El Monte Police Chief Dies Unexpectedly from “Health Issues”

Ben Lowry in uniform

The City of El Monte and the El Monte Police Department have issued a press release announcing the death of El Monte Police Chief Ben Lowry.

“Lowry passed away due to health issues.” He was 45 years old.

Chief Ben Lowry began his law enforcement career in 2000 with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. In 2002, he transferred to the El Monte Police Department in 2002 and served the El Monte community during his tenure. In December 2021, Lowry was appointed Interim Police Chief and was officially appointed Police Chief in June 2022, following his leadership through a difficult period for the El Monte Police Department with the loss of two slain police officers.

El Monte Police announcement

Local media who covered the transport of Lowry’s body from the hospital described his passing this morning as a “sudden death due to illness.”

El Monte is a city in the San Gabriel Valley, east of the city of Los Angeles. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 109,450. The vaccination rate (at least one dose) is 78.2 percent, counting everyone six months and older.