Death of Officer Stirs Outpouring of Support

On a snowy Christmas Eve seven years ago, a police officer was gunned down on the streets of West Philadelphia. The City of Brotherly Love responded with a huge outpouring of gifts and donations for the fallen officer’s family.

On Christmas Eve, 1996, at the Wilshire Division station, Chief Willie L. Williams--who once oversaw the Philadelphia police force--recalled the earlier shooting as he surveyed the piles of cash and small mountain of toys the citizens of Los Angeles have donated to the family of fallen Officer Mario Navidad.

Navidad was shot and killed Sunday in a Fairfax Avenue shootout after a shoplifting incident--the first LAPD officer to die in the line of duty in two years. He left a wife and two children.

Dozens of gifts and more then $5,500 have been sent by police and citizens to the Wilshire station where Navidad was assigned.

Standing behind a table overflowing with toys, including several dolls, a bicycle, and the smiling red face of Tickle Me Elmo, Williams said the death in Philadelphia was the first thing he thought of when he heard about Navidad.

“Unfortunately, I have seen an outpouring like this before,� said Williams, who added that during his tenure here and in Philadelphia, 15 officers have been slain.

Officers Greg Stearns and Richard Ulley, classmates of Navidad at the Police Academy, have been put in charge of handling the donations.

“Donations are coming in from all over the city and even outside the city,� said Stearns, who noted that contributions have ranged from $1 to $500. “This is just the beginning. We have a stack of letters downstairs that we haven’t had time to get to.�

As Williams and Councilman Nate Holden thanked the public for the outpouring of support, Officer Gloria Garces watched, teary-eyed.

Garces had graduated from Police Academy Class 395 with Navidad 21 months ago.

“I’m still in denial,� she softly said. “I see his picture and I just can’t believe that he is gone.�

Contributions to the Navidad family can be made to: Navidad Blue Ribbon Trust Account, c/o Wilshire Community Police Station, 4861 W. Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90019.