Policeman Killed in Drug Ambush : Crime: One suspect is dead, several others arrested in Downey. Undercover operation was aimed at breaking up Orange County cocaine ring, police say.

An undercover operation intended to lure drug traffickers into a $4-million cocaine deal ended in a bloody ambush in Downey Thursday, leaving a veteran police officer and one suspect dead and several others in custody.

Fullerton Police Officer Tommy De La Rosa, a 43-year-old father of four, was on a multi-agency drug task force directed at breaking up an Orange County cocaine ring when the operation went awry, police said.

De La Rosa, a 10-year veteran, had arranged to sell ring members millions of dollars in cocaine, but when he arrived at the house where the exchange was to take place, they allegedly ambushed him, hoping to steal the drugs, police officials said.

De La Rosa, who was apparently hit from two sides, died either at County-USC Medical Center or in a police helicopter that was taking him there.

The dead suspect was not identified.

Two other suspects were arrested near the scene, and two more, who fled the area on foot, were caught after a 2 1/2-hour search involving dozens of officers, at least two helicopters and a special canine unit.

Two men said to be connected to the ring but not the shooting also were arrested Thursday night in Fullerton. An eighth suspect is still at large.

None of those arrested were identified.

The undercover operation began more than two weeks ago when officers received information about a cocaine ring operating at a house in Orange County, Fullerton Police Capt. Lee DeVore said.

The house, in the 8900 block of Arrington Avenue in Downey, was placed under surveillance.

About 3:20 p.m. Thursday, De La Rosa pulled into the driveway carrying a small quantity of cocaine to be used in the “reverse sting” operation, DeVore said.

But as the officer stepped from his van and walked around the house, five gunmen waiting for him opened fire, police said.

De La Rosa, who was armed with a small-caliber handgun, shot one of the suspects, who staggered into the house and died.

Hit in the stomach by at least one shotgun blast, De La Rosa fell in the driveway.

“I thought it was firecrackers,” said neighbor Brenda Dulac, 34, who was walking out her front door at the time of the shooting. “Something went over my head. It was like a buzzing noise.”

Other undercover officers were on the scene in seconds, leaping from their vehicles and administering first aid to their wounded colleague. A medical helicopter landed next door within a minute or two, and two officers boarded it with De La Rosa, neighbors said.

De La Rosa is the first Fullerton officer to die in the line of duty in at least 15 years, according to Police Lt. Bud Lathrop.

“He was an outstanding officer, a Vietnam veteran, a family man with four kids,” DeVore said. “He was top-notch.”

Times staff writers Ron Smith and Nieson Himmel and correspondent Shannon Sands contributed to this story.