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.

Calipatria police Chief J. Leonard Speer died from a bullet wound to the chest Friday, April 10, 1998. He had responded to a call from 59-year-old Rachel Deen at her farm equipment yard in the southeast section of Calipatria. About the same time that he arrived, her son, Omar Deen, 29, walked into the yard. Soon after an argument began. Witnesses were unsure who was arguing or what caused the argument. The call concerned a stolen tractor from the yard.

Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Kenneth Koon stated that Omar Deen struck Speer and managed to take his gun. Deen fired a single shot that struck Speer in the abdomen and penetrated his chest. He then turned the gun on his mother and fired twice. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Speer was taken to the Pioneers Memorial Hospital in Brawley where he died more than an hour later. County Coroner Investigator Ralph Smith said Speer was not wearing a bulletproof vest.

Scores of concerned law enforcement officers from throughout the Valley arrived at the hospital as soon as they heard about the incident. Speer’s wife, Evelyn, stayed at her husband’s side in the emergency room as doctors worked to save his life.

Omar Deen was arrested that day in Mexicali following a 45-minute search by local Mexican authorities. He will face the death penalty, if convicted, stated Assistant District Attorney Joe Beard. He was known to have a prior criminal record.

A handgun thought to be the weapon used in the shooting was found at the crime scene. Deen has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree murder.

Rev. Amador Lopez of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Calipatria told mourners Thursday, April 16, that Speer was a man who fought for peace. Speer was eulogized by his daughter Zandra Pendleton as more than just a tough cop; he was a husband, a father, a grandfather and a great-grandfather.

Pendleton told the audience of more than 1,000 gathered in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in El Centro for Speer’s funeral, “He gave us the gift of laughter. There was no greater man.” She said, “He will always be watching over all of those in law enforcement . . . I love my mom and my dad.”

More than 300 vehicles led a procession to Speer’s burial site in Mountain Valley Cemetery in Calexico following the church service.

City residents said Speer reduced crime in town. They stated that they could walk the city’s streets at night and feel safe because of Speer’s efforts. Speer was known as a tough officer whose only interest was serving his community and fighting crime.

Sheriff Oren Fox said “Speer was at an age when he could have retired, but that was not what he wanted to do. He wanted to continue to serve the public. I think it saddens all of us when we lose a law enforcement officer. He had 40 years of experience.” Speer celebrated his 65 birthday on December 9, 1997.

Fox continued “I think it is tragic not only for those in law enforcement who lost a friend, but also for this community. This certainly is a tribute to Leonard. He would have been thankful for all the law enforcement presence here today and so am I. They have really shown that they respect him and they respect the profession.”

Acting Chief Sgt. Enrique M. Duran told the audience that it was hard to accept that Speer was gone. He said that Speer had taught him to be a police officer. “This is real hard, real sad,” Duran said, “I could hardly hold my tears.”

Gilbert Otero, Imperial County District Attorney, stated, “Leonard was out there serving the people of his community and that is the bottom line.” Calipatria’s mayor, Daniel Carmichael, said “This has hurt the city of Calipatria. He was a great police chief.” He added, “I feel that I have lost a good friend.”

Margie Carmichael, the mayor’s wife, said of Speer, “I think it is the worst thing that could have happened to Calipatria. That man devoted his entire life to law enforcement. He was honest. He knew penal codes like very few police officers do and he had just about every qualification a police chief could have.”

Speer’s law enforcement career spanned more than 40 years. He served as Imperial County sheriff, police chief in Calexico and a patrol sergeant for the Brawley police force. He also served as an officer in the National Guard.

He had been given some of the credit for securing the construction of a nearby California state prison. He and Supervisor James Bucher initiated the idea for the prison more than 15 years ago.

When Calipatria ended its contract with the sheriff’s office and started its own police department in 1988, Speer was hired as police chief. Calipatria had contracted Speer’s service into the year 2000.

He is survived by his wife, Evelyn; daughters, Zandra Speer-Pendleton and Randalynn Speer-Benson; five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

A memorial fund has been set up for the Calipatria Police Department in Speer’s name. The J.L. Speer Police Memorial Fund is at Valley Independent Bank, 190 Main Street, Brawley, CA 92227. The account was established to raise money for equipment such as helmets and shields for the Calipatria force.

