Funeral Services Held For Fallen LAPD Motorcycle Officer In Downtown
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Funeral services were held Tuesday morning for Los Angeles Police Department motorcycle officer Chris Cortijo, who was struck and killed by a driver who was allegedly under the influence of drugs.
KNX 1070's Margaret Carrero reports thousands of family members, friends, and colleauges were on hand for the funeral Mass for Cortijo, a 26-year veteran of the LAPD and former Marine, at The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown.
Cortijo, 51, died on April 9, four days after being struck by the suspected DUI driver in Sun Valley. He had committed himself to protecting the public from DUI drivers throughout his career, recording over 3,000 arrests.
A Pacoima woman, 33-year-old Qaneak Cobb, was arrested for DUI and possession of cocaine and has pleaded not guilty.
"It's so sad, it's so tragic that a man that spent his whole adult life protecting others from those dangers of the road succumbs to them himself," Chief beck said Monday night at Cortijo's viewing.
Archbishop José H. Gomez presided over the Mass.
Cojito is survived by his partner, Lillie Price, son, daughter and brother.
Immediately after the service, an LAPD motorcade led the funeral procession to a graveside burial at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.
Cortijo was the second LAPD officer to die in the past seven weeks, including the death of Los Angeles police Officer Nicholas Choung Lee, 40, who was killed March 7 when an out-of-control truck on steep Loma Vista Drive in Beverly Hills struck hispatrol car head-on.
An account benefiting Cortijo's family has been established at the Los Angeles Police Federal Credit Union. Checks payable to the Blue Ribbon Trust for Christopher Cortijo can be sent to the Los Angeles Police Federal Credit Union, attention Blue Ribbon Christopher Cortijo, Post Office Box 10188, Van Nuys, CA 91410.
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