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| DONATION | ||
Non-tax deductible donation can be made to the Gama Family
Please write a check payable to Sandra Gama
and send it to:
Major Crimes Bureau
11515 So. Colima Rd., Bldg C111
Whittier, CA 90604
| BIO: DEPUTY Raul Gama | ||
| EOW: May 1, 2007
Died on-duty as a result of a traffic collision in North Hollywood. Deputy Gama was rear-ended while parked in his county vehicle at the intersection of Oxnard Street and Rhodes Avenue. The traffic investigation is being handled by the Los Angeles Police Department. DATE OF BIRTH: CHILDREN: PARENTS:
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DATE OF HIRE: May 1, 1987 EDUCATION: LASD ASSIGNMENT HISTORY: (Narrative from 2004 Medal of Valor Program) About the only thing a cop can be certain of, after he or she straps on their gun belt, is that nothing is certain. Who can predict, let alone imagine, what sort of crimes or disasters the day might hold? Certainly neither the residents, nor the deputies, in the City of Commerce expected 31 fully-loaded flatbed rail cars (minus their locomotive) to high-ball through their neighborhood before derailing onto nearby houses. On June 20, 2003, due to a series of unfortunate incidents of human error, a Union Pacific train was reported as a “runaway” from its switching yard in Montclair, rolling downhill past several towns and cities, and gaining speed with every passing second. Roaring through the first of 24 street crossings, the train slowed in Pomona due to a slight uphill grade. However, the combined weight from the cargo of lumber, and speed already generated allowed the train to traverse the grade, continuing unhindered into the Los Angeles basin. In Commerce, the main track split into four and the railway easement was at its widest. It was decided that this section would provide the best opportunity for stopping the train. Twenty-four minutes after it had left the City of Montclair, the cars derailed, sending sheets of lumber, like wooden missiles, into the adjoining neighborhood. The force of the crash was so great that flatcars were launched onto houses, completely collapsing them. Cars were overturned or flattened, and thousands of wooden boards scattered everywhere. Adding to the danger, high-tension electrical poles had been knocked down, and gas lines cut, posing the possibility of an explosion. Thirty seconds later, East Los Angeles units arrived at the disaster to assess the situation. Sergeant Saucedo and Deputy Andujo ran toward the area of the most destruction, searching through several completely or practically demolished homes. Despite the smell of natural gas, as well as the sparking downed power lines, Saucedo and Andujo peered into every crevice, looking for injured victims. A child’s cries for help led Saucedo and Andujo, now joined by Deputies Gama and Macias, to the backyard of a semi-collapsed house with a railcar sitting on the roof. A family of six was trapped in the debris and unable to find any exit big enough to escape. Stepping gingerly over hot wires, with the smell of natural gas threatening to overtake them, the three deputies and their sergeant moved in for the rescue. Spurred on by the cracking and creaking of the structure, they climbed over the wreckage and found an exit. Quickly, with the entire house ready to collapse, they rescued the two trapped adults and four children and led them to safety. Incredibly, their heroism did not end there. After leading the family out of the disaster zone, the four returned to the same area, ignoring the potential dangers to look for victims, not dissuaded in the least by the threefold hazards of explosion, fire, or collapse. For displaying bravery and great courage in confronting circumstances beyond the normal course of duty, Sergeant Henry Saucedo, Deputies Hector Andujo, Armando Macias, and Raul Gama are awarded the Meritorious Conduct Medal-Silver.
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RAUL’S STORY
Detective Raul Gama was tragically killed on May 1, 2007, while on a surveillance in the North Hollywood area of the City of Los Angeles. Detective Gama was parked in his county vehicle when he was hit by an out of control motorist and killed instantly. At the time of his death he was working with his team, the Cargo CATs unit of Major Crimes Bureau.
Detective Gama is survived by his wife of 15 years, Sandra; and four children, Monica 13, Crystal 11, Anita 9, and Marco 3. He is also survived by his mother, Ruth Gama; sister, Hilda (Lance)Severson; and nieces, Natalie and Emily.
