Officer Dies in Apparent Suicide

An off-duty La Habra police officer died early Sunday morning from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, law enforcement officials said.

Officer Brian Wichman, 30, who had been on medical leave for about a year because of a work-related back injury, went to the station, got into a patrol car parked behind the department and shot himself with what investigators believe was a police-issued rifle, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

Fellow officers returning to the station from patrol found Wichman in the car near death shortly after midnight. Paramedics were called and Wichman was transported to Brea Community Hospital, where he died.

“We’re just kind of stunned,” Sgt. Mel Ruiz said. “It’s not something that happens in La Habra too often.”

Department officials released few details Sunday, but sources said foul play has been ruled out. The Orange County district attorney’s office is investigating the death, which is standard procedure in officer-involved shootings.

Ruiz described Wichman, a five-year department veteran, as “an outstanding, very educated young man.”

“He was just a fine representative of the department,” Ruiz said.

Wichman started his career in law enforcement as a reserve officer for the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in 1991. He became a reserve officer with the Costa Mesa Police Department in 1995, and joined the La Habra department as a full-time officer in 1995.