Approximately 100 officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Wilshire Division ran in formation from the police station at 4861 Venice Blvd. to the corner of Fairfax Avenue and Whitworth Drive on Dec. 22 to commemorate the last officer from the station killed in the line of duty in 1996.

Sandra Navidad, left, the widow of fallen officer Mario Navidad, led officers in a memorial run on Dec. 22 on the 20th anniversary of his death. (photo by Edwin Folven)

The officers participated in the inaugural Officer Mario Navidad Memorial Run, which was held 20 years to the day after Navidad was shot and killed by a gang member who stole beer from a nearby convenience store and opened fire when officers arrived. Navidad’s widow Sandra jogged at the front of the group, and his daughter Melissa fought back tears as she thanked the officers for honoring her father. Many officers were visibly moved by stories recounted of Navidad’s dedication to the department and his commitment to colleagues.

“Twenty years ago, Mario was taken from us,” said Det. Greg Stearns, who currently works with the LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division and was president of the police academy class in which he and Navidad graduated in 1995. “The outpouring of support we received at the time was phenomenal. Thank you for the support. Look out for each other, take care of each other out there.”

Navidad and an unidentified partner responded to a call about the beer theft from a 7-Eleven store at Fairfax Avenue and Whitworth Drive. At approximately 5 p.m. on Dec. 22, 1996, the officers located the suspect in an alley near the store. Although the suspect shot Navidad, who died later at a hospital, the officers returned fire and killed the gunman.

Navidad was 27 years old when he died, and became the eighth officer to be killed in the line of duty in the Wilshire Division’s nearly 100-year history. He had been with the department a little more than one year. The officer’s widow said the family was devastated. In addition to his wife, Navidad is survived by his daughter Melissa and son Brandon, who were ages 10 months and 4 years, respectively, when their father was killed.

“It is something no family wants to go through,” Sandra Navidad said. “It was very touching that Mario’s classmates and members of the department remember Mario after 20 years. They put this together and when they notified his children and myself, we were all very touched. It is very special they want to honor his memory.”

Sgt. A.J. Kirby, head of the Wilshire Division’s community relations office, helped organize the run. He said it also raised support for a permanent memorial for fallen officers at the Wilshire Division police station.

“At the Wilshire Division, we do not have a memorial for fallen officers, but through the leadership of Capt. Solano and Capt. Sandoval, we are in the process of raising the money to pay for a memorial,” Kirby said. “We are accepting donations.”

It is anticipated that a memorial will cost $8,000 to $16,000, depending on the design. Kirby said approximately $4,000 has been raised so far, which includes $3,000 from Hancock Park resident Lyn Cohen, chair of the Miracle Mile Civic Coalition and president of the First-In Fire Foundation.

Robert Harris, director of the LAPD Police Protective League, added that officers who paid the ultimate price such as Navidad should be remembered annually with a special event and at a permanent memorial.

“It is important, especially in this day and age, that we remember these heroes,” Harris said. “To see the camaraderie, to see the lengths we go through for those we love, and to bring the family back into the fold, thank you very much.”

Anyone seeking information about helping with the police memorial is asked to call (323)473-0200, or email 27136@lapd.lacity.org.