Sheriffs’ Relief Association would like to express their sincerest and deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Deputy Amber Leist who was killed in a tragic traffic accident while assisting an elderly lady who had fallen in a cross walk. 

On Sunday January 12, 2020, Amber, an off duty LASD Detective, was fatally struck by a vehicle in the intersection of Riverside Drive and Whitsett Avenue, in Los Angeles. Amber was 41 and a 12 year veteran of LASD.   She had held various positions with the department in her 12 years, including working as a North County Corrections Officer, a Deputy in Lancaster and a School Resource Deputy. She had spent the last five years with the West Hollywood station where she was promoted to detective. She was the 41-year-old mother of two sons, ages 17 and 20.

Amber was waiting at a red light to make a left hand turn on Riverside Drive when she saw a pedestrian fall in the crosswalk, in front of her vehicle. Amber got out of her personal vehicle and assisted the pedestrian onto the sidewalk. As she made her way back to her car, Amber was struck by a vehicle traveling eastbound on Riverside Drive. Amber succumbed to her injuries.