‘A Terrible Loss’
Three police officers died when their patrol cars collided while they were responding to a back-up call early Monday in downtown Los Angeles. Another officer was injured. It was the worst multiple tragedy--three police deaths in a single incident--in the history of the Los Angeles Police Department.
“It was a terrible loss. Three young men in the prime of their lives,” Police Chief Daryl F. Gates said. The officers were all in their 20s. Manuel Gutierrez Jr., 26, joined the LAPD four years ago. David Lee Hofmeyer, 25, had been a member for three years. Derrick C. Connor, 28, was a veteran of 18 months. The lone survivor, Venson Drake, 28, graduated from the Police Academy last Friday.
Police work is dangerous and deadly. The LAPD has lost 173 officers in the line of duty in the department’s history since 1907. The deaths of the three officers brings the toll to five this year.
As families and fellow officers mourn, this is the time to pay tribute to three young men of this fine department.
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