Slain El Monte police officers memorialized by family, colleagues: ‘Two of the best of us’
LA TimesEl Monte Police Chief Ben Lowry leads officers into a memorial service at the Toyota Arena in Ontario for Police Sgt. Firetrucks formed arches at overpasses as the procession made its way from El Monte police headquarters to Ontario’s Toyota Arena, a stone’s throw away from Upland, where the two family men lived. “Today, we’re here to honor Mike and Joseph, two of the best of us who had their lives taken while protecting and serving the community they grew up in and loved,” El Monte Police Chief Ben Lowry said at the joint funeral, where thousands were gathered. Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies join hundreds of law enforcement personnel from throughout the region for a memorial service for El Monte police Sgt. Another colleague said he was “the example of what a trainee and officers should behave like.” Former Police Chief David Reynoso told mourners that the day after the fatal shooting, Santana’s stepfather, veteran Officer Joe Garcia, texted him: “Thank you, Chief.
History of this topic
Family blames emergency dispatchers in deaths of El Monte officers during ambush
LA Times
Families of slain El Monte officer sue Probation Department and Dist. Atty. George Gascón
LA Times
El Monte Police Chief Ben Lowry dies at 45 of unspecified ‘health issues’
LA Times
Wife says she tried to warn police before deadly shooting
Associated Press
The killing of two homegrown police officers leaves El Monte reeling
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