Part 2 of 2 PartsThe family of Officer Adrian Lopez Sr. has invited the Patriot Guard Riders to honor their Hero for his final services. We will be honored to do so.
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 church to the cemetery, a distance of approx 1 mile. Please see the time table if you would like to participate.
Time Table for Wednesday, 22 JUN 22:1045 - Stage at St Barnabas Catholic Church, 3955 Orange Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807
https://goo.gl/maps/65SsyaKbehtwhpj661100 - Mission briefing
1140 - Flag Line for transfer of Hero to coach
1145 - KSU to All Souls Cemetery, 4400 Cherry Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807
https://goo.gl/maps/GGnBmRhqkc9gN7yd71200 - Approx arrival at All Souls Cemetery
1210 - Flag Line for graveside services and final honors
R/C Tom Barry
So Cal PGR Ride Captainadmin@armobility.com
(714) 206-1227
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.