The murderer of Chief J. Leonard Speer, Omar Deen, has been found guilty on two counts of first-degree murder, with special circumstances. Deen was found to be sane at the time of the shooting, and the jury came back with a sentence of the death penalty.

Hundreds of harbor patrol officers, police and fire officials from throughout California led a procession to Ventura’s Ivy Lawn Memorial Park Saturday, March 21, following the funeral service at the Ventura Missionary Church for Officer Paul D. Korber.

Korber died a hero’s death when he drowned Sunday, March 15, while rescuing, Karen Van Deventer, and her 7- and 11-year-old sons off the South Jetty of Ventura Harbor. The victims had been walking in shallow water along the beach when a rip tide reportedly pulled one of the children in. Another son, 14-years-old, was able to rescue himself.

The Harbor Patrol received several reports of swimmers in distress south of the South Jetty. Korber and Operations Manager, Scott Miller, responded by vessel. Three people were clinging to a Boogie Board about 250 feet from shore in 4-to 6-foot swells when they arrived. Although they were able to get close to the people, they couldn’t reach them. Korber stripped off to his uniform shorts and entered the water with a rescue tube. He swam with the victims to the Harbor Patrol boat that was waiting just outside the breaking waves.

They were pushed back toward the jetty by a set of waves. Korber, with the assistance of bystanders, tried to remove the victims from the water onto the South Jetty. Everyone was swept back into the water despite numerous rescue attempts.

Two state lifeguards arrived on the scene and began swimming the victims out of the surf. They were quickly taken aboard the Harbor Patrol boat. Korber, who had disappeared under the water, was rescued by a third state lifeguard. He was towed unconscious to the boat, and CPR was begun immediately. Although CPR continued during Korber’s transportation to a local hospital, he was pronounced dead after the efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

During the funeral service Miller stated, “Paul was one of the best harbor patrol officers I have ever worked with. He was always striving to improve himself in all aspects of the job. He especially enjoyed his role as a coordinator and instructor for the Rescue Boat Handling Class that the harbor patrol hosts annually for officers throughout the state.”

A family friend, Mark Ellison, particularly touched the group of mourners with a poem filled with fond remembrances. He had written the poem “Heroes in Heaven” for Korber. In part the poem said “There’s heroes in heaven, that’s easy to see. Paul Korber is one, for great deeds did he.”

Barrett, Korber’s 9-year-old son, was told by Harbor Patrol Officer David Glaser, one of Korber’s closest friends, that he had a bunch of “big brothers and sisters” in the harbor patrol that he could depend upon. He received numerous gifts including four caps; one from the Seattle Mariners signed by player Ken Griffey Jr. and another from the Dodgers signed by player Mike Piazza.

The hats were presented to Barrett, along with a hat rack, by Rev. Bob Herrington who told him that he could always hang his hat on God.

More than 40 water-oriented agencies, fire departments, police agencies, from across the state attended the funeral services. Miller said, “Paul had a heck of a lot of friends. He exemplified everything that was good in a human.”

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter unit honored the fallen hero with a “fly-over.” Korber had served in Vietnam as a helicopter gunner.

Korber, 45, was buried alongside his wife, Cindy, who died of breast cancer in 1995. She had also been a Ventura Harbor Patrol Officer.

Korber is survived by his 9-year-old son, Barrett; father and stepmother, Frank and Carol Korber of Cardiff; sister, Jeri Hough of Rochester, Minn.; three brothers, Jeffrey Korber of Chico, Eric Christeson of Ventura and Russell Brown of Lompoc.

The Ventura Port District, in conjunction with the Bank of Ventura, has established the “Paul Korber Memorial Fund” to benefit Korber’s son Barrett. Donations may be made to the fund in care of the Bank of Ventura, 5808 E. Telephone Road, Ventura, CA 93003.

Officers Britt T. Irvine and Ricky B. Stovall died Tuesday, Feb. 24, when their cruiser dropped off a section of SR 166, that was washed out by the Cuyama River east of Santa Maria. The officers had been dispatched to rescue a stranded motorist.

Irvine and Stovall were last heard from about 2:45 a.m. as they traveled down the foggy two-lane mountain highway. Their bodies were discovered 10 hours later still strapped in their patrol car which was filled with mud, buried upside down under a sand bar in the middle of the river.

