Sense of Loss Draws Diverse Group to Mass

A New York City police officer on vacation. A childhood friend. A Newport Beach resident who heard the fatal shots.

All were among the approximately 2,000 people who gathered at The Pond in Anaheim on Wednesday morning to pay their respects to Newport Beach Police Officer Bob Henry, who died last week after a month-long fight for life.

Many of those in attendance had never met the young father of three, but several said they were deeply touched by his death.

“I heard the service was open to the public so I just decided to come,” said a 45-year-old woman who works at an insurance company near The Pond. “Being here really made me wish that I had known (Henry). My heart goes out to his wife and his family.”

Jerry Murphy, 55, was visiting his brother in Fullerton when he read about Henry’s death. The New York City police officer put on a bright yellow shirt and made his way to The Pond on Wednesday morning.

“He’s a brother,” Murphy said of Henry. “We’re all brothers. The hardest part about all of this is that no one knows exactly what happened. It’s all conjecture. But, the bottom line is, he gave his life.”

John Hinrichsen, a 24-year-old social worker, left the service with tears in his eyes. He said he didn’t know Henry but had been thinking a lot about the officer since he was shot March 12.

“It happened in front of my building,” Hinrichsen said. “I wanted to come to pay my respects. Even though I didn’t know him, I’ve been thinking a lot about him. He’s an officer from my hometown and it’s really hit me. Not to mention that he has three kids, including a newborn.”

Henry had also been on the mind of Newport Beach resident Lee Ross, a retired Los Angeles police officer. Ross wore bright yellow pants and a white sweater to the service, in accordance with the wishes of Henry’s family who asked that everyone dress festively.

“When I retired, I said that I would never go to another police funeral, but I just felt that I had to come today,” Ross said. “I know what kind of job he was doing and where his heart was at.”

Also dressed brightly was 48-year-old Bud Warmington of Newport Beach. He too felt compelled to attend the memorial service.

“This happened in our back yard here in Newport Beach,” Warmington said. “I feel devastated by this. I wanted to be here to support all of the officers who put their lives on the line.”

About 1,500 law enforcement officers came to honor Henry from dozens of departments all over the state, including virtually every Orange County police department and from all over Los Angeles County.

There were marshals from San Diego County, deputies from Sonoma County, and more than a dozen officers from the Fremont Police Department who drove in procession Tuesday to pay homage to their slain brother.

Roseville Police Chief Tom Simms, who worked years ago with Newport Beach Police Chief Robert J. McDonell, shared in the grief just two months after one of his own officers was slain by a suicidal gunman.

“It always affects us, but particularly in our case, where we just lost an officer,” Simms said. “I have a wife up there expecting a child and I see his young wife with a baby. It affects all of us.”

Los Angeles Police Chief Willie Williams also attended the service.

“An officer has died in the line of duty and we all share in that loss,” Williams said. “It doesn’t matter what city or agency he belonged to, he was doing the same job that we are all asked to do every day.”

Orange County Board of Supervisors Chairman Gaddi H. Vasquez, a former police officer, was there representing the county.

“This is a tragic situation all across the country,” Vasquez said. “We are seeing more and more officers losing their lives in the line of duty. It’s a sad commentary on the condition of our society.”

Vasquez arrived with Orange Police Lt. Timm Browne, who said there had been a special bond between his department and Newport Beach police officers.

“We share a lot of relationships on a personal level and this is a very sad event,” Browne said. “A first-line officer like Henry, out there in the middle of the night, is probably the most important ingredient in law enforcement.”

Randy Shickler, a 31-year-old Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, said Henry’s death has not only hit home with fellow officers, but with their families as well.

“They all worry a little bit more,” said Shickler, whose wife was a family friend of Henry’s. “This is devastating to all of us who do this job.”

Henry’s childhood friend, James Robinson, left the service sobbing.

“It’s sad,” said Robinson, 32. “There’s just no justice in a death like this.”

Robinson’s 36-year-old brother, Mike, said, “There are so many really crummy people out there. Why do the good people have to die? It’s just a shame.”

Times staff writer Lee Romney contributed to this report.