A 29-year-old police officer who was shot dead earlier this month, has now been laid to rest in a funeral attended by hundreds in Los Angeles.
Ricardo ‘Ricky’ Galvez was in plain clothes, sitting in his car near the Downey police station on November 18, when he was shot to death in what is believed to be a botched robbery.
Three men, including two teens, have since been charged in his death.
On Monday at around 9am, hundreds assembled at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Angels in downtown Los Angeles to pay tribute to the fallen officer.
Downey Police Chief Carl Charles spoke at the funeral, remembering his opinion of Galvez when he first joined the department as a police aide nine years ago.
‘Even at that time, as a 20 year old man, we could sense there was something special about him…others were naturally drawn to him,’ Charles said.
He said Galvez was a ‘humble man’ who had a smile that ‘would light up a room’.
‘Today we will not dwell on the circumstances that surrounded his death. Instead we will focus on celebrating his life,’ Charles said.
During the ceremony, Charles described one recent instance that summed up Galvez’s character.
Read More: Slain Downey Police Officer Left ‘Legacy of Love and Caring,’ Police Chief Says at Funeral