The officers were victims of a fierce El Nino storm that caused mudslides and swelled streams, creeks, and rivers into torrents. A 300 foot-long stretch of Highway 166 was destroyed by the Cuyama River. Rescuers located four vehicles in the river approximately one-quarter of a mile downstream; a tractor double trailer combination, a Toyota Camry, a small pick-up truck, and the marked CHP patrol car. Two of the drivers survived.

Deputy Dennis Swack, Santa Barbara County, was dispatched to the scene about 3 a.m. to locate the missing CHP cruiser. “As he drove slowly through the dense fog, his front wheels went over the edge of the highway,” stated Sgt. Jim Peterson. Another sheriff’s patrol car pulled him back with a chain. “It was a close call for that sheriff’s deputy,” Lt. Paul Matthies relayed.

“The Highway Patrol is a family,” Matthies said. “We’re going to be going through a rough time. It hits very hard.”

The Pacific Christian Center church was the site of funeral services honoring Irvine and Stovall on Saturday, Feb. 28. Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the nation joined family and friends to remember the fallen officers.

Among the thousands of mourners who lined the streets outside the church were Juan Ibarra, 17, and his sister, Veronica, 7, who clutched lilies as they waited for the funeral procession to pass. Juan said he was in the CHP Explorer Program and rode on patrol with Stovall.

Rick Stovall, 39, was an 18-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol. He joined when he turned 21. His father was a major influence on his life which was evident as he chose to follow in his father’s footsteps as a CHP officer.

According to his coworkers, Stovall loved his job and loved removing the drinking driver from the road. He excelled at finding the driver under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. His passion for the job and its duties motivated him to work the graveyard shift on a regular basis.

His favorite quote was “Endless hours of boredom followed by brief moments of intense excitement.” Being the ultimate family man, he chose to work nights in order to spend quality time with his family during the day and evening hours.

Stovall’s friendly sense of humor and broad smile literally lit up the room when he entered. You could always count on him for an assist when you needed it, said his fellow officers.

Allied agencies also relied on him for his unselfish assistance and back up when they needed it. Stovall proved to be a quality officer and a quality friend.

One of Stovall’s coworkers relayed a story about a violator who had given him a bad time. He had been insulting and placed the officer in a foul mood. Stovall listened to what his coworker said and then told him how he handled similar situations, “Whenever I get someone like that, I do this (quivering his lower lip) and act as if I’m going to tear up and I tell the person, ‘Are you trying to hurt my feelings?’. Everyone in the room rolled with laughter.

Stovall excelled in hunting, fishing and snorkeling. He often joked about scuba divers by saying, “If you need a bottle, you must be a baby.”

He loved his family most of all. He and his wife, Lynn, had been married for 13 years and had settled down in Santa Maria. They thoroughly enjoyed activities with their children, Alyssa, 12, and Riley, 10. Stovall kept his locker adorned with pictures of Lynn and their children. Stovall’s zest for life was reflected in a statement that he often made, “Live each day as if it were your last, for surely someday it will be.” He certainly did. His enthusiasm for life and all he did spilled over into each life he touched.

He would often say, “Life is good,” while doing activities that he loved. As quoted by one of his best friends, “A day with Rick was like spending a day with Huckleberry Finn.”

“Who was my husband?,” asked Lynn Stovall at the church service. “He was a man with great integrity, a man with many interests, a man with many talents, a man with noble character, a man of great charity, a confident man, a generous man, a man who loved laughing, a man full of compassion, an intelligent man, a stubborn man, a childish man, a childlike man, a passionate man full of life and love, a great kisser, a man who happened to be my best friend, a man who spent quality time with his children.

He was a brave man, he was always my hero and now he’s a hero to this community. So how do I go on without you?,” she continued. “I’m not sure, but I know that you expect nothing less.”

Stovall, a native of Crescent City, is survived by his wife, Lynn; daughter, Alyssa; son, Riley; and parents, Mr. & Mrs. Bill Stovall. His father is a retired CHP officer in Santa Maria.

At the officers’ funeral, speakers struggled to express what the two meant to them as tears flowed during the two-hour service. Color portraits of the officers were surrounded by flowers.

