EAST : L.A. Police Veteran Jessie Nunez Dies

Jessie Nunez, a veteran patrol officer at the LAPD’s Hollenbeck Division police station and a two-time recipient of the department’s medal of valor, has died of natural causes. He was 46.

Nunez, a Vietnam veteran who was wounded in combat, joined the department in 1975 and worked for 15 years at the Hollenbeck station.

While on patrol in 1978, Nunez pulled up to an apartment building engulfed in flames and entered without protective equipment to rescue several residents. He was awarded the medal of valor, the department’s highest honor.

He also was awarded the medal in 1982 for capturing four robbery suspects during a gun battle that left a fifth suspect dead.

“He was just one of those police officers who did a lot for the community,” said Detective Ben Lovato, one of Nunez’s longtime partners at Hollenbeck.

Nunez died in West Covina on April 23. Services were Wednesday at our Lady of Victory Church in Los Angeles. He is survived by his wife, Diane; daughter, Mary; and sons Jessie Jr., Lance and Frank.