Dozens of people from the Prescott community and hundreds of uniformed law enforcement officers from across the state gathered Wednesday for a memorial service honoring the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant. Rick Lopez was shot dead in the line of duty last week.
Lopez’s ceremony, also known as “R-Lo,” features processions throughout town that include local organizations, as well as countless emergency services vehicles from various departments, near and far, including the Border Patrol and the U.S. Forest Service. officially started with
Notably, at the request of Lopez’s family, nearly all guests dressed in bright colors, showing off bright Hawaiian shirts and flashy florals to highlight the light Lopez brought to the world.
The first memorial service was held inside the Findlay Toyota Center in downtown Prescott and included inspiring speeches from Lopez’s friends and colleagues.
Yavapai County Sheriff David Rose fondly reflected on Lopez’s dedication to his work and community, especially children. Lopez had never participated in the annual “Shop with a Cop” program. This reminded me of pairing children in need with local law enforcement officers who routinely go above and beyond their call of duty. Whether that means making sure underprivileged children have presents under the tree at Christmas or driving the family to Tuba City after their car breaks down. , Lopez did not hesitate to help.
“He was a hero, but not the kind of thing we look for on TV or in the movies. But he was someone’s hero every day.”
Lopez began working for YCSO in 2008 after leaving a 20-year high-paying career at Safeway in response to what he saw as a call to community service. After 14 years of service, Lopez served as an officer, criminal investigator and negotiator in field training for the SWAT team before he was promoted to sergeant in 2018.
“Rick was an irreplaceable member of the YCSO,” Rhodes said tearfully of his more than ten years of working with him.
“It’s such a shame we weren’t able to prevent this,” he told Lopez’s family.
The memorial ceremony concluded outside with the presentation of flags to Lopez’s family, the honor guard salute, and a farewell of traditional heroes, including horses without riders. announced the end of Lopez’s duties.
On June 28, Lopez was trying to detain a suspected theft when he was shot, Rhodes said at a press conference the night of the incident. The exact cause of the shooting remains unknown. Lopez was his first work-of-life death in 49 years for the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. He leaves his wife and his two daughters.
A procession honoring Lopez was held in Phoenix on Wednesday. The community previously held a candlelight rally on Sunday to honor Lopez and his family.
Contact reporter Lacey Latch in Northern Arizona. llatch@gannett.com or on social media @laceylatch.
Northern Arizona coverage on azcentral.com and the Republic of Arizona is funded by a grant from the nonprofit Report for America and the Vitalyst Health Foundation Associated with the Republic of Arizona.
