On October 27, 2010, around 11:00 pm, US Marshals and SD County Probation went to serve an arrest warrant at an apartment complex in the Skyline area of Southeast San Diego. They were looking for a suspect wanted for assault with a deadly weapon (245 PC) charges. When County Probation made contact at the door, the subjects closed the door on the Marshals and Probation Officers. The apartment door was kicked in and the subject of the warrant was arrested. At the same time there was a male and female who ran for a back bedroom and barricaded themselves inside. The US Marshals and County Probation Officers removed the other female and an additional male from the apartment, set up a perimeter, and called San Diego PD for assistance. A total of six SDPD Officers, including a SDPD Officer and his K-9 partner, went into the apartment in an attempt to get the male and female out of the bedroom. When there was no response, SDPD Officers started to kick in the bedroom door and were met with gun fire. SDPD Officers returned fire. Officer Christopher Wilson was shot in the head, the K-9 was shot in the face. Two of the officers carried Wilson out of the apartment, the K-9 Officer removed his partner from the apartment, and the other two officers barricaded themselves in another bedroom for cover.

Officer Wilson was transported to Scripps Mercy Hospital, where doctors, knowing the injuries to him were catastrophic, kept him alive until family members could be brought to the hospital. Officer Wilson succumbed to his injuries at approximately 0255 hours of the morning of October 28.

The other two officers were able to escape out of the second story apartment through a window with the assistance of the fire department. The K-9 was transported to the emergency vet hospital, where he underwent surgery for a gun shot wound to the face. He is expected to survive.

After an 8 hour stand-off, SWAT team members made entry into the apartment and found a male and female in the bedroom, dead from apparent gun shot wounds. It is unknown if they died from shots fired by the officers or if they were self inflicted. Several guns were found around the bodies.

Officer Wilson was a 17 year member of the SDPD, was a member of the SWAT team, and a Field Training Officer. He worked out of the Southeast Division. He is survived by his ex-wife and two adult children. The ages of the children is not confirmed at this time. Officer Wilson was a veteran of the US Navy and had attained the rank of Lieutenant before leaving to join SDPD.

The San Diego Police Officers Association has set up a trust fund for Officer Wilson’s family. Checks can be made payable to the SDPOA Charity Fund. Please write “Officer Wilson” in the memo line. Any donations (100%) will go directly to the family. Donations can be mailed to SDPOA, 8388 Vickers Street, San Diego, CA 92111.

Shortly after 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 27, 2010, CHP Officer Brett Oswald was responding to an abandoned vehicle in the middle of South River Road in Paso Robles when he was hit by another vehicle.  Officer Oswald (47) was outside his patrol car checking the abandoned vehicle and awaiting a tow truck when a woman driving a Toyota Corolla turned a corner at high speed and lost control.  The Toyota struck the driver’s door area of the patrol car, sending it into Oswald.

Officer Oswald was airlifted to Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton where hospital staff worked extensively to save his life.  Tragically he succumbed to his injuries at approximately 8:30 p.m.  The 22-year-old driver of the Toyota, Kaylee Weisenberg, suffered minor injuries and was subsequently arrested on charges of felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and driving on a suspended license.

Officer Oswald served as a CHP officer for 20 years.  He is survived by his wife Marlene; mother Linda Oswald; and father Richard Oswald.

At approximately 3:38 a.m. on June 27, 2010, Officer Justin McGrory and Officer Ryan Bostrom were on a traffic stop on northbound I-15, when a red 2009 Pontiac G6, driven by Rafael Garcia, 18, of Las Vegas veered onto the right shoulder, clipped the right rear of the patrol vehicle, then continued and struck Officer McGrory. Officer McGrory was airlifted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Apple Valley, where tragically, he succumbed to his injuries.  Garcia has been charged with vehicular manslaughter, child endangerment, and transportation of marijuana.

Officer McGrory, age 28, began his career with the CHP in October 2007. He is survived by his wife Kelly and three children, with their fourth child expected within weeks.  He is also survived by his father, retired CHP Lieutenant Robert McGrory, and mother, Jeana McGrory.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Funeral services for Officer Justin McGrory will be held on Tuesday, July 6, 2010, at 12:00 p.m.
High Desert Christian Center
14545 Hook Boulevard
Victorville, CA 92394

On June 9, 2010 CHP Motor Officer Philip Ortiz initiated a traffic stop on a Honda SUV northbound on the 405 near the Interstate 10 interchange.  As he had the SUV pulled over on the side of the interstate, the driver of an Infiniti sedan sped along the shoulder bypassing slower traffic to get to an off-ramp.  The driver plowed into the motorcycle, SUV and Officer Ortiz.  The impact mangled the motorcycle and knocked the SUV onto its side. Paramedics had to free Ortiz from the wreckage.

Officer Ortiz remained in a coma until he passed away at 5:50 p.m. on June 23 at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Westwood.

Officer Ortiz, age 48, spent 28 years with the CHP and had worked in the West Los Angeles area for more than 20 years. He is survived by his wife, parents and large extended family.

FUNERAL SERVICES

Viewing will take place on Tuesday June 29, 2010.
Viewing: 3 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Rosary: 5 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Holy Cross Cemetery
5835 W. Slauson Ave.
Culver City 90230

Memorial services will take place on Wednesday June 30, 2010 at 9:30 a.m.
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
555 West Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012

Procession and internment – After the memorial service there will be a procession to the Holy Cross Cemetery for the internment.
Holy Cross Cemetery
5835 W. Slauson Ave
Culver City 90230

Reception – A reception will be held following the graveside service at the Radisson Hotel.
Radisson Hotel
6161 West Centinela Ave.
Culver City CA 90230
(310) 649-1776 (overnight accommodations available)

Trust Fund – A trust fund has been established for the Ortiz family with the C.A.H.P. Credit Union. Please make any checks payable to Jessica Ortiz with “Philip Ortiz Memorial Fund” written on the memo line. Donations can be sent directly to the C.A.H.P. Credit Union.
C.A.H.P. Credit Union
402 West Arrow Hwy, Suite 7
San Dimas, CA 91773
Account #119704

FUNERAL SERVICES

Services for CHP Officer Tom Coleman will be held Thursday, June 17, at 10:00 a.m. at Redlands Bowl, 25 Grant St, Redlands, CA 92373. A reception is being planned for immediately following the funeral.

Officer Coleman (age 33) was killed in a crash on June 11, while pursuing a fleeing suspect in Redlands.  At approximately 6:28 a.m., Officer Coleman initiated a traffic stop on a silver Ford Focus for a traffic violation in the city of Redlands. The Ford Focus fled from Officer Coleman, committing numerous traffic violations at a high rate of speed. Officer Coleman had his lights and siren activated.

As the suspect headed eastbound on San Bernardino Avenue near Nevada Street, Officer Coleman advised that the suspect was still at a high rate of speed. The CHP then began to receive citizen 911 calls that a motorcycle officer had been involved in a collision. CHP officers responded to the intersection of San Bernardino Ave and Alabama Street to find that Officer Coleman had been involved in a serious traffic collision with a big rig truck in the intersection.

The suspect continued to flee eastbound on San Bernardino Avenue. The suspect then turned southbound on Buckeye Street and was involved in a collision at Lugonia Avenue near the Citrus Plaza. Four suspects in the vehicle attempted to flee on foot but were captured by CHP officers soon after.

Officer Coleman was pronounced deceased at the scene.  He is survived by his wife Jamie, their two-and-a-half year old son, and 8 month old daughter, his mother and sister.  Officer Coleman was a seven-year veteran of the CHP.

The driver of the Ford Focus, Richard Perez (20) has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of Officer Tom Coleman.

Contribution information for CHP Officer Tom Coleman is as follows:

CAHP CREDIT UNION San Dimas Branch
402 W. Arrow Hwy. Ste 7
San Dimas, CA 91773
800-451-2247

Make checks payable to:
JAMIE COLEMAN
ACCOUNT # 119677
Write on check: “TOM COLEMAN MEMORIAL FUND”

CHP Officer Dan Benavides (39) was killed Friday, May 7, 2010, when his Cessna 206 patrol aircraft crashed in a remote section of desert southwest of the Salton Sea in Imperial County.

At approximately 9:30 a.m., a CHP air unit, Air-63, was working a speed detail on State Route 86, north of Hoskins Road. After completion of the detail, Air-63 was en route to work a separate speed detail on Interstate 8, west of Dunaway Road, when the El Centro Communication Center lost contact with the pilot. A military and multi-agency search-and-rescue operation for the aircraft was immediately initiated. At approximately 4:03 p.m,, debris from the aircraft was located by a California State Park Air Unit in a rugged, mountainous, desert area near SR-78, west of Split Mountain Road. Benavides was pronounced deceased at the scene. The cause of the collision is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Officer Benavides was a 13-year veteran with the Department and assigned to the Border Division Thermal Air Operations Unit since July 2006 as a fixed-wing aircraft pilot. His previous assignments included Monterey, San Jose, San Diego and Oceanside CHP Area Offices.

Officer Benavides was a resident of the Coachella Valley.  He is survived by his wife and a 9-year-old daughter.

A trust fund has been established for the family of CHP officer Dan Benavides as follows:

C.A.H.P. Credit Union
402 West Arrow Hwy, Suite 7
San Dimas, CA 91773

“Dan Benavides Memorial Fund”
Checks payable to Megan Benavides, account #119638

Reedley Police Officer Javier Bejar was taken off life support this morning and passed away at approximately 5:30 a.m.  Officer Bejar was the second officer mortally wounded in the Minkler/Fresno County incident  that unfolded on February 25.  The incident began around 9:40 a.m. at a mobile home set on 20 acres in the town of Minkler.  Officers were assisting Cal Fire in serving an arrest warrant connected to investigations into a recent series of reported arsons and shooting incidents.

After attempting to make contact and ordering occupants out of the residence with no response, officers broke down the door.  Upon entry the suspect opened fire, killing Fresno County Sheriff’s Deputy Joel Wahlenmaier and wounding Deputy Mark Harris. The suspect then barricaded himself inside the home and continued shooting as additional officers arrived to assist.  Shortly after police set up a perimeter, Reedley Police Officer Javier Bejar (28) was hit in a subsequent exchange of gunfire.

The body of the suspect, Ricky Liles (51), was found at approximately 5 p.m. inside the mobile home.  A woman believed to be Liles’ wife had emerged from the home about an hour earlier.

Before joining the Reedley Police Department, Officer Bejar served in the U.S. Marines with tours in Iraq and Kuwait. He is survived by his wife of two years.

FUNERAL SERVICES

DATE/TIME:  Monday, March 8th, 2010, 10 a.m.
LOCATION:  Fresno Exhibit Hall 848 M Street in Fresno

Interment will take place at approximately 1:00 p.m. at the Reedley Cemetery, located at 2185 S. Reed Avenue.

The Reedley POA has set up the Javier Bejar Support Fund at Chase Banks.  Contributions can be made at any Chase Bank Location.

Fresno County sheriff’s deputy Joel Wahlenmaier (49) was killed in a shooting Thursday morning in rural Fresno County.  A second sheriff’s deputy was wounded by shrapnel and a Reedley police officer remains on life support .  The incident began around 9:40 a.m. February 25, at a mobile home set on 20 acres in the town of Minkler.  Officers were assisting Cal Fire in serving an arrest warrant connected to investigations into a recent series of reported arsons and shooting incidents.

After attempting to make contact and ordering occupants out of the residence with no response, officers broke down the door.  Upon entry the suspect opened fire.  Deputy Wahlenmaier was reportedly struck in the side.  Deputy Mark Harris (48) took shrapnel to the head/eye area. The suspect then barricaded himself inside the home and continued shooting as additional officers arrived to assist.  Shortly after police set up a perimeter, Reedley Police Officer Javier Bejar (28) was hit in a subsequent exchange of gunfire.

The body of the suspect, Ricky Liles (51), was found at approximately 5 p.m. inside the mobile home.  A woman believed to be Liles’ wife had emerged from the home about an hour earlier.

Deputy Wahlenmaier leaves behind his wife, Bev, daughter, Amy 24, son Austin 21, and his parents, all of Fresno.