The story of Raul’s life began in Santa Monica on July 21, 1963. He grew up in Venice, California, as the younger brother, but soon became the man of the house to both his sister and mother. He was a proud graduate of Saint Monica’s Catholic High School in 1981, where his love of his faith and belief in core values was nurtured and blossomed.
Growing up, Raul developed a love for building and fixing things. As a teenager, he turned his attention to buying old cars, fixing them, and then selling them for a profit. He enjoyed the challenge of taking things apart, and teaching himself how to repair them and put them back together again. Raul was never reluctant to take the initiative and learn new things. He had a talent for locating bargains and negotiating transactions which followed him throughout his life.
As a young man, Raul worked as a “cable guy” for a few years, installing cable to residential and commercial customers. After a few years, Raul began to look for a more rewarding career. He wanted diversity of assignment, the ability to promote, and a more challenging and satisfying profession. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department was conducting an aggressive hiring campaign and Raul heard the call, applied, and was quickly hired.
Raul graduated from the Sheriff’s Academy on May 1, 1987. The irony in this date is that exactly 20 years later, May 1, 2007, he was tragically killed in the line of duty. Raul’s first assignment after graduation was the Inmate Reception Center. After a short stint in custody, he transferred to patrol at the Pico Rivera Sheriff’s Station.
While assigned to Pico Station, he met the love of his life, Sandra. One day, while
off-duty and driving home after work in Pico Rivera, Raul was hungry and stopped at a Taco Bell in East Los Angeles on Whittier Boulevard. Raul drove through the Taco Bell drive-thru and saw a beautiful young woman named “Sandra” working there. Since Raul never met a food he didn't like, he began to frequent the drive-thru window quite often after work. He continually asked Sandra out, but she declined. About six months later, and after a change of shifts for both Raul and Sandra, Raul went back to the Taco Bell restaurant and again saw Sandra working the drive-thru window. He again asked Sandra out on a date. Since he was trying so hard, Sandra decided to give him a chance and they finally went out. Initially, Raul didn’t tell Sandra he was a deputy sheriff. He waited a month before telling her what he did for a living. Sandra didn’t believe him at first, even after Raul showed her his gun, Sandra replied, “Well, anyone can have a gun.” When Raul showed her his badge, she then believed him and Raul was very happy to learn that she felt his job was quite honorable. A short time later, Raul would later tell friends that he knew she was the one he would marry. Raul and Sandra did get married. They both loved children and soon began to start a family, settling in Chino, California. During this time, Raul transferred to East Los Angeles Station (ELA).
As Raul’s family grew, so did his career. While assigned to ELA Station, Raul became the team leader for the City of Cudahy where he assisted the community and local officials with issues and problems that arose throughout the day or night. This is just another example of the maximum effort that Raul put into everything he did. As a team leader for the City of Cudahy, Raul introduced the “meet a deputy” program. This program is a model of community policing now utilized by all sheriff stations to improve community relations and enhance the quality of life in comminutes we serve.
While working as the team leader in Cudahy, Raul made a heroic rescue of an autistic child in the historic Los Angeles riverbed. The same river that once served as the drinking water supply for the City of Los Angeles, had become a treacherous trap for a young child and his grandfather who lost their footing while trying to traverse the riverbed. Without concern for his own safety, Raul courageously jumped into the river and was himself swept away during the rescue attempt. Raul regained his footing on some debris and was able to reach out to the boy and his grandfather and lead them to safety out of the raging river.
Raul was such a great patrol officer, he applied for ELA Station’s Detective Bureau and was accepted. He worked hard for his family, working many shifts of overtime and, even though he didn’t go out with the boys very often, he was still considered a wonderful friend and great partner.
It was at ELA in June of 2003, when Raul received the Sheriff’s Department’s “Medal of Valor” for assisting in the rescue of a family trapped in their house by a train derailment. In addition, he received more than 52 commendations in his career with the Sheriff’s Department. He was very proud of his career, the Department, and his ELA “low profile” pin.