President Clinton was among those who praised the officers. He spoke of them when he arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport Saturday evening, “I especially want to send our condolences to the families of Officer Rick Stovall and Officer Britt Irvine, who gave their lives in the line of service as they responded to the emergency in Santa Maria.”

Gov. Pete Wilson joined state and local lawmakers in eulogizing the pair. He said “These were men of uncommon courage and compassion and who knew full well the purpose and meaning of the lives they chose.”

Wilson added, “Their lives were lost doing what thousands of men and women of the CHP do every day – trying to protect the safety of every Californian.”

Stovall’s 12-year-old daughter, Alyssa, stood up before the congregation as they dabbed their tears. She joined the church choir in singing “Come Just As You Are.”

Britt Irvine graduated from the CHP Academy in Sacramento when he was 25-years-old. He spent 15 years on patrol and showed his dedication and desire to serve by re-instating after a short career break.

According to his coworkers, Irvine’s “Go for it,” full steam ahead attitude allowed him to be an outstanding motorcycle officer while he was stationed at the San Jose office. His zealous attitude usually lead to some sort of sprain, strain or break. Irvine’s “Take No Prisoners” quality made him fun to have as a coworker. He volunteered for the graveyard shift on a regular basis which allowed him to enjoy the sports activities which he loved.

Irvine was a dedicated father. He and his stepsons, Michael and Jarrod, enjoyed many adventures with bungee jumping, snow skiing and surfing.

Irvine was an outstanding athlete. He was proud of his accomplishments, but would never elaborate on this without being asked. He was a regular participant in the Police Olympics.

He loved soccer and won a scholarship to San Jose State University as a player where he was an outstanding goalie for the team. When Irvine entered the Highway Patrol, he became a member of the CHP soccer team. He won several medals while participating as goalie.

During the past 18 months, Irvine started swimming on a regular basis following in his father’s footsteps. He would swim two-to-three miles with the Masters Swim Club before going to work.

He entered the 1997 Police Olympics swimming competition with only one year of practice behind him. He medalled in three of five events.

According to those who knew him, Irvine was the kind of guy who was good at every athletic thing he participated in . . . bare foot water skiing, knee boarding, bowling, diving for soft balls in the outfield or simply giving his time to participate in and carry the torch for the Special Olympics.

One of Irvine’s favorite stories was about a stop which he made on a Christmas Day. He observed a gray Mercedes Benz traveling northbound on US 101 making “good time” through the Santa Maria area. He overtook and stopped the car and was surprised to identify the driver as Tom Cruise.

His sense of humor quickly took over as he remembered Commissioner Spike Helmick’s daughter’s infatuation with Cruise. He told Cruise “I’ll give you two choices. I could either get a photograph or I know I can get your autograph.”

Cruise immediately took him up on his offer for the photograph. He then sent a copy of the picture of himself and Cruise to the Commissioner. The picture is still prominently displayed on Helmick’s daughter’s wall.

Irvine was always smiling and nothing ever seemed to bother him. When he was asked to do something, his response was always, “Yeah, no problem.”

Frequently he would change beats with someone who needed the time off. He would always take time to listen if a coworker needed to talk, and he would sometimes offer advice, but usually he was willing to just listen.

Lt. Bob Metallo stated that Irvine’s smile always led you to wonder what was on his mind. “You never really knew what he was thinking.”

Officer Dean Bogios stated about Stovall’s and Irvine’s deaths, “I don’t understand why these things happen to the good guys. There just has to be a more understandable reason why God takes the good guys from us. God must need them for something special.”

Irvine is survived by his parents, Joe and Maxine Irvine; two stepsons, Michael and Jarrod Zacarias, and stepdaughter, Stacie Spotanski.

Stovall and Irvine were the first CHP officers from Santa Maria to die in the line-of-duty since 1971.

Donations may be sent to the CAHP Widows and Orphans Trust Fund, CAHP Foundation or CHP 11-99, c/o California Association of Highway Patrolmen, 2030 V Street, Sacramento, CA 95818.

Officers Britt T. Irvine and Ricky B. Stovall died Tuesday, Feb. 24, when their cruiser dropped off a section of SR 166, that was washed out by the Cuyama River east of Santa Maria. The officers had been dispatched to rescue a stranded motorist.

