Rite Held for Start of Memorial Wall

More than 100 people gathered outside the County Government Center on Thursday for a ceremony to celebrate the start of construction of a large marble memorial wall that will list the names of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty.

The $60,000 wall will sit at the main entrance of the government center, between the halls of administration and justice, and will contain the names of 26 peace officers from Ventura County who have been killed in the line of duty.

“One of the things we want to get across is that we need to come together on this issue as a community and stop the needless slaying of peace officers, or anybody for that matter,” said Marc Vertin, chairman of a committee that is funding the project.

The 800-member Ventura County Peace Officers Assn. teamed with the county’s 22 Rotary clubs to pay for the memorial, County Sheriff’s Capt. Keith Parks said. The groups held a black-tie dinner and sold T-shirts to raise money.

“It’s important not to forget the sacrifices these peace officers made. It’s also important for the families of fallen officers to have a place of honor,” said Port Hueneme Police Sgt. Jerry Beck, association president.

The marble wall will be installed in mid-September.

Sheriff Larry Carpenter, interim Oxnard Police Chief John Crombach and Santa Paula Police Cmdr. Robert Gonzales attended the morning event along with dozens of other law enforcement leaders, officers and families of fallen officers, Parks said.