The Region - News from Sept. 11, 1985

A Los Angeles police officer is trying to raise money to help welfare recipient Salvador Hernandez bury his wife. Officer Modesto Perales of the 77th Street Division was called to the Hernandez home when neighbors discovered the body of Rosa Hernandez, a cancer victim. Hernandez, who has three children, did not have the money for the burial, and private mortuaries would not take the body without payment. Finally, Perales called county officials, who picked up the body for cremation. But, said Perales, he discovered that the Hernandez family will not be given the ashes for burial unless Hernandez pays $287--which he does not have.