Irvine and Stovall were last heard from about 2:45 a.m. as they traveled down the foggy two-lane mountain highway. Their bodies were discovered 10 hours later still strapped in their patrol car which was filled with mud, buried upside down under a sand bar in the middle of the river.

The officers were victims of a fierce El Nino storm that caused mudslides and swelled streams, creeks, and rivers into torrents. A 300 foot-long stretch of Highway 166 was destroyed by the Cuyama River. Rescuers located four vehicles in the river approximately one-quarter of a mile downstream; a tractor double trailer combination, a Toyota Camry, a small pick-up truck, and the marked CHP patrol car. Two of the drivers survived.

Deputy Dennis Swack, Santa Barbara County, was dispatched to the scene about 3 a.m. to locate the missing CHP cruiser. “As he drove slowly through the dense fog, his front wheels went over the edge of the highway,” stated Sgt. Jim Peterson. Another sheriff’s patrol car pulled him back with a chain. “It was a close call for that sheriff’s deputy,” Lt. Paul Matthies relayed.

“The Highway Patrol is a family,” Matthies said. “We’re going to be going through a rough time. It hits very hard.”

The Pacific Christian Center church was the site of funeral services honoring Irvine and Stovall on Saturday, Feb. 28. Hundreds of law enforcement officers from across the nation joined family and friends to remember the fallen officers.

Among the thousands of mourners who lined the streets outside the church were Juan Ibarra, 17, and his sister, Veronica, 7, who clutched lilies as they waited for the funeral procession to pass. Juan said he was in the CHP Explorer Program and rode on patrol with Stovall.

Rick Stovall, 39, was an 18-year veteran of the California Highway Patrol. He joined when he turned 21. His father was a major influence on his life which was evident as he chose to follow in his father’s footsteps as a CHP officer.

According to his coworkers, Stovall loved his job and loved removing the drinking driver from the road. He excelled at finding the driver under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. His passion for the job and its duties motivated him to work the graveyard shift on a regular basis.

His favorite quote was “Endless hours of boredom followed by brief moments of intense excitement.” Being the ultimate family man, he chose to work nights in order to spend quality time with his family during the day and evening hours.

Stovall’s friendly sense of humor and broad smile literally lit up the room when he entered. You could always count on him for an assist when you needed it, said his fellow officers.

Allied agencies also relied on him for his unselfish assistance and back up when they needed it. Stovall proved to be a quality officer and a quality friend.

One of Stovall’s coworkers relayed a story about a violator who had given him a bad time. He had been insulting and placed the officer in a foul mood. Stovall listened to what his coworker said and then told him how he handled similar situations, “Whenever I get someone like that, I do this (quivering his lower lip) and act as if I’m going to tear up and I tell the person, ‘Are you trying to hurt my feelings?’. Everyone in the room rolled with laughter.

Stovall excelled in hunting, fishing and snorkeling. He often joked about scuba divers by saying, “If you need a bottle, you must be a baby.”

He loved his family most of all. He and his wife, Lynn, had been married for 13 years and had settled down in Santa Maria. They thoroughly enjoyed activities with their children, Alyssa, 12, and Riley, 10. Stovall kept his locker adorned with pictures of Lynn and their children. Stovall’s zest for life was reflected in a statement that he often made, “Live each day as if it were your last, for surely someday it will be.” He certainly did. His enthusiasm for life and all he did spilled over into each life he touched.

He would often say, “Life is good,” while doing activities that he loved. As quoted by one of his best friends, “A day with Rick was like spending a day with Huckleberry Finn.”

“Who was my husband?,” asked Lynn Stovall at the church service. “He was a man with great integrity, a man with many interests, a man with many talents, a man with noble character, a man of great charity, a confident man, a generous man, a man who loved laughing, a man full of compassion, an intelligent man, a stubborn man, a childish man, a childlike man, a passionate man full of life and love, a great kisser, a man who happened to be my best friend, a man who spent quality time with his children.

He was a brave man, he was always my hero and now he’s a hero to this community. So how do I go on without you?,” she continued. “I’m not sure, but I know that you expect nothing less.”

Stovall, a native of Crescent City, is survived by his wife, Lynn; daughter, Alyssa; son, Riley; and parents, Mr. & Mrs. Bill Stovall. His father is a retired CHP officer in Santa Maria.

