Lieutenant Harvey “Hank” A. Varat January 20, 1938 – October 20, 1973 Lieutenant Hank Varat, a 14-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, was on a search and rescue training exercise in the Santa Susana Mountains when he was bit by a tick and infected with Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. He died four days later. Hank was instrumental in developing the Department’s SWAT Team, Dive Team, and the Search and Rescue Team. (Lt. Varat is pictured on the right without the hat). #sheriffvc