San Diego Veteran Officer Dies In RivCo Jail Parking Lot, Now His Family Wants Answers

SAN DIEGO, CA — San Diego Police Officer Lawrence Orso, 46, released hours after a DUI arrest, suffered a medical emergency and died just outside the courtroom and jail in Murrieta's Southwest Justice Center almost one year ago. No one noticed his body for nearly an hour.

Now, his family is seeking answers.

In September of 2024, Orso, a Murrieta resident, was arrested on a misdemeanor DUI charge, booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center, according to court records. According to a lawsuit filed on July 2 in U.S. District Court, obtained by The Press-Enterprise, he was wearing a portable EKG monitor at the time of his initial arrest, was taken to the hospital, and cleared for booking. There, he stayed for about two hours before being released on a $2,500 bond at 8:26 a.m.

He first collapsed onto a curb by the courthouse steps, then made it as far as the jail parking lot, where he was found, unresponsive, and declared dead over an hour later.

"Despite clear evidence of his serious medical condition, including the visible presence of the monitoring device, SWDC (Southwest Detention Center) staff failed to take any appropriate steps to assess, monitor, or provide the necessary medical care to Mr. Orso. This premature and medically unsafe release constituted a reckless disregard for Mr. Orso’s health and safety," the suit reads.

"The failure of (Southwest Detention Center) personnel to respond to his obvious medical emergency reflects a shocking disregard for his life, and constitutes deliberate indifference to his serious medical needs."

At the time of his death, the San Diego Police Department indicated that Orso had suffered a medical emergency before his death, writing:

"San Diego Police Officer Lawrence David Orso passed away on September 21, 2024, after suffering a medical emergency. The Riverside Sheriff’s Department notified San Diego Police officials of his passing. The San Diego Police Department is cooperating with the Riverside Sheriff’s Department as we learn more about this incident."

Following an investigation, the family filed a lawsuit saying that his release was "medically unsafe."

Read more:

SDPD Officer's Death Outside Murrieta Jail Under Investigation