After his time at ELA Detective Bureau, Raul decided it was time to move onto another challenge so he interviewed for Detective Division’s Major Crimes Bureau. He was accepted and began his assignment at Cargo CATs. With his outstanding investigative skills and interviewing techniques, he had suspects confessing to their crimes and crying for forgiveness. He enjoyed the many aspects of working at Major Crimes Bureau and often offered his assistance to the other units within the bureau. Everywhere he worked, he would always greet his coworkers with a big smile and handshake.
Raul’s family came first and he made that clear to everyone. When he wasn’t working, he wanted to be with his wife and kids doing all the things they loved to do. He was very involved in the family’s church and volunteered his time and talent to help the church in whatever way he could. He loved watching his children play their team sports and enjoyed camping with the family. On hot summer nights, they would sit in their swimming pool at home and watch movies on a big screen television he would position for their viewing.
To make his family more comfortable while camping and attending sporting events, he decided it was time to get a motor home (R.V.) for the family. When Raul found an R.V. he liked, he took one of his partners from Cargo CATs to look at it and get their opinion. After getting their approval, he bought it and began fixing it up. He did not tell his family about the purchase, as he wanted to “fix-it-up” before bringing it home.
After a month of renovation, the R.V. was ready for its unveiling. He brought another partner to help him pick up the R.V. from a tow yard, where it had been stored. Since he was not a tall man, Raul first needed to figure an easy way to get in and out of the cab. After that was conquered, he had to move the seat as far forward as it would go in order to see out the front window. He was now ready to drive it home, well almost ready. Parked cars against the curb were two inches away from becoming victims of the R.V.’s wide berth. When Raul got the R.V. home, he parked it out front and brought his beautiful wife to the window. He surprised her and quickly added, “I got a great deal on it.” Sandra smiled, and loved the idea of having her family together for their games and camping.
Raul enjoyed helping his children with their homework. He loved teaching them to learn and shared the joy of his faith with them. A few short weeks before his tragic death, his daughter Monica wrote a letter about her father for a school project. This is the letter.
“A hero to me is someone who I can look up to or is a role model to me. They would have to be confident and determined in everything they do. They have to set a good example to me. Someone that I can follow. My father is a great hero to me. He inspires me to do my best. What grabs my attention is he thinks on consequences before he makes a decision. Also, I knew that he would be there for me whenever I needed to talk to him or whenever I needed help with homework. He always told me to stay tough and do well in school, so that I could do anything that I wanted to do when I got older. My father is a police officer for the L. A. County Sheriff’s Department, so he is used to using common sense, something we should all do, he uses it to make the right decisions. Whenever someone did something to him, he would stand up to that person. He backed up every little thing that he said, he always had a reason for his doings. That is my hero, I believe that my father could be anyone’s hero. My dad is my greatest hero that I love and admire.”
It was Raul’s strong faith and values that have assisted Sandra and their children through this very difficult time. She is at peace knowing that her husband is now in heaven.
Throughout my life as a native Californian living in Los Angeles, I have traveled over the historic Los Angeles River thousand of times from its head in the San Fernando Valley to its mouth in Long Beach. Most of those times, except in a large rainstorm, I have paid scant attention to the river as I was preoccupied with other matters. I know now in the future, as I now traverse in my vehicle over the river, my thoughts will turn to Deputy Raul Gama; not only for his heroism, but for the example he set for all of us as a remarkably good human being.
Raul, rest in peace. You were a wonderful husband, great father, loving son and brother, true friend, and exceptional Deputy Sheriff. We are all humbled to have served with you.
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Editors Note: On Thursday, May 17, 2007, an end of watch role call was held for Major Crimes Bureau units. At the conclusion of that role call, Major Crimes Bureau retired Deputy Raul Gama’s Cargo CATs call sign, D4W3.