Tragic Anniversary : CHP Dedicates Memorial to Comrade Killed 1 Year Ago

His fellow officers with the California Highway Patrol raised the money for the memorial. Some labored over the design. Others broke a sweat pouring the concrete.

On Thursday, these officers, surrounded by dignitaries and dozens of his family members and friends, dedicated the monument to Bruce T. Hinman, who died in the line of duty exactly a year before.

“No [amount of] ‘thank yous’ are enough,” said his widow, Kimberlee Hinman, after the ceremony. “These people have been by our side and been there for the kids every step of the way.”

Her husband died Oct. 3, a week after he stopped to help a group of stranded motorists and was fatally injured in an accident that police blamed on a passing drunk driver. Hinman served in the CHP for eight years and was the West Valley station’s first officer to die on the job in 27 years, said Capt. Peter A. Mader.

“This memorial was designed, built and paid for by his co-workers,” Mader added. “It’s my prayer that we don’t ever have to put any more names there.”

Ramiro Rodriguez, who was charged with murder and drunk driving in Hinman’s death, is scheduled to go on trial Nov. 21 in Van Nuys Superior Court, the Los Angeles district attorney’s office said Thursday.

Craig Richman, a deputy district attorney in the Crimes Against Peace Officers unit, said Ramirez, 43, is being held on $100,000 bond. Ramirez, he said, is charged with four felony counts, including murder, gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, driving under the influence causing injury and driving with a blood-alcohol level in excess of the legal limit of .08% causing injury.

The understated monument outside the West Valley CHP station in Woodland Hills, a concrete bench inset with a marble plaque bearing Hinman’s name, honors a man described as a model cop. Hinman wanted to be a CHP officer so much that he kept trying to qualify after twice applying and failing. He went on to be elected class president at the CHP academy, friends said.

His friends added that the turnout was a fitting tribute to Hinman, the father of a 10-year-old boy and twin 6-year-old sons, who had close comrades not only at his station but in other law enforcement agencies.

“Hopefully he will serve as an inspiration to others and remind the public that there are men and women who go out and give their lives for them,” said Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar), who spoke briefly at the ceremony along with state Sen. Cathie Wright (R-Simi Valley).

Earlier this year, Katz authored a resolution, approved by the Legislature, naming the Ventura and Hollywood freeway interchange after Hinman.

“I’m trying to get my life back together,” said Bruce Hinman’s father, Richard.

“When your youngest child dies, it changes your life.”

Kimberlee Hinman read aloud to her sons the inscription on a black marble tablet on the concrete bench: “Some have answered and gave their all. . . . They left the family when they heard duty call.”