Sergeant Thomas Hontz was killed following a training exercise when a piece of equipment exploded at about 1700 hours.

He was conducting SWAT exercises at two vacant homes when a device used to puncture a wall and pump tear gas into a room exploded. 14 other officers and firefighters from several agencies were injured as a result of the explosion.

Sergeant Hontz had been employed with the Scottsdale Police Department for 24 years, and was one of the officers responsible for the creation of the agency’s SWAT team.

He is survived by his wife, three sons and extended family.

Please visit the Officer Down Memorial page to share reflections with the many whose lives were touch by a great man.

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