Tribute planned for slain officers
Procession and memorial service today will honor two who were killed this month in the line of duty
A memorial service for two El Monte Police Department officers killed in the line of duty this month will be held this morning after a procession from the city police department.
Cpl. Michael Domingo Paredes, 42, and Officer Joseph Anthony Santana, 31, were fatally shot while responding to a report of a possible stabbing when they encountered a gunman inside the Siesta Inn on Garvey Avenue on June 14. Paredes served with the department for more than 20 years; Santana was a oneyear veteran of the agency. Paredes was promoted to sergeant after his death.
The procession of vehicles — including family of the officers, local officials and first responders — will depart from the El Monte Police Department at about 8:15 a.m., traveling east from Valley Boulevard to Garvey Avenue, and onto the 10 Freeway toward the Toyota Arena in
Ontario, where the service will take place at 10 a.m.
California Highway Patrol officers will be leading the procession, and residents should plan for a 1530 minute closure of the eastbound freeway lanes, said El Monte police Sgt. Aram Choe.
While the service is not open to the public, Choe said he expects residents to gather along the route, most likely near the beginning and end, to pay respects.
A donation page for the families of Paredes and Santana was created by the department and the El Monte Police Officers Association, and all funds raised will go toward supporting the wives and children of the officers.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the page had reached more than $380,000.
Last week, the El Monte City Council approved paying the full cost of the funerals of the two officers.
A livestream of the service will be available on the city's Facebook page.