Gates Salutes Bomb Victim, 99 Others

The head of the Los Angeles Police Department’s bomb squad, killed last weekend while attempting to disarm a pipe bomb, was among 100 officers honored Thursday in ceremonies at the Police Training Academy.

Detective Arleigh McCree, 46, had been scheduled to receive the department’s Meritorious Service Award before his death. Police Chief Daryl F. Gates presented the award to McCree’s widow.

“It wasn’t that long ago I was here for another award dinner,” Edie McCree said after the ceremonies. “It’s a little bit difficult when he’s not right there next to you.”

Mrs. McCree, fighting back tears, said she is “still in a state of shock” over her husband’s death, which occurred when he and Officer Ronald Ball, 43, attempted to defuse a pipe bomb at a North Hollywood home. Ball also was killed.

McCree was to be honored for his work since 1979 as head of the bomb squad, where he gained an international reputation for his expertise in explosives.

Among the other officers honored Thursday was Detective Thomas Williams, 46, who was shot to death last October as he picked up his young son from a Canoga Park school. His award was accepted by his daughter, Susan.

Besides the Parker Citation presented to Williams’ daughter, was his badge, mounted in a shadow box and given to his widow, Norma.

“I think we are all seeing . . . a lot of pride and integrity and that’s what our husbands displayed,” she said later.

In his comments, a somber Gates said there have been other ceremonies in which widows accepted awards intended for their late husbands.

“Unfortunately, this came so close after the death of Arleigh,” Gates said. “We’re all in the same business and we feel these things deeply.”

“I recognize that five days ago a shadow was cast on this event that had been scheduled some time ago,” he continued. “Arleigh was a very very good friend of mine.”

During a minute of commemorative silence, tears streamed down the faces of friends and family of the dead officers. The crowd gave both widows a standing ovation.

About 700 people attended the ceremony, which ended with a solo bagpiper playing “Amazing Grace.”