At the officers’ funeral, speakers struggled to express what the two meant to them as tears flowed during the two-hour service. Color portraits of the officers were surrounded by flowers.

President Clinton was among those who praised the officers. He spoke of them when he arrived at the Los Angeles International Airport Saturday evening, “I especially want to send our condolences to the families of Officer Rick Stovall and Officer Britt Irvine, who gave their lives in the line of service as they responded to the emergency in Santa Maria.”

Gov. Pete Wilson joined state and local lawmakers in eulogizing the pair. He said “These were men of uncommon courage and compassion and who knew full well the purpose and meaning of the lives they chose.”

Wilson added, “Their lives were lost doing what thousands of men and women of the CHP do every day – trying to protect the safety of every Californian.”

Stovall’s 12-year-old daughter, Alyssa, stood up before the congregation as they dabbed their tears. She joined the church choir in singing “Come Just As You Are.”

Britt Irvine graduated from the CHP Academy in Sacramento when he was 25-years-old. He spent 15 years on patrol and showed his dedication and desire to serve by re-instating after a short career break.

According to his coworkers, Irvine’s “Go for it,” full steam ahead attitude allowed him to be an outstanding motorcycle officer while he was stationed at the San Jose office. His zealous attitude usually lead to some sort of sprain, strain or break. Irvine’s “Take No Prisoners” quality made him fun to have as a coworker. He volunteered for the graveyard shift on a regular basis which allowed him to enjoy the sports activities which he loved.

Irvine was a dedicated father. He and his stepsons, Michael and Jarrod, enjoyed many adventures with bungee jumping, snow skiing and surfing.

Irvine was an outstanding athlete. He was proud of his accomplishments, but would never elaborate on this without being asked. He was a regular participant in the Police Olympics.

He loved soccer and won a scholarship to San Jose State University as a player where he was an outstanding goalie for the team. When Irvine entered the Highway Patrol, he became a member of the CHP soccer team. He won several medals while participating as goalie.

During the past 18 months, Irvine started swimming on a regular basis following in his father’s footsteps. He would swim two-to-three miles with the Masters Swim Club before going to work.

He entered the 1997 Police Olympics swimming competition with only one year of practice behind him. He medalled in three of five events.

According to those who knew him, Irvine was the kind of guy who was good at every athletic thing he participated in . . . bare foot water skiing, knee boarding, bowling, diving for soft balls in the outfield or simply giving his time to participate in and carry the torch for the Special Olympics.

One of Irvine’s favorite stories was about a stop which he made on a Christmas Day. He observed a gray Mercedes Benz traveling northbound on US 101 making “good time” through the Santa Maria area. He overtook and stopped the car and was surprised to identify the driver as Tom Cruise.

His sense of humor quickly took over as he remembered Commissioner Spike Helmick’s daughter’s infatuation with Cruise. He told Cruise “I’ll give you two choices. I could either get a photograph or I know I can get your autograph.”

Cruise immediately took him up on his offer for the photograph. He then sent a copy of the picture of himself and Cruise to the Commissioner. The picture is still prominently displayed on Helmick’s daughter’s wall.

Irvine was always smiling and nothing ever seemed to bother him. When he was asked to do something, his response was always, “Yeah, no problem.”

Frequently he would change beats with someone who needed the time off. He would always take time to listen if a coworker needed to talk, and he would sometimes offer advice, but usually he was willing to just listen.

Lt. Bob Metallo stated that Irvine’s smile always led you to wonder what was on his mind. “You never really knew what he was thinking.”

Officer Dean Bogios stated about Stovall’s and Irvine’s deaths, “I don’t understand why these things happen to the good guys. There just has to be a more understandable reason why God takes the good guys from us. God must need them for something special.”

Irvine is survived by his parents, Joe and Maxine Irvine; two stepsons, Michael and Jarrod Zacarias, and stepdaughter, Stacie Spotanski.

Stovall and Irvine were the first CHP officers from Santa Maria to die in the line-of-duty since 1971.

Donations may be sent to the CAHP Widows and Orphans Trust Fund, CAHP Foundation or CHP 11-99, c/o California Association of Highway Patrolmen, 2030 V Street, Sacramento, CA 95818.