Father of Slain Police Officer Visits Park Named for His Son

Bill Henry walked the new park named for his slain son, Police Officer Bob Henry, for the first time Monday, admiring the ball diamonds, soccer fields, play equipment, walkways and a tree transplanted from the nearby crime scene.

“It’s really looking great,” said Henry, 63, who was in town from Murietta on business. “It’s fantastic to have a park named after your son--it’s a hell of a price to pay to get it.”

The younger Henry died April 13, 1995, after a struggle with a distraught man who shot the officer and himself. Henry, 30, is survived by a wife, Patty, and three children.

In memory of the officer, the $1-million Bob Henry Park will officially open Sunday on 4 acres at Dover Drive and 16th Street, said Jo Vandervort, a retired parks commissioner who worked on the project.

Police and city officials will unveil a plaque, and Corona del Mar artist Michael Bryan will present the Henry family with an acrylic painting of the new park. Youth soccer and baseball games are to follow.

“It’s a celebration of his life because he loved sports,” Bill Henry said.

Bob Henry was the first city police officer to die in the line of duty since 1962, when Officer John Marshall was hit by a drunken driver. Though named for Henry, the park honors all city employees who have died on the job, officials said.

“I think any time the city opens a park, it’s significant,” Police Chief Robert J. McDonell said. “But this has more meaning to us since it’s named after Bob and [recognizes] the sacrifice he made to this community.”

Still, police said not to forget who will benefit most from the park.

“This is opening for the kids in the community,” Newport Police Sgt. John Desmond said. “It’s being named after Bob in his honor, but this is not a type of memorial service by any stretch of the imagination. This is for the community.”