RIALTO, Calif. (KABC) -- The city of Rialto is mourning the loss of City Councilman Shawn O'Connell, who was found dead Sunday inside a vehicle in a Loma Linda parking lot.
No foul play is suspected, although the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is investigating the circumstances of O'Connell's death.
Sheriff's deputies found O'Connell in a van in the 24800 block of Redlands Boulevard at 11:09 a.m. Sunday after he was reported missing.
O'Connell, 48, was a retired sergeant from the Rialto Police Department and was named Officer of the Year in 1998.
He also worked on the department's bike team and was a crisis negotiator for the SWAT team
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The Rialto Police Department said as an officer, O'Connell rose quickly to the rank of sergeant and "was known for his strong work ethic and no-nonsense attitude for fighting crime."
KABC
Rialto City Councilman Shawn O'Connell.