Press Release

Sheriff Lee Baca presided over the Thirty-fifth Annual Los Angeles County Peace Officers' Memorial Ceremony on Wednesday, May 19, 2004, to commemorate the lives of those peace officers who died in the line of duty serving the residents of Los Angeles County during the past year. Attending the Memorial Ceremony were numerous federal, state, and local dignitaries, in addition to family members, friends, and co-workers of the fallen officers. Held in the beautiful Memorial Park at the Sheriff's Training Academy and Regional Services (STARS) Center in Whittier, the ceremony included musical and instrumental performances by members of law enforcement, and selections by the Verdugo Hills Showtime Chorus, a chapter of the Sweet Adelines International vocal group.

Regrettably, memorial plaques in the names of Deputy Stephen D. Sorensen of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Officer Ricardo Lizarraga and Detective Abiel “Abe” Barron of the Los Angeles Police Department, Officer Matthew Pavelka of the Burbank Police Department, Officer John “Fred” Lee Small of the Inglewood Police Department, Officer Robert Doyle Melton of the Gardena Police Department, Corporal Edward R. Davenport of the Long Beach Police Department, and Officer Nathan Longfellow of the San Fernando Police Department were added to the Memorial Wall.

Deputy Stephen Sorensen - Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Lancaster Station, died on August 2, 2003.

Officer Ricardo Lizarraga - Los Angeles Police Department, Newton Division, died on February 20, 2004.

Detective Abiel “Abe” Barron - Los Angeles Police Department, Northeast Division, died June 25, 2003.
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Officer Matthew Pavelka - Burbank Police Department, died on November 15, 2003.

Officer Robert Doyle Melton - Gardena Police Department, died on November 1, 2003.

Officer John “Fred” Lee Small - Inglewood Police Department, died on June 24, 2003.

Corporal Edward Davenport - Long Beach Police Department, died on February 4, 2003.

Historical research resulted in the additional recognition of Officer Nathan Oscar Longfellow - San Fernando Police Department, who died on December 2, 1923.

Bronze plaques with the names of all eight officers now join the other 441 law enforcement officers whose names are inscribed on the Memorial Wall to honor their dedication to duty and the ultimate sacrifice they made.

As part of the ceremony, Sheriff Baca accepted a torch delivered by members of various law enforcement agencies, following a three-day Memorial Torch Relay Run, totaling 315 miles. The relay run commenced at the Sherman Block Sheriff's Headquarters Building and traveled to each mainland Sheriff's Station. The Memorial Flame at the Los Angeles County Peace Officers’ Memorial Wall was ignited in tribute to the fallen law enforcement officers. In addition, white doves were released during the ceremony, on behalf of the fallen officers.

In concluding the Memorial ceremony, the Sheriff added, “We recognize the heroism of those who have died, and we have gathered to reinforce our individual memories of those who have been lost, and to show their families and friends that their deep sense of loss is shared.”

SHB-40A-04

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May 19, 2004