Memorial Service, Procession Held For Huntington Beach Police Officer Nicholas Vella Killed In Helicopter Crash
ANAHEIM (CBSLA) – A large procession and memorial service took place Tuesday for a Huntington Beach police officer who was killed in a helicopter crash last month.
On the night of Feb. 19, Nicholas Vella was killed when the police helicopter crashed into the ocean waters off Newport Beach. The 44-year-old Vella was working as the tactical flight officer that night. The pilot survived the crash.
Vella was a 14-year veteran of the department. He is survived by his wife and teenage daughter.
A procession began at 7 a.m. at Huntington Beach police headquarters and made its way to the Honda Center in Anaheim, where the memorial service got underway at 10 a.m.
"It really puts in perspective how much they put their lives on the line, and leave their family behind, it's just sad," said Bree Bri who was one of the hundreds who lined the procession route as police motorcycles, patrol units and buses carrying Vella's extended family of officers streamed by.
"It's devastating, my dad is a retired police officer, so I feel for the family," Jen Deprez said.
Several Southland police departments left their badges on a patrol car as part of a memorial outside Huntington Beach police headquarters.
Students at Edison High School also left their classrooms to pay tribute as the procession rolled by.
The cause of the crash is under investigation. A National Transportation Safety Board investigator told CBSLA that both officers aboard the chopper reported having mechanical failures just before it went down.