Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Deputy David Powell Highway Memorial Fundraiser held at Artesia Community Center. A Special Night in honor of a Fallen Hero!


Photos and Story By Randy Economy

(ARTESIA, CA): A community fundraiser was held Wednesday night to help pay for the construction and installation of the "Deputy David Powell Highway Memorial" sign that will be placed at the 91 Freeway and 605 Freeway Interchange later this month.




More than 200 local community leaders, elected officials, residents, and members of both the Los Angeles County Sheriff and Fire Departments attended the dinner and auction held at the historic Albert O. Little Community Center at Artesia Park.

(Seen above: Artesia Mayor Pro Tem Vic Manalo, Emma Powell, and Mayor Tony Lima.   SEEN: Sheila Martins, Tony Martins, Vidal Lourenco, and Karen Martins cooking up a STORM in the kitchen)

The event was organized and coordinated by Artesia community leader Tony Martins along with others longtime friends and family and those who served in the line of duty with Officer Powell.

Deputy David Powell was shot and killed on November 30th, 2002, after he and his partner responded to reports of gunshots near 166th Street and Elaine Avenue in Artesia at 10:30 at night.

When the officers arrived at that crime scene, they observed a man run into a home and take a woman hostage. As Deputy Powell attempted to kick the door open, the man fired two shots from inside.


One of the rounds struck Deputy Powell in the right arm, passed through the opening in his vest, and entered his chest. Deputy Powell's partner returned fire and dragged Deputy Powell to his patrol car. He then drove Deputy Powell one block away where he was met by paramedics.

Deputy Powell was transported to St. Francis Medical Center where he succumbed to his wound 90 minutes after the shooting. The suspect was shot and killed by responding officers. The weapon used in the crime was a .380 caliber hand gun.

Deputy Powell had been employed with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for 18 year, and is survived by his wife Emma (who attended the dinner), four daughters, parents, brother, and seven grandchildren. He was laid to rest in an emotional funeral that captivated many throughout the community, state and nation


To honor the life and service of Deputy Powell, local California State Assemblyman Tony Mendoza sponsored ACR 30 last year that would dedicate portion of the 91 Freeway and 605 Freeway Interchange in his memory. The bill was signed into law by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

During the bill signing earlier this year, Assemblyman Mendoza said that “Californians are indebted every day to our peace officers, and we pay special tribute to their bravery and dedication and share in their pain when one of their members is killed in the line of duty.”


Seen: Emma Powell remembering her late husband Dep. David Powell.

The funds raised at the event will help pay for the purchase of the freeway sign as well to maintain its upkeep in the future. 

(Seen below: Artesia Councilman Larry Nelson, Artesia community leader Manu Patel, community leaders Rosemary Economy and Dr, Steven Sherman, and Artesia Mayor Tony Lima).


Commander Dave Fender of the Lakewood Sheriff’s Station said during the event that the reason Deputy Powell became a law enforcement officer was to make a positive difference in other people’s lives, and as a deputy sheriff, he was praised by his peers, supervisors, and by members of the community for his tireless efforts to guide young people away from drugs and gangs.

Deputy Powell was also awarded the Medal of Valor by the City of Lakewood for saving the life of an individual attempting suicide in the year 2000, and several months prior to his death.

 SEEN: THE HOT AUCTION DUO OF COUNCILMAN LARRY NELSON AND COUNCILMAN JOHN MARTINS.

Randy Economy Photos
Copyrighted by permission only
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

No comments: