Alameda Co. Sheriff’s Department Dep. John P. Monego was ambushed and killed execution-style Saturday, Dec. 12, in Dublin. Monego, 33, had responded to a takeover robbery in which another officer, Angela Schwab, had been overpowered and disarmed.

Monego, who had worked in the city for only eight months, was declared dead at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley.

Three Central Valley men, with no previous criminal records, were arrested a short time later following a high-speed chase and crash nearby. Police say Reuben Vasquez, 23, of Modesto shot Monego once with a handgun as he entered the restaurant’s foyer, then stood over his body and shot him five-or-six more times. The other two suspects are Hai Minh Le and Miguel Sifuentes, both 19 and from Turlock. They each face 31 felony counts including murder, robbery, burglary and false imprisonment.

Monego is the first police officer to have died in the line-of-duty in Dublin. For the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, which contracts police services to the city, it was the first death in the line of duty in 13 years. Mayor Guy Houston said, “This is a big shock for the city of Dublin. He had just come on duty with us.”

Thousands of uniformed law enforcement personnel from agencies around Northern California, and as far away as South Lake Tahoe, Chico and San Diego coverged on Pleasanton Thursday, Dec. 17, to pay their respects.

Sheriff Charles Plummer told the mourners at Monego’s service, “All of us are just asking why. How can a good man who spent most of his adult life serving as a peacekeeper be killed by people who are not worthy to clean the dirt from his boots?”

Monego’s sister, Mary Ellen Biesecker, told the grief stricken crowd, “My brother was lucky. He had so many friends.” As she spoke, she embraced her son, Brian, an aspiring police officer who idolized his uncle.

Deputy Steve Lenthe, Monego’s best friend, called him a “cop’s cop.”

Hundreds of local residents watched silently as the two-mile-long procession of more than 450 police cars joined with 196 police motorcycles, six limousines and more than 100 other vehicles, to travel through the city to Saint Michael’s Cemetery in Livermore.

“Everyone came out. It showed true brotherhood, for something that shouldn’t have happened,” said Alameda County Sheriff’s Deputy Jeff Hazelitt, who knew Monego for only a year, but could not stop the tears.

Peace officers attending the funeral said the cold-blooded nature of the shooting was one reason Monego’s death weighed so heavily on them.

Chief of Santa Clara County’s Department of Corrections, Timothy Ryan, said, “To be cut down in such a way, it’s a shock, particularly to police officers.”

Dep. Michael Toms said, “John was a great police officer. He often motivated me to try and do the best job possible.

“When John went 10-8 for the night, he would always look to make a felony arrest, even though in the small town of Dublin that was not always possible. John’s philosophy was that he tried.

“John had a quick wit and a sharp tongue. I saw many criminals that were sorry that they became belligerent or sarcastic with him. However, he loved to do practical jokes, mostly on his supervisors.

“He also loved to talk about his 18-month-old son. He would always have a story about something his son did that would make us laugh.

“When John talked about how to do the job or was talking with someone that was argumentative, he would make his point by saying, ‘The bottom line is . . .’ That was his way of letting people know that he was not going to beat around the bush.

“John is being called a hero now. There is no doubt that he is. He is more than that though. A hero changes the outcome of a particular incident or circumstance. John’s death surely saved the life or lives of the hostages that were held inside the restaurant.

“John was also a role model. He was an example to others on how to be a police officer and how to just be a friend.

“Hundreds of people will miss John. We all wish there was some way to undo his death. In John’s words, the bottom line is, there is nothing we can do, except to pray that no one has to feel the pain of losing someone like John again.

“John, I miss you every day. Thanks for being there all the times I needed cover or a ride to work.” Monego, who was born in Passaic, New Jersey on Nov. 5, 1965, was the youngest of three children born to John and Dorothy Monego. He graduated from Amador High School in Pleasanton in 1983.

He graduated from the 97th Basic Academy and was hired in Nov. 1989 by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Dept.

He had a short break in service with the Sheriff’s Department, when he took a job with the Los Angeles Police Dept. He didn’t work there long before he returned to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Dept.

Over his distinguished nine-year career, Monego received several commendations from the Sheriff’s Department. He worked at the Santa Rita County Jail as a classification officer before he was transferred to Law Enforcement Services at Highland Hospital.

He was assigned to patrol at Eden Township and AC Transit Police services and then was appointed to work for the city of Dublin.

Monego is survived by his wife, Tammy, a California Highway Patrol officer; son, Dominic, 18-months old; as well as his parents and sisters.

A trust fund has been set up for Tammy and Dominic Monego at the Operating Engineers Credit Union, 6300 Village Parkway, Dublin, CA 94568.

Ofc. Rick C. Cromwell, 35, was the first officer in the history of the Lodi Police Department to die in the line of duty when his motorcycle collided with a car on Wednesday, Dec. 9.

Cromwell, who was in pursuit of a speeder, died instantly from the accident that caused the officer to break his neck and suffer massive head trauma, according to the San Joaquin County Coroner’s report. He was patrolling Kettleman Lane as part of a departmental campaign to reduce speeding on the busy thoroughfare, reported Lodi Police Chief Larry Hansen.

He was eastbound pursuing a motorist when Ione resident Jasper Laraway, 85, attempted to make a left turn out of the Vineyard Shopping Center and drove into Cromwell’s path, Hansen said. Laraway apparently didn’t see Cromwell approaching.

Witnesses stated that Cromwell laid his Harley-Davidson motorcycle on its side in an attempt to stop before hitting Laraway’s vehicle. A witness to the accident, Josephine Potter of Lodi who knew Cromwell from meetings of the Lodi Eagles fraternal organization, remembered saying to herself, ” ‘Lay it down, lay it down.'”

More than 400 officers on motorcycles thundered through the streets of Lodi on Wednesday, Dec. 16, during Cromwell’s funeral procession. Services were held at the Century Assembly Church, where more than 2,300 gathered to hear Cromwell eulogized as a loving husband and father, and a fine police officer.

Thousands of Lodi residents lined the procession route, many wiping away tears as the procession passed. The Lodi Fire Department used two ladder trucks with ladders extended to form an arch draped with a large American flag over the roadway leading into the Cherokee Memorial Park where Cromwell was buried.

Hansen stated, “He was a good friend and officer who gave of himself for a job that he loved. Lodi lost a good police officer, a good husband, father, son, brother and neighbor, when Officer Rick Cromwell died. Thousands of people in Lodi lost a friend, a dedicated public servant and a real-life hero. In serving this country, he has laid down his life.”

Hansen continued his eulogy, “He was one of those people everyone felt comfortable around, loved to joke with. We all miss him. He was one of those people who loved his work and would always do things that weren’t required of him. He was the one who worked with other officers who wanted to qualify for motorcycle work, and he spent a lot of his own time and effort on that.”

Colleagues recalled his professional abilities, which ranged from fixing nearly all things mechanical to teaching novices and supervisors the intricacies of motorcycle riding.

Hansen spoke of how Cromwell gave of himself to the community through volunteer work and leadership. He said his death had affected the department and the community.

Hansen continued, “As you know the Lodi Police Department recently came out with trading cards for each of the officers. On the back of my card it says, ‘One person can make a difference.’ And Rick Cromwell made a tremendous difference.”

Hansen thanked Cindy Cromwell for the countless hours her husband donated to the department, helping other officers with training and working on the department’s motorcycles. He also thanked Cromwell’s parents for raising a good son, a son he said was a credit to the department he served.

Lt. David Main told the mourners of Cromwell’s wit regarding the time a newer officer bought a coat and was wearing it for the first time in the station. Cromwell told him the coat looked nice.

“The other officer asked him if he really thought so. He replied ‘Nah, I just never complimented you before, and I wanted to see what it felt like,’ ” Main remembered, which drew laughter from the audience.

Cromwell was born in Lodi on May 7, 1963, and attended local high schools. He graduated from the Lodi Academy in 1981, and went to the De Vry School of Industry in Arizona, where he earned a bachelor of science degree in computer technology.

He chose law enforcement as a profession, and after completing the San Joaquin Delta College Police Academy, he was hired by the City of Lodi in August 1988. Cromwell had been a patrol officer for approximately five years, when he was transferred to the traffic unit as a motorcycle enforcement officer. Cromwell continued his education and training in the field of collision reconstruction. He was a court certified expert in this field, and was frequently called upon to consult on serious accidents for Lodi and other police agencies. He was a critical member of the police department’s Major Accident Investigation Team, and was considered to have a special talent of being able to determine the actual chain of events that caused the collision to occur.

Two years ago Cromwell and Officer Lee Patterson instituted the Officer Roadway Program to educate Lodi students about bicycle and pedestrian safety.

In June 1998, Cromwell handled a minor traffic accident in which Laraway was involved, Hansen reported. Cromwell notified DMV that it should conduct an official review of Laraway’s driver’s license.

A DMV investigator interviewed him and determined that no action would be taken although they did flag his file to review the matter if he had any future driving problems. Laraway’s license was suspended for 30 days following the recent accident.

Cromwell was an expert motorcycle rider, and a state certified instructor for teaching riding skills to other police officers to prepare them for motorcycle assignments. He was very concerned with motorcycle maintenance, and took it upon himself to be the lead officer in charge of the maintenance of the entire fleet of police motorcycles.

Cromwell was well known for being exceptionally generous with his time and mechanical ability. Some of his many family members would call him to repair almost any mechanical device imaginable and no one could remember a machine that he couldn’t fix.

He is survived by his wife, Cindy; daughters, 5-year-old Ashleigh and 3-year-old Lindsey; and parents, Mary and Chuck Cromwell of Lodi.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Rick Cromwell Memorial Fund, No. 0102098043, c/o Bank of Lodi, 701 S. Ham Lane, Lodi, CA 95242.

Hundreds of police cruisers and other vehicles participated in an extraordinary funeral procession honoring Deputy Sandra L. Larson on Tuesday, Dec. 15, in Sacramento, following services at the Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church.

Larson, 48, a front-seat passenger in a sheriff’s van that was taking two inmates from Soledad Prison to Sacramento for court dates, died Tuesday, Dec. 8, when the van crashed into a stalled tractor-trailer rig parked on I-5.

The rig, which had broken down, was parked between the merging lanes of northbound Interstate 5 near the J Street exit. A broken water line had forced the truck to stop in the narrow no-drive zone, CHP spokesman Officer Brent Carter reported.

Deputy Larson died at the scene of the accident. The passenger side of the van, where she was seated, was crushed against the rear of the truck. Deputy Susan Rosenberg, 53, who was driving the van, survived with broken bones and a lacerated arm. She remained hospitalized and underwent surgery on a broken foot.

Rosenberg was brought by ambulance to the service for her dear friend. Rosenberg, appearing to be in pain, sat up in a portable bed. Afterward the service, Rosenberg said she was “overwhelmed” by the turnout.

She stated, “I’ve attended many (police) funerals during my career, but never one that impacted me so much.”

The inmates that were being transported to court sustained injuries. One suffered a fractured jaw and other injuries that required hospitalization, and the other was treated and returned to jail.

“Larson and her partner, Rosenberg, were part of a tight-knit unit of 10 deputies, five teams of two, who move inmates across the state,” Lt. Thomas Guichard, who heads the department’s court division stated. He added that partners in the group spend a lot of time together on the road and sometimes they stay overnight.

Deputy Lori Battimarco stated that she sometimes filled in on the teams and had ridden with Larson on several occasions. She said they would swap stories about the trials of rearing teenage children, and Larson would proudly show off photos of her 16-year-old daughter and 13-year old son.

Battimarco said, “She was about the sweetest person you could ever meet. She was always asking about people. She was very supportive of anything you were doing.”

Larson, who joined the Sacramento Co. Sheriff’s Department in 1974, was also known as a tough officer who spoke her mind, especially on union issues. She was on the union’s board of directors for many of the past 18 years.

Wendell Phillips, former deputies’ union president, recalled an incident when he and Larson responded to a call at a house 20 years ago and were confronted by members of the Hell’s Angels motorcycle gang.

“I was surrounded by Hell’s Angels, and one of them said to me, ‘Why are you here by yourself?'” Phillips said. “At that time, you could hear the sound of a shotgun racking. Larson said, ‘He’s not here by himself.'”

Larson, a native of Sacramento, was raised in Rio Linda, where she graduated from the Rio Linda High School in 1968. She worked as an eligibility worker for the county Welfare Department and a clerical worker in the District Attorney’s Office before joining the Sheriff’s Department in 1974.

She attended Sacramento City College where she earned an associate of arts degree in criminal justice.

Her duty assignments with the Sacramento Co. Sheriff’s Department included the branch jail and the main jail. She had also served as patrol officer. She had worked in the long-haul transportation for the past eight years.

Lt. Guichard stated that, “Sandy was a terrific deputy. She was always on the cutting edge of security and she treated inmates with respect and dignity. She worked with numerous divisions within the department and had been our longest member of the transportation unit. “. . . She was always cheerful, always quick with recommendations to improve service to the community. She spoke her mind. She was forthright and honest.”

Sheriff’s Lt. Jim Cooper, said of Larson, “A lot of people didn’t want to get involved in the (union), but she did and she became a very vocal member of the board. She was a straight shooter who would let you know how she felt, about everything. People liked that.

“You always knew where she was coming from. She was very outgoing, well respected by her peers, always had a smile, just a very nice lady.”

Former Deputy Pat Wirsing called her “the sparkplug of the association.”

Out-going Sheriff Glen Craig eulogized Larson as an outstanding officer and “role model for others.”

Sheriff-elect Lou Blanas stated, “It was a most touching and emotional farewell to a fine officer. The law enforcement community is like a family. When one of us dies in the line of duty, we show enormous support.”

Larson was the first female Sacramento County deputy to have died in the line of duty, and the first officer to die since 1988, when Deputy Richard E. Deffner was shot and killed.

The family suggested that any donations be mailed to the Law Enforcement Chaplaincy in care of the Larson family, 2000 Marconi Ave., Sacramento 95821.

She is survived by her husband, Robert Larson, a pilot currently assigned to the Sacramento Co. Sheriff’s aero detail; a daughter, Teresa, 16; son, Mark, 13; mother, Virginia Rudkin and step-father, Pete Rudkin, of Sacramento; sister, Pamela McBroom; and brothers, Lt. Bill Powell of the Sacramento Co. Sheriff’s Dept., and John Powell of New York City.

Los Angeles Police Officer III Brian E. Brown was honored by more than 3,000 Southern California law enforcement officers who attended his memorial service on Friday, Dec. 4, at Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills.

Brown was the victim of a gang shooting on Sunday, Nov. 29, as he and his partner, Francisco Dominguez, chased two gunmen. The gunmen who had just committed a fatal drive-by shooting in Culver City peppered the squad car with assault-weapon fire. Brown, who didn’t have time to get out of his car or draw his weapon, was struck in the head.

Brown died at the University of California, Los Angeles, Medical Center shortly after the incident.

“The officers were outmatched by the gunmen who were firing a Ruger mini-14 assault rifle and a semiautomatic attack weapon,” Capt. Gary Williams told the press. They were armed with only 9mm and .45-caliber handguns to defend themselves.

One of the gunmen, Oscar Zatarain, 23, of Rancho Cucamonga, was shot and killed at a nearby shopping mall by Dominguez and two other officers.

Chief Bernard Parks stated, “This officer, along with his partner, basically came upon a homicide scene, pursued some suspects that they thought were involved in that scene.”

The second gunman commandeered a taxi at a nearby convenience store. After shoving the cabby out of the car, the gunman led police on a five-mile chase to the Los Angeles International Airport, where he rammed several parked cars at Terminal One outside the Southwest Airlines area.

He then bolted from the wrecked cab and ran about 200 yards before he was struck by at least four bullets fired by police. The man, whose name was not released, was stable after surgery at UCLA Medical Center, Chief Parks reported.

Brown, who had been with the department for three years, is the third L.A.P.D. officer to die during 1998. Mayor Richard Riordan said in a statement, “Officer Brown was killed in cold bold by a criminal with no regard for others.”

During the service, Brown’s son, 7-year-old Dylan, told the audience in a tearful tribute to his father, “I just didn’t want him to die.” “He was the best. He was one of the most lovable dads and he was a great police officer and I really loved him and I’m going to miss him,” Dylan continued. “He really loved me and I really loved him too. I just loved him so much. I just didn’t want him to die,” he said.

Chief Bernard Parks said, “Dylan is an exact replica of his father. It is clear that his father took time with him. It is clear that Dylan has modeled himself after his father.” Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan, shook Dylan’s hand and praised his father’s bravery and told him, “Dylan, all of Los Angeles is proud of your dad.”

Other speakers remembered Brown, 27, as a brave Marine and vigilant cop. He had survived sniper firm in Somalia only to be shot to death by a gang member on the streets of Los Angeles.

Memories of an officer who loved his job were shared by his colleagues from the Marine Corps and Los Angeles Police Dept.

Mike Ventura, a Marine, told the audience of Brown’s courage in Somalia in 1993, and described how he maneuvered his team under fire. Ventura said that in the course of the skirmish, Brown and another soldier were wounded. Brown made sure the other soldier was rescued. He was awarded the Purple Heart for multiple shrapnel wounds to both legs suffered in the incident.

Officer Keith Krallman remembered the first time he saw Brown at the Police Academy. He was struck by his appearance: a suit and shiny military issue dress shoes. Krallman accurately figured that he had just left military service. Brown was honorably discharged in September 1995, and entered the academy that same month, where he was selected as a squad leader.

His final rating from the Academy reflected that he projected self-confidence, authority, and enthusiasm. He excelled in self-defense, tactical training, and weaponry. At the same time, he was rated outstanding in his grasp and application of human relations skills. Krallman continued, “Brown was the kind of classmate who kept encouraging everyone in the squad. Egging them on to study harder and run faster.” “The words ‘I can’t’ didn’t exist in his vocabulary.”

Officer Vito Ceccia told the gathering, “Brown wanted his squad to be the best. He was always coming up and adjusting my tie or tie clip. He was a perfectionist.”

“Brown’s death was a humbling reminder of the fragility of life and the all-too-real dangers of police work,” Krallman said.

Brown was born in Killeen, Texas on Sept. 3, 1971. He graduated from Vashon High School in Vashon, Washington. He entered the United States Marine Corps in September 1989.

Brown did his probation in Los Angeles’ Central Area where ratings state he excelled in learning the police craft. A letter from an appreciative citizen thanked Brown for his outstanding service. After probation, he moved on to the 77th Street Area.

In recognition of his outstanding abilities, Brown had achieved the rank of training officer with less than four years on the job. He was only in his second month of working Pacific Area when he was killed.

He was buried Monday, Dec. 7, in Houston, Texas.

Brown was a single parent. In addition to his son, is suvived by his father, Dennis; step-mother, April; his mother, Emily; and step-father, Dick.

A trust fund has been established for Brown’s son. Donations should be sent to the Brian Brown Blue Ribbon Trust Account, LAPD’s Pacific Area Station, 12312 Culver Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066. Please note that donations to the Blue Ribbon Trust are not tax deductible. A tax deductible donation may be made in the name of Officer Brown to the Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation, 150 North Los Angeles Street, #731, Los Angeles, CA 90012. These donations stay with the Foundation.

The Oxnard First Baptist Church was the setting on Monday, Aug. 17, when more than 1,000 gathered to remember Ventura County Sheriff’s Senior Deputy Lisa D. Whitney, who died Aug. 12 when a pickup truck plowed into her unmarked patrol car.

Whitney was on her way to Camarillo to conduct an interview when her car was broadsided by a pickup driven by Tanya Pittman, 36, of Ventura. Pittman ran through a traffic signal disabled by a power outage 10 minutes before the accident. She suffered minor injuries. Whitney had called her supervisor at home to tell him she was driving to Camarillo to interview witnesses in a rape case she was investigating. Sgt. Dave Williams, who was on vacation, told her, “It was late in the evening, why don’t you wait until tomorrow, but she was just one of those people who just wanted to do the job.”

Whitney, 28, had won the respect of her colleagues by gaining a reputation as a proactive cop who tracked down criminals. As a wife, she shared her love for law enforcement with her husband, Sgt. Scott Whitney of the Oxnard Police Department. And as an equestrian, she was a member of her department’s mounted enforcement unit who had made many friends with her horse-riding counterparts from other police departments.

Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Chuck Buttell said, “She was a huntress who went after the bad guys with a vengeance. This is a tragedy that is almost indescribable to me . . . I’m numb as is most of the department.”

He continued “Everybody knew Lisa Whitney and everybody was better for it.”

Jan Bryant, Whitney’s mother, describing her daughter “She was respected, determined, loyal and a very loving person. And that’s across the board to her family and friends.”

Whitney’s death while on duty is all the more tragic considering that in many ways she had just embarked on a new phase in her life. She was recently promoted to investigator, assigned to Williams’ sex crimes unit. She and her husband had just moved into a new home in Ventura where they would have celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary on Aug. 14.

Whitney, who was raised in Fillmore, by her mother and stepfather, Jan and Chuck Bryant, began working in the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department personnel office in 1988.

Law enforcement had run in the family, given that her uncle worked for the Sheriff’s Department and her grandfather was the founder of the original Ventura County Search and Rescue Team.

Whitney received Johnson’s former badge, No. 119, at his request when she graduated from the sheriff’s academy in 1990. It was there that she met her future husband, Scott, whose two brothers also work for the Oxnard Police Department.

The young couple embarked on a promising life together, with his being promoted to sergeant and she being named Officer of the Year in 1996, while working as a patrol deputy at the sheriff’s headquarters.

Whitney was promoted to senior deputy in 1997 and a year later, she transferred to the department’s Major Crimes Unit where she had just begun work as a sex crimes investigator. Williams said he chose Whitney for his unit because of the outstanding work she had done as a patrol officer.

Devastated by Whitney’s death, friends and law enforcement colleagues remembered her as a personable, yet firm, deputy with a bright future in the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department.

Williams stated, “She was hard-working and tenacious as hell. You couldn’t tell her ‘no.’ We went out and actually solicited her.” Williams continued, “To go from patrol to major crimes in eight years is a pretty big jump. I attribute that to Lisa’s ability. She’s one of those people that hit the ground running. With more experience she would have been an excellent investigator.”

Capt. Joe Funchess, a supervisor during Whitney’s last assignment at the Honor Farm jail in Ojai, stated “One thing we say about working (here) is that you have to be fair and firm. She was the epitome of fairness and firmness.”

Whitney joined the Sheriff’s Mounted Unit in 1993 and recently attended the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Training Academy. She was also a member of the Mounted Unit Honor Guard and had worked as a certified trainer throughout California.Sr. Dep. Lisa D. Whitney

Whitney’s mother said she started her daughter with horses when she was 4 years old, just as her father had done with her. The two women shared their hobby, with Jan on hand in Canada to watch Lisa train at the Royal Canadian Academy.

“She took [her love for horses] and made it part of her career with the Sheriff’s Department,” Bryant said. “That was something that was very important to us.”

Sheriff’s Deputy Laura Means, Whitney’s friend and former supervisor, described her as an intelligent woman who had a knack with horses. “She was such a wonderful horse person. It’s very, very sad,” Means said. “She’s the girl you want your daughter to grow up to be.”

Retired Sheriff Larry Carpenter grew up with Whitney’s mother in Fillmore and first met Whitney when she worked for the department as a clerk. “She could handle a liquor store robbery one minute and a child abuse case the next and handle them both well,” Carpenter said. “She just did an outstanding job.”

As he stood in front of his wife’s mahogany-colored casket, Scott Whitney told the gathering “Lisa, I know you’re watching over us. My heart is filled with sorrow and I am lonely, but I will be strong for you as you have always been strong for me.”

Donations in memory of Whitney may be made to the West County Police Services Explorer Post 2902 at 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura 93009.

Officer Filberto H. Cuesta Jr., a member of the Los Angeles Police Department Gang Unit, was eulogized Friday, Aug. 14, as a hero.

Thousands of officers from the Los Angeles Police Department and law enforcement agencies from throughout California gathered at the Calvary Chapel in Diamond Bar to mourn one of their “brothers.”

Cuesta, 26, died Sunday, Aug. 9, when he was shot in the head by bullets fired through the rear window of his patrol car. He and his partner, Officer Richard Gabaldon, were outside a party where gang members had shown up. They were waiting for backup units to arrive when the shooting occurred.

Catarino Gonzalez Jr., 20, surrendered to authorities Aug. 11 after learning he was wanted for the shooting. He is known for gang activity and has been arrested numerous times since 1994, mainly for drug-related offenses. Although court records didn’t reveal that Gonzalez is a gang member, his tattoos and his statements indicated that he is a member of the 18th Street gang a police spokesman reported.

More than 4,000 people attended the funeral honoring Cuesta. Hundreds of police cars, fire trucks and other law enforcement vehicles took part in a funeral caravan on the Pomona Freeway that stretched for miles. Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier was the site for Cuesta’s burial.

Mayor Richard Riordan, one of dozens of elected officials at the service, referring to Cuesta “You dedicated your life to the protection and safety of others. You protected the weak from peril, and you took time to shepherd young people who had lost their way. You served the LAPD with honor and dignity. You were a hero among heroes. Today, you are in a much better place.”

Cuesta is the youngest of the 15 LAPD officers who have died in the line of duty since 1990. He was shot just three days after returning from paternity leave.

During the funeral friends and relatives held his two daughters. Sierra Rose, four weeks old, sat quietly in an infant carrier, while her sister, Samantha, 18 months old, drank milk from a bottle. Clad in a white dress, Samantha waved at the large, color portrait of her father in his police uniform that stood over his coffin.

Cuesta’s wife, Sylvia, was assisted by two LAPD officers as she entered the chapel for the service. As she looked up at the large audience made up mostly of police officers, she seemed overwhelmed and said, “It’s beautiful. Thank you Father.”

Cuesta’s coworkers from the LAPD’s Southwest Division remembered their colleague during the eulogy. “Thanks for all the times you said, ‘Let’s cruise the area one more time before we end our watch,'” one officer said. All vowed to Cuesta’s wife that they would keep their promise to Cuesta and look out for his children.

Ofc. Timothy Kalkus stated “He was our brother, and we have sworn to protect his family.” He told Sylvia Cuesta to expect “birthday gifts and offers of help from 20 men” in the years to come.

Kalkus told the audience that Cuesta worked hard on the job but “he didn’t have to work hard at home because his love for his family came easy.”

Cuesta’s supervisor at Southwest, Sgt. Alexander Moreno, remembered the night he was shot. “From the moment that he fell, he was never alone. There were brother and sister officers on the ground, there were officers in the air, there were officers faraway, on the radio,” all looking after him.

Ofc. Gary Copeland, his voice cracking, said “There wasn’t a day that passed that Fil didn’t mention his wife and two little daughters. He loved his family and he loved his work.”

Sylvia Cuesta said, regarding the man who had shot her husband, that he “was out there, you know, to shoot an officer, not to shoot Fil. It wasn’t a personal thing.” She fought back tears as she struggled to speak.

“I just hope he realizes what he has done,” she said. “You know, he left two young girls without their father. And as much as I am strong, I can’t say the same for my girls, knowing they’re not going to have their dad there anymore.”

President Clinton, who was in the Los Angeles area, called Cuesta’s wife to extend his condolences. LAPD issued a statement that said “the president spoke of violence in America and how dangerous it is to be a police officer.”

Cuesta, who is the son of Filberto, Sr. and Rosalia Cuesta, was born in La Mirada, California. He received his primary education at St. Paul of the Cross and graduated from St. Paul’s High School in 1989.

He joined LAPD on March 21, 1994. During his tour of duty with the department, he completed his probation at 77th, then went on to Central Traffic Division. Later, he was assigned to Southwest’s Community Resources Against Street Hoodlums (CRASH) anti-gang program.

Cuesta was a devoted member of Las Buenas Nuevas Church in Norwalk where he served the youth by warning them against gangs. He loved all sports, but he had a great passion for baseball and Nintendo.

A memorial fund for Cuesta’s family has been set up. To contribute, send donations to: Sylvia Cuesta, c/o of the law firm of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher, 333 S. Grand Ave., Suite 4600, Los Angeles, CA 90071.

Officer Claire Nicole Carolyn Connelly was only with the Riverside Police Department for 18 months, but her death on Sunday, July 12, earned her a painful place in its history: She became the department’s first female officer to die in the line of duty and the 11th officer since 1912.

Connelly was taken off a life support system Sunday, a day after being struck by a suspected drunk driver while investigating a traffic accident. She was pinned between two vehicles and suffered head, pelvic and abdominal injuries.

A tow truck driver, Alejandro Garcia, 22, who was also injured in the incident, was able to go to Connelly’s car and radio for assistance. He suffered an injured knee and other moderate injuries.

Connelly had been assigned to a squad car by herself for approximately six weeks when the accident happened, according to a department spokesman.

Ron Wright, president of the Riverside Peace Officers Association, said “Everybody was deeply saddened and shocked. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.”

Darlene Barbary, 34, an employee of the Riverside County Fire Department was accused of running into Connelly. She was arrested on suspicion of felony drunken driving. Prosecutors planned to consider filing additional charges against her because of Connelly’s death. She posted a $10,000 bail and was released from jail the day of the accident.

Riverside Police Chief Gerald Carroll, who was at the hospital most of the day following the accident talking to Connelly’s family and colleagues, said “She was a very bright warm, well-liked young person.”

Sgt. Don Taulli stated “She’s worked really well with everybody. She was a very nice person and was on her way to being a very good cop.”

At the funeral on Friday, July 12, attended by more than one thousand, speakers urged mourners not to hate Barbary, the woman accused of causing Connelly’s death. Her sister, Mary Anne Connelly, told the audience “Any hatred I have would not hurt her. It would destroy me. I do not believe that she intended to kill anyone when she got into the car that night.”

She also spoke of poems and sayings that her sister loved. One spoke of believing in the sun, even when it didn’t shine and believing in God, even when he is silent. “Today, it feels like God is silent,” she tearfully stated.

Connelly’s father, John, had a business associate and friend read his words at the eulogy. He urged those at the service to treat everyone they meet on his daughter’s funeral date -July 17 – as if that stranger would die at midnight. The bubbly, bright, and happy Connelly would have liked that, her father said, through the friend.

Connelly’s father’s friend ended by saying, “Heaven is a happier place with Claire controlling the clouds today.”

Toward the end of the graveside service, a touching moment showed another side of Connelly as members of an Alcoholics Anonymous group from Palm Springs called her an inspiration. In steady, compassionate voices, the group recited the 27 words that changed their lives, and the life of Claire Connelly, a woman with whom they strongly identified, despite their diverse backgrounds.

Members of the Alcoholics Anonymous group described Connelly’s 14 years of sobriety as a worthy goal they intended to pursue. They said that she continued to attend the Palm Springs group’s meetings even though she had started a new life in Riverside.

Connelly’s father said he was pleasantly surprised by the AA members who attended the ceremony. He said his daughter was a recovering alcoholic who was active in the group as a “sponsor,” or mentor, for others.

Chief Carroll remarked that he was unaware of Connelly’s recovery from addiction, but could see how she might turn it into an ability to help others. Carroll remarked “One of the things that made her special was her ability to relate to people and her very caring and loving attitude.” As an officer, “I wish I had 10 more just like her,” he said.

Carroll compared Connelly to a beautiful rose plucked from a gardener’s prized flower bed. “The rose must have been so fair to have attracted the attention of the master,” he stated.

There were several large, framed photographs of Connelly at the graveside service including one with her father, showing the two smiling on the day she graduated from the police academy.

Officers escorted the wheelchair-bound Garcia over to the family where he told them “She will never be forgotten, never. Thanks to her, I’m here.”

Although Connelly was only 30 when she died, she had accomplished a lot in her young life. She was an avid skier, pilot and runner. She had earned an associate’s degree from Riverside Community College and graduated from California State University, San Bernardino, with a degree in psychology in 1995. She was also a police officer with instinct and street smarts, and was winning a battle with alcohol.

When Connelly, who had been sober for 14 years, died as the result of being struck by a suspected drunken driver the irony was not lost on her family and close friends.

Connelly was one of five women who had signed up to be on the police department’s team for the annual Baker-to-Vegas run in April. She was an athletic officer who enjoyed working out and inline skating, colleagues said. She was single and had no children.

Connelly’s mother, Carole Nagengast, referring to her daughter said “There was no holding her down. She planned to return to school to get a master’s degree in education or psychology. She wanted to become a forensic psychologist. She had a deep sense of service to the community. She always wanted to make a difference in the world and she did.”

Connelly, who was born in New Orleans, La., lived in Moreno Valley and had lived in Riverside County for 22 years.

In addition to her parents and sister, Connelly is survived by her stepfather, Michael Kearney; stepmother, Gisela Connelly; brother, John Connelly Jr.; grandparents Walter and Mary Nagengast and Ellen Kearney; and nephews Seth, John II, Christopher and Daniel Connelly.

The family asks that contributions be made to the Carole Nicole Connelly Scholarship Foundation through the Riverside Police Department, 4102 Orange Street, Riverside, CA 92501, 909/782-5700. The fund will benefit children of police officers.

More than a thousand peace officers gathered at the First Presbyterian Church in San Diego on June 10, to memorialize Christopher David Lydon. Lydon, an El Cajon CHP officer, was killed and his partner, Jeff Jenkins, injured early June 5, 1998 after their patrol vehicle spun off of SR-67 in Lakeside as they tried to intercept a reported drunken driver.

The patrol car went down an embankment where it overturned and struck a tree. Lydon, 27, died on impact. Jenkins, 33, was able to free himself from the vehicle. He suffered a fractured shoulder and abrasions.

Services for Lydon were held in the same chapel where his parents, Janie and Stephen Lydon, were married and where in August 1992, his 18-year-old brother, Robert, who died in an automobile accident, was memorialized.

During the two-hour memorial service, friends and officers, some from as far away as Idaho, Michigan and Ohio, shared fond memories of Lydon. The crowd often burst into laughter even as tears rolled down their faces.

Lydon’s passenger and partner, Jenkins, with his arm in a sling, sat with Lydon’s parents during the service.

El Cajon Highway Patrol Capt. Steve Lykins told the packed chapel “If there’s any solace, Chris was doing what he loved when he died.” Officer Stacy Willits recalled Lydon’s sense of humor. She said Lydon once helped the Border Patrol stop a motorist and wanted to use what he thought was his fluency in Spanish.

Instead of telling the driver to put his hands up, he unknowingly said, “Cross your T-shirt.” In another attempt to order the driver to put his hands behind his head, it turned into “put your hands over your eyes.”

After the arrest was completed, the driver told Lydon that he spoke English.

Willits told the audience that Lydon was a master of sarcasm and he took it all in stride. The gathering in the chapel roared with laughter and then sniffles.

Wally Cannon, a friend of the Lydons, presented a medal he had received for volunteer service to them in a touching moment. He said, “Chris should have it.”

Chris McDermont, another friend, described Lydon as a funny friend who he could always count on, one with built-in wisdom. McDermont said, “I believe the Lord placed him in my life to (make me) a better person. Words are a feeble attempt to explain his greatness.”

McDermont told the audience that after he heard of Lydon’s death, he looked up and asked God, “Why, why take a friend from me, a loved one from us?” He continued, pausing often to regain his composure, “Who am I to say what God does? I know he’s out there. Every time I see the mountains, the sunset, the fog . . . he’s out there.”

Cannon said “Chris will not be gone until he is forgotten, (and) he will never be forgotten.”

Lydon, who was not married, was born in LaJolla in 1970 and graduated from Poway High School in 1989. When he was a teenager, Lydon worked for two years as a newspaper carrier and saved to pay for a week-long trip to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.

He joined the U.S. Marine Corps, attaining the rank of corporal. He served during the Desert Storm conflict and received numerous military commendations.

Lydon earned a degree from San Diego State University in public administration with a minor in criminal justice. He enjoyed flying and had obtained his private pilot’s license.

Lydon graduated from the CHP Academy in 1996, and was assigned to central Los Angeles. He soon transferred back to his home in San Diego, working out of the El Cajon office for the past nine months.

A motorcade of police cruisers and motorcycles stretching almost five miles made its way after the memorial service to the Dearborn Memorial Park in Poway where a military-style internment was held.

CHP spokesman Mark Gregg stated that both Lydon and Jenkins were two-year veterans of the CHP. “The irony of it is that these officers were responding to try to prevent an accident and save someone’s life. They ended up paying the sacrifice.”

Carol Kelly, CHP public affairs officer, said “The Lydons were the All-American family. They went on camping trips together. The parents are very proud their son was a third generation San Diegan who graduated from college third generation. To them, their son was an All-American hero.”

Lydon’s mother, Janie, read to the media from a prepared statement. “The citizens, strangers and friends alike who have poured out their love and sorrow at the crash site need to know what their selfless compassion means to my husband, me and our entire family. Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts for all you’re doing to honor the memory of our son.

She continued “Chris was the best of the best. The son, the grandson, the brother, the officer. I’ll never know how we managed to raise this beautiful human being. He is now and will forever be our own personal hero.”

The Highway Patrol is looking into possible charges against the drunken driver who Lydon was pursuing when the accident occurred. He was located hours after the accident, but wasn’t arrested because his blood-alcohol level was not found to be over the legal limit.

Lydon was the first California Highway Patrol officer to die on duty in San Diego County in more than three decades.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by a half brother, Jowell Lydon.

A trust fund has been established through Home Savings of America, 1790 East Main Street, El Cajon, 92021, 619/579-3771 or Fax 619/442-4748. Anyone wishing to make a donation may do so at any Home Savings Bank in California. The account number is 820-0033922.

CHP OFFICER REMEMBERED

A section of Highway 67 in Lakeside, CA was recently commemorated in the name of California Highway Patrol Officer Christopher D. Lydon, who was killed in the line of duty on June 5, 1998. Lydon was responding to a DUI call when he lost control of his cruiser and died in a crash on Highway 67.

Officer David John Chetcuti was laid to rest Friday, May 1, in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Colma following a military-style funeral attended by family, friends and thousands of fellow officers.

Approximately 3,000 uniformed officers, representing police and sheriff’s departments, FBI agents, BART police, mounted units and K-9 officers, some from as far away as New York, stood under a gray sky and steady rain for almost three hours to pay their respects to Officer Chetcuti.

Chetcuti was gunned down Saturday, April 25, 1998, on Highway 101 just south of the San Francisco International Airport when he went to the aide of San Bruno officer, Seann Graham. Graham had stopped 43-year-old Marvin Patrick Sullivan because his car registration had expired.

As Graham approached the driver of the Chevrolet sedan, Sullivan got out of the car and shot at him several times with a rifle, police said. Graham dived through some bushes into a drainage ditch and swam through a marshy area on the side of the highway as he called for backup.

When Chetcuti confronted the driver and ordered him to put the rifle down, Sullivan shot him in the chest and face and took his gun, police said. He then went to the fallen Chetcuti and shot him in the head. Chetcuti had managed to return fire and slightly wounded Sullivan. Several rounds pierced Chetcuti’s bullet-proof vest, police reported.

Sullivan surrendered to police without incident near the San Mateo Bridge toll plaza. A bomb squad was called to handle pipe bombs found in Sullivan’s vehicle. He has been charged with Chetcuti’s murder and the attempted murder of Graham. Authorities reported that Sullivan has a long criminal history involving guns, drugs and violence.

San Francisco and Bay Area law enforcement agencies broadcast a message to officers, as Chetcuti’s funeral took place, to observe 43 seconds of silence – “one second for each year of Officer Chetcuti’s life – for making the ultimate sacrifice to save a fellow officer’s life.

Chetcuti, a popular 11-year veteran of Millbrae Police Department, was the first line-of- duty death in that agency and the first in San Mateo County in a decade.

Chief Michael Parker told reporters “Dave Chetcuti was well liked and had a special rapport with teenagers. This is a very sad time for the Millbrae Police Department. We are a small department with only 27 officers so we’re very much like a family. It’s going to be bad for Dave’s family and for us for a very long time.”

Chief Parker added “This is a sad day for us. This is the first time an officer has been shot in the line of duty. Dave was a model police officer. He was instrumental in catching a bank robber from Burlingame just last week. He just had a nose for police work.”

Chetcuti, who lived in Millbrae, served on the Millbrae police force since his appointment on December 16, 1987. He had served as a motorcycle, patrol and field training officer and was often praised for his work. Chief Parker said Chetcuti’s commendation file was filled with letters of appreciation from citizens and local politicians, and no one had ever complained about him. He had received the department’s lifesaving award for saving a heart attack victim in 1995. He was president of the Millbrae Police Officers Association.

Officer Richard Dixon, who trained Chetcuti when he joined the Millbrae Police Department 11 years ago, said, “He was the most well-liked officer in the department, and in the community.”

Dixon added “He went on to being a better Field Training Officer than I.” Chetcuti was described by friends and fellow officers as a remarkable community man, dedicated to his job, his family and his neighbors.

A high school buddy, John Aquilina, stated that Chetcuti spent the last morning of his life watching the local kids playing baseball. “He was that kind of cop, that kind of guy. Give him an hour, and he’d give you 10. He’d mow people’s lawns, he’d help paint a house or put up wallboard.”

Chetcuti’s last act was in keeping with how he lived: He was gunned down moments after leaving the ballpark as he answered a call for back-up. Julie Lipke, wiping back tears, described her uncle and godfather “He was the biggest success in the Chetcuti family. He didn’t just serve the community, he was part of the community. He loved this town.”

Rev. John Greene, San Francisco Fire Department chaplain, said in his homily at the St. Dunstan Church service, “He was the heart and soul of the Millbrae Police Department . . . He touched the lives of many people who didn’t know him.”

Chief Parker said of the service “I am so moved by the turnout that I see here today. “I’m really proud of the people of Millbrae . . . It makes me proud to serve this community . . . Today, Millbrae is showing its love for David Chetcuti.”

A friend of Chetcuti’s, Reno Camilleri, who had known him since childhood and immigrated from the same hometown, Mosta, Malta, as Chetcuti’s family told everyone “He was really a great guy. For the community, he was the perfect police officer. He really cared about the kids. He didn’t just want to arrest them or get them in trouble. He wanted to help them. He knew them all. I think the kids were his favorite part of the job.”

Family members say Chetcuti always wanted to be a police officer, was living his dream, and passing that ambition on to the kids of Millbrae. His son, David, an explorer scout with the Millbrae department, wants to become a cop like his dad. David helped seven officers carry his father’s coffin from the church to a hearse outside for the trip to the cemetery.

San Francisco Archbishop William Levada, who conducted the service, described Chetcuti as a devoted husband, father, police officer and friend to many. “Gail encouraged him to become a police officer and she has no regrets he chose the occupation. He came to law enforcement late in life, but he found the passion of his life.”

Chetcuti’s youngest son, Ricky, wrote in his eulogy for his dad’s service “Every time I play basketball or fix a model, I’ll always think of you. You’ll always be my hero.”

Rev. Greene, in his homily, said “He worked hard for his family. He found the job of his dreams. (Gail) supported him . . . She has no regrets about his choice of career.”

Chetcuti is survived by his wife, Gail, and sons 17-year-old David, 14-year-old John, and 11-year-old Rick.

A trust fund has been established for Chetcuti’s sons. Please forward checks to Account No. 06-616-879, First National Bank of Millbrae, 1551 El Camino Real, Millbrae 94040.