Irvine Police Department Honor Guard

The Irvine Police Honor Guard had the privilege of presenting the colors for Veterans Day events at both the Lakeview Senior Center and Colonel Bill Barber Marine Corp Memorial Park. These events honored the various members of the community that served in the Armed Forces of United States.

We are forever grateful to the men & women who have served this great country - thank you!

Today, members of the Irvine Police Honor Guard, along with the 2nd Battalion 11th Marines Color Guard from Camp Pendleton, presented the colors for today’s Memorial Day ceremonies at Lt. Colonel Bill Barber Park. We honor the lives and sacrifice those men and women that paid the ultimate sacrifice by defending our freedoms and country. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those families.

On Tuesday, the Irvine Police Honor Guard presented the colors and received the Irvine City Council Proclamation for Police Week. Police week is May 11th-17th, 2022 and culminates on May 15th, which is National Peace Officers Memorial Day. The team had the honor of attending the California Peace Officer Memorial May 1st and 2nd, and will also be attending the National Peace Officer Memorial in Washington D.C. this week.

This weekend, members of the Irvine Police Honor Guard traveled to Sacramento for the CA Peace Officers Memorial to honor 28 officers who paid the ultimate sacrifice and 8 from the distant past. Also, a statue of a female peace officer was unveiled at the memorial to honor the contributions and sacrifices by women in law enforcement.

Today, our team had the honor of assisting the Huntington Beach Police Department with the memorial service for Officer Nick Vella. Officer Vella was a 14 year veteran of the Huntington Beach Police Department and also served the community of Laguna Beach before that. Our thoughts & prayers continue to go out to the Vella family and the Huntington Beach Police Department.

It is with tremendous sorrow that we announce the passing of Officer Nicholas Vella, a 14-year veteran of HBPD. Officer Vella died this evening after our police helicopter, HB-1, crashed into the waters off Newport while responding to a call for service. A second officer was injured and is in stable condition. Officer Vella leaves behind a wife and daughter. He served the community of Huntington Beach with honor and dignity. Please join us in extending prayers to Officer Vella's family. We want to thank the community and our law enforcement partners for your support during this difficult time.

Today, members of the Irvine Police Honor Guard attended the memorial service of Officer Ty Lenehan from the Elk Grove Police Department. Officer Lenehan was killed in the line of duty while riding his police motorcycle on Highway 99 on January 21, 2022 a by suspected DUI, wrong way driver. Our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Lenehan‘s family, personnel of the Elk Grove Police Department, and the community.

Thank you for your service, Sgt. Parker.

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Over the weekend, members of the Irvine Police Honor Guard joined many from the law enforcement community at our nation’s capitol to pay tribute to the heroic brothers and sisters who lost their lives on duty. Along with participating in the ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, they attended the memorial service at the US Capitol where President Biden addressed the families of the fallen law-enforcement heroes. The team also performed a wreath guard duty at the National Law Enforcement Memorial.
HONOR • REMEMBER • RESPECT

Last night, members of the Irvine Police Department and Honor Guard attended the national candlelight vigil at the National Mall. We honored the officers killed in the line of duty for 2019 and 2020. Over 500 names were added to the memorial.

This morning, members of the Irvine Police Honor Guard, who traveled to Washington D.C. for the rescheduled Law Enforcement Memorial, had the honor to present a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The Honor Guard will be doing various details throughout this week at National Police weekend including the candlelight vigil tonight at the National Mall.

HONOR • REMEMBER • RESPECT