crimes he is being accused of!?…Just because he killed himself does not mean he is guilty…perhaps in despair for the accusations beings made against him he felt betrayed or ? Who knows…putting that aside…YOUR REMARKS ARE SICKENING…I could only hope to live in such a clear glass house as yours…If I were to look up your name in a dictionary I think I may find it next to the word ‘Hate’. Have a Great Day!

  12. Danny says

    December 6, 2014 at 7:20 pm

    What a selfish jerk could of at least did it out in the desert and what a way to say I’m guilty.

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