The family of Officer Adrian Lopez Sr. has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to receive their Hero as he arrives home to So California for burial. We will be honored to be there for both the arrival and the burial.
Officer Adrian Lopez Sr. was serving with the White Mountain Apache Tribal Police and was performing a normal traffic stop on Thursday, June 2nd when he was shot and killed. Lopez had only begun working for the tribe's Police Department in January. He previously worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs from March to December last year. The White Mountain Apache Police Department in a Facebook post earlier this year said he was "a lateral transfer" from the Wind River Reservation in Crowheart, Wyoming.
Adrian Lopez was also a Military Veteran who served with the US Army during Operation Iraqi Freedom and was honorably discharged.
On June 9, a procession for Officer Lopez started near Show Low, AZ, and ended in Whiteriver. In Whiteriver, people lined the streets to pay their respect to the fallen police officer.
An auditorium in Whiteriver was filled with members from the community, as well as Lopez's family members from California, and law enforcement from all over the country, from parts of Arizona to as far away as Texas and New York.
"Officer Lopez was a true Apache warrior," said Lt. Steven Kane with the White Mountain Apache Police Department. "That is how I look at it, coming from a full-blooded Apache. He fit in from the beginning," said Lt. Kane. "He was a friendly person. He communicated well with our agency, with the public. He was a good person to be with."
Officer Lopez is survived by his wife, 2 children and many other family members, friends and his police family at the department. He will be dearly missed by all and never forgotten.
NOTE: This mission posting is to facilitate your voluntary participation in honoring this American Hero. For those interested, and all are welcome, we will be accompanying the hero and his family from the airport to the mortuary, a distance of approx 21 miles. Please see the time table if you would like to participate. If you prefer to meet us at the mortuary we will see you there.
Part 2 burial will be posted when details are availableTime Table for Friday, 10 JUN 22:1830 - Stage at Carl's Jr., 5625 W Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045
https://goo.gl/maps/yRBZ5Mi2WFUuEDSw81845 - Mission briefing
1915 - Move to arrival location
1935 - Est KSU to All Souls Mortuary, 4400 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807
https://goo.gl/maps/GGnBmRhqkc9gN7yd72005 - Est arrival at mortuary
2010 - Flag Line for dignified transfer of Hero from coach to building
R/C Tom Barry
So Cal PGR Ride Captainadmin@armobility.com
(714) 206-1227
This mission involves an aircraft arrival. Arrival times can change at the last minute so please check this thread for any last minute changes
before leaving.
You do not have to be a Veteran or a motorcycle rider to attend this mission. All PGR members are welcome. We encourage those who do not ride to attend in your car. If this will be your first mission go to the initial staging area and you will be briefed there by the R/C (Ride Captain). Dress for motorcycle riding or dress casually if you are driving a cage (car). Please feel free to attend any portion of this mission you can. Please ride/drive safely.
