Almost a year after the incident of the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Sergeant. Richard “Rick” Lopez was killed while responding to a call in Cordes Lakes and was to be honored this week with more than 500 of his fellow officers who died in the line of duty across the country.
His family will work closely with Yavapai County Sheriff David Rose and Lopez to see his name formally added to the National Law Enforcement Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., during National Police Week this year. I plan to travel with other police officers who have
Lopez is fondly remembered for his positive impact on the community both before and after joining law enforcement.
After spending 20 years building a successful career as Safeway’s manager, Lopez wanted to switch gears to the Sheriff’s Office, an agency he chose especially for its constitutional importance. .
“You don’t often see that much change in your career in middle age, especially if you have a family and a reduced income,” Rose said. “And I think that really speaks to his purpose in which he felt fulfilled. His work was more important than money and he just wanted to serve.”
Previous coverage:Hundreds attend memorial service for murdered Yavapai County Sgt.Rick Lopez
This is certainly not your average path to law enforcement, but Lopez’s wife, Ms. Kim, was not surprised when Lopez first pitched the idea. Even if it wasn’t part of his job description, he had been finding ways to serve those in need for years by that point, she said.
When his school bus broke down on a freeway outside Williams, he grabbed a box of popsicles and drinks from the store he owned and drove to the children. she remembers He was also known to jump out of a car at an intersection to rescue him after he was involved in a car accident, she said.
They were realistic about the inherent dangers of the job, but that didn’t stop Lopez from taking the leap, ending up as the oldest but most physically fit member of the academy’s class, Kim said. .
“Ever since my husband was at the academy, we’ve been talking about what could happen,” Kim said of her husband’s death in the line of duty. “It’s a possibility, a possibility, these are dangerous, but this is the reality.” He wanted to do it, and I supported him wholeheartedly. ”
Since Lopez’s passing on June 28, 2022, countless stories have emerged that demonstrate the warmth and positivity that Lopez brought, especially when working with local children.
As an example, Rose cites the sergeant’s dedication to the annual “Cops and Shopping” program in which children are randomly selected to pair up with police to buy Christmas presents. Lopez went out to buy Christmas gifts for the whole family after noticing that there were several brothers who weren’t chosen to be paired boys.
“Community relationships like this are really important for us to be seen positively and legitimately, for people to trust the police and for our children to grow up trusting the police,” he said. Told.
Since Lopez’s death, countless letters of condolence have been pouring in, some from as far away as Germany, telling his family that he has helped people in many ways. In fact, it wasn’t until after her husband’s death that Ms. Kim began to learn about the true extent of her husband’s influence.
“He never talked about such things, so it was kind of nice to read about them in the letter left in the car,” Kim said. “And it kind of solidified his feeling that he knew who he was.”
Many police officers are now trying to act like Lopez, and his influence can be seen inside the sheriff’s office every day, Rose said.
“The way he does this job is the right way and that’s the way we want it,” he said.
“He used badges so aptly to influence people to act and be better, he used authority as intended. I want to teach people,” he said.
The National Law Enforcement Memorial and Museum has been hosting a variety of events since May 9, including a candle vigil on May 13, followed by a memorial service and wreath laying ceremony on May 15.
It’s just the latest attempt to honor Lopez, who was shot while trying to arrest him last summer. In addition to the current memorial in Prescott, plans are underway to build a memorial in his hometown of Prescott Valley.
Additionally, Mr. Lopez was recently honored at a ceremony held at the State Capitol.
“It’s a great way to turn an ugly tragedy like this into something more beautiful,” Kim said. “Even if someone took his life, he’s still alive.”
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