Kirk Watson: “it is with deep sadness and regret that I rise to inform my colleagues of the death of Los Angeles Police Department…”

“it is with deep sadness and regret that I rise to inform my colleagues of the death of Los Angeles Police Department Officer Ricardo Lizarraga, who was killed in the line of duty on Friday, February 20, 2004, while answering a domestic violence dispute in the area of Western and Vernon Avenue in my district. Officer Lizarraga became the first LAPD officer since 1998 to be shot and killed in the line of duty. Mr. Speaker, as many of us know, domestic violence calls can be the most volatile and unpredictable situations to which police officers respond. After a woman flagged down Officer Lizarraga's police car and asked for help, the officer and his partner went to remove an abusive boyfriend from her apartment. According to official accounts, the suspect emerged with a gun and shot the 30-year-old officer just below his bulletproof vest. Officer Lizarraga had only recently joined the police force 2 years ago. Fellow officers described him as cheerful, soft-spoken, hardworking, who loved his job and in April had landed an assignment on a fledgling special problems unit in the Newton division, where my father served and died of injuries related to his service. A fellow officer called Officer Lizarraga a gentle giant, who could look intimidating; but all one had to do was talk to him, and he would respond softly. He was very nice, very quiet, and it belied his stature.”