A reserve Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy died Friday while participating in the mountain biking competition at the 2017 World Police & Fire Games, authorities said.
The sheriff's department identified him as Deputy Jacob Castroll, who has served as a reserve deputy since 2010 in the sheriff's Malibu-Lost Hills Station.
He was 68, according to the Association For Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs. Castroll was found about 9:40 a.m. lying unresponsive on the Castaic Lake area race course by another rider, according to Deputy Ryan Rouzan of the Sheriff's Information Bureau.
"My heart's broken," Lea Rookwood, Castroll's daughter said. "My father dedicated a lot of time to fallen officers and here he is - a fallen officer."
Paramedics took him to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in "full (cardiac) arrest," county fire Inspector Joey Marron said.
Castroll was pronounced dead about 11:15 a.m. at the hospital, according to Rouzan, who said the death will be investigated by the Sheriff's Homicide Bureau.
He was a father of three and had four grandchildren. His family remembers him as a generous man who always looked out for the wellbeing of his loved ones.
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"He was more than an angel, he was such a good person," Rody Castroll, his wife of 47 years, said. "He would look for something good to do on a daily basis and he loved the department."
Sheriff Jim McDonnell issued a statement expressing sadness on behalf of the department over the deputy's death.
"We offer our prayers and condolences to his family, friends and partners during this difficult time," he said.
Castroll is survived by his wife Rody and three children, Victor, Lea and Rica, according to the sheriff's department.
"Jacob was an avid bicyclist in his free time who participated in numerous Police Unity Tours," according to an ALADS statement that described Castroll as "well-known throughout the department."
"Our condolences are with Reserve Deputy Castroll's family, friends and coworkers," the union statement said.
The bicycle racing in Castaic was among the day's events, which also included dragon boat races at Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale; basketball, boxing, darts and volleyball at the Los Angeles Convention Center; horseshoe tossing at Richard Rioux Park in Santa Clarita; pocket billiards at Hard Times Billiards in Bellflower; and rugby at the Balboa Sports Center in Encino.
Also scheduled was pistol shooting at the Los Angeles Police Academy in Elysian Park and Pitchess Detention Center in Santa Clarita; softball at Big League Dreams in West Covina, swimming at the Exposition Park Swim Stadium, tennis at Griffith Park, track and field at West Los Angeles College and a bowling competition at Pinz Bowling Center in Studio City.
The 11-day Olympics-style competition for active and retired police officers and firefighters from around the world continues through Wednesday.
