Wally Stephen, red shirt, and Barbara Herrera with the torch enter Altadena Sheriff Station grounds. on May 20, 2012
by Laura Monteros
Altadena Sheriff Station Capt. John Benedict observed that the Los Angeles County Memorial Torch Relay honors “these men and these women that go out every day and don’t know what’s ahead you, what could change your life or the lives of ones you love.”.
The Altadena Sheriff’s Station was the final leg of the annual three-day run for fallen peace officers, ending Sunday afternoon. More than 2,000 runners brought the torch from Sherman Block Sheriff’s Headquarters Building in Monterey Park to Altadena, following a 339-mile route divided into 59 legs. The torch has been traveling to every mainland sheriff’s station in Los Angeles County since 1976.
“It is a distinct honor to be the last station,” Capt. Benedict said. “The torch sits here until it goes to STARS Center.” (STARS stands for Sheriff's Training Academy and Regional Services Center in South Whittier.)
Capt. Benedict had earlier traveled to Sacramento and Washington D.C. for ceremonies that included honoring Altadena Deputy Charlene Rottler, who passed away on Jan. 3, 2010, from injuries sustained in an on-duty collision in 1972. He spoke of how moved he was to escort her daughter, Denise Alvarado, in accepting the honor.
The torch was carried along Altadena Drive to the sheriff’s station by Barbara Herrera, a citizen who has applied to be an officer with both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Sheriff’s Department. Wally Stephen of the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team carried the torch for the four-mile leg from Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station to La Cañada High School.
“I’ve done it every year for the honor of it,” Stephen told Altadenablog. He had expected more people to participate, but he was the only runner from Crescenta Valley to the high school. By the time he and the others came into the station, it was 94 degrees.
Deputy Gregory Gabriel, who planned the Altadena event including a barbecued chicken and potato salad lunch, read the names of the fallen officers. His son, Jonathan, rang the station bell for each one. Later, Jonathan, who will be the commencement speaker for his upcoming high school graduation, told us of his pride in his father for serving in the LASD.
The officers honored and their end-of-watch dates are
The Altadena Sheriff’s Station was the final leg of the annual three-day run for fallen peace officers, ending Sunday afternoon. More than 2,000 runners brought the torch from Sherman Block Sheriff’s Headquarters Building in Monterey Park to Altadena, following a 339-mile route divided into 59 legs. The torch has been traveling to every mainland sheriff’s station in Los Angeles County since 1976.
The fallen officers honored this year
Capt. Benedict had earlier traveled to Sacramento and Washington D.C. for ceremonies that included honoring Altadena Deputy Charlene Rottler, who passed away on Jan. 3, 2010, from injuries sustained in an on-duty collision in 1972. He spoke of how moved he was to escort her daughter, Denise Alvarado, in accepting the honor.
The torch was carried along Altadena Drive to the sheriff’s station by Barbara Herrera, a citizen who has applied to be an officer with both the Los Angeles Police Department and the Sheriff’s Department. Wally Stephen of the Altadena Mountain Rescue Team carried the torch for the four-mile leg from Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station to La Cañada High School.
“I’ve done it every year for the honor of it,” Stephen told Altadenablog. He had expected more people to participate, but he was the only runner from Crescenta Valley to the high school. By the time he and the others came into the station, it was 94 degrees.
Deputy Gregory Gabriel, who planned the Altadena event including a barbecued chicken and potato salad lunch, read the names of the fallen officers. His son, Jonathan, rang the station bell for each one. Later, Jonathan, who will be the commencement speaker for his upcoming high school graduation, told us of his pride in his father for serving in the LASD.
The officers honored and their end-of-watch dates are
- Deputy Constable Ed Brown, LASD, Sept. 14, 1924
- Officer Anthony Giniewicz, Signal Hill Police Dept., Dec. 7, 2011 of injuries sustained on Feb. 19, 1985
- Officer Ryan Stringer, Alhambra Police Dept., July 10, 2011
- Officer Andrew Garten, Hawthorne Police Dept., May 26, 2011
“I am hoping next year that there won’t be four names up there,” Capt. Benedict said. “We celebrate that, we run for that.” He asked for a moment of silence “for those we’ve lost, and pray—if you don’t mind—that we don’t lose any more.”
Pastor John Bledsoe gives the invocation; Capt. Benedict behind.
