Galvez, Ricardo, PO

Three held in fatal shooting of Downey officer during botched robbery, authorities
colleagues, friends and other members of the community.

3 Suspects Arrested in Slaying of Downey Police Officer

"Ricky was an outstanding person, outstanding police officer. If you could mold a police officer, you would mold him after Officer Galvez. He loved serving his city, he loved serving his country. He had an infectious smile, great attitude."
--Lt. Mark McDaniel, Downey Police Department

"One of Downey's finest was shot and killed. He was a tremendous young man. His smile and professionalism were always on display. Words cannot express the love we have for Ricky."
--Downey Police Chief Carl Charles

"Today is a sad day for Downey and a sad day in my district. Late last night, in a cowardly, unprovoked attack, we lost Downey police officer Ricky Galvez. As a Marine veteran and a dedicated police officer, Ricky Galvez served our community as a selfless public servant and his tragic loss is felt today not only by the city Downey, but by all Californians."

--Assemblymember Cristina Garcia, 58th District

"He was full of life, and he was her not only to serve his country, but his community."
--Eleazar Aguilar, served with Galvez in military

"He was a straight away guy, very family oriented, a great person, very humble. It's a shame."
--Ismael Rosas, friend

"Every day, the brave men and women of our Downey Police Department put themselves at personal risk to keep us all safe. We are incredibly sorrowed at the loss of Officer Galvez and our thoughts and prayers are with all who knew and loved him."
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Police Officer Ricky Galvez was shot and killed from ambush while he sat in his vehicle in the Downey Police Department's parking lot at approximately 11:00 pm.

Officer Galvez was preparing to go off duty when he was approached by two subjects who opened fire on him. Another officer who was nearby heard the shots and pursued the subjects into the neighboring city of Montbello, where they bailed out of the their vehicle fled on foot.

The subjects remain at large.

Officer Galvez was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Downey Police Department for five years.

Three people have been arrested in connection with the killing of a 29-year-old Downey police officer who was fatally shot in a botched robbery as he sat in his personal vehicle in a civic center parking lot, authorities said Thursday.

Two men and a 17-year-old boy admitted that they had intended to rob Officer Ricardo Galvez, said Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department.

Homicide detectives are not looking for any other suspects, he said, and detectives have recovered a handgun that they believe was used in the deadly shooting.
Although authorities initially said the officer had been targeted, they said later that the assailants did not realize Galvez was a police officer. 

"There was nothing indicating that he was a police officer when he was shot," Corina said. "I don't think he even really saw these guys coming up on him." 

Slain Officer Ricardo Galvez was a 'tremendous young man,' police chief says

Galvez had just attended a police dog training session Wednesday at another location about a mile from City Hall, Corina said. He had been acting as a bite agitator during the training and was dressed in street clothes when he pulled his BMW into a lot used by city employees that is also accessible to the public.

It was just after 11 p.m. and his shift was close to ending when two of the suspects approached and at least one of them opened fire, Corina said. No one inside the police department building reported hearing shots.

Galvez did not have his weapon on him.

"It didn't matter where his weapon was; he was shot immediately," Corina said.

A Downey officer pulling out of the station to start his patrol shift heard one gunshot, said Lt. Mark McDaniel, a spokesman for the department. The officer saw the Nissan sedan pulling out of the parking lot and immediately began pursuit. At the time he did not know who, if anyone, had been shot, McDaniel said.

The officer followed the car to Montebello, where the suspects exited the vehicle. The driver was arrested as he attempted to flee, Corina said. The other two suspects were found later inside a home. 

Investigators believe the shooters entered the lot in the 10900 block of Brookshire Avenue from the main entrance but exited a different way.

The shooting happened at close range, and there were multiple shots fired, they said. A forensic unit is examining the vehicle for evidence.  

The owner of the Nissan told The Times her boyfriend was among those arrested in connection with the shooting.

Rebecca Ustrell, 27, said she had asked her live-in boyfriend to pick up some medicine for a migraine on Wednesday. She said she fell asleep at about 9 p.m. that night. When she woke up, authorities were swarming her Montebello neighborhood. 

Ustrell said she went outside at about 11:30 p.m. and saw her Nissan sedan with its doors open and no one inside. She saw police chasing two males, one of whom she recognized. Later, she saw her boyfriend in a police car.

Ustrell said she had never seen her boyfriend with a gun.

"I know he wouldn't have shot somebody," she said.

She said she was questioned by police and that the home she shares on Carob Way with her parents and 9-year-old daughter was searched.

Galvez's death has rocked the small department made up of 109 officers who have forged strong bonds.

Throughout the day, bouquets were placed at a memorial in front of the building. Galvez's portrait was mounted next to a statue commemorating the last Downey officer to die on duty more than 35 years ago.

Downey Police Chief Carl Charles said Galvez, a resident of Whittier, was known to the community as "Ricky."

"Words cannot express the love and respect we have for Ricky, "he said. "Our department is hurting."

Galvez joined the department as a police aide when he was 18 years old and became an officer in 2010. During his time as a Marine reservist, he was deployed twice during Operation Enduring Freedom, Charles said.

Galvez enjoyed jogging and was the co-captain of the department's team for Baker to Vegas, an annual run made up of law enforcement personnel. 

"If you could mold a police officer, you would mold that police officer after Ricky Galvez," McDaniel said.

He added, "You think you come to the police station and park your car, that you"d feel safe."

At the police department, officers were emotional, several hugging the department chaplain with teary eyes. The entire area around the civic center was taped off, and a Sheriff's Department command post truck sat near the crime scene. City hall and the library were closed.

City personnel lined the street as the coroner's van that held Galvez's body drove away, led by a convoy of police motorcycles. Only the sounds of a news helicopter above broke the silence. Members of Galvez's former Marine Corps unit arrived and embraced Downey officers.

Galvez's family members and friends gathered Thursday at a home in South Gate. Outside, some made phone calls, their voices filled with emotion. One relative said it was too difficult of a time to talk, but did offer one descriptor for Galvez: "incredible."

A neighbor recalled that Galvez smiled often and seemed down-to-earth.

"He had a good spirit, "he said." "He was upbeat and seemed very happy. He's one of those people that just  made you feel comfortable.

Galvez is survived by his mother, brother and two sisters. The field patrol officer was not married and did not have children.

In a statement issued Thursday morning, Downey city officials described Galvez's death as tragic and asked for prayers for his family and fellow officers.

"Every day, the brave men and women of our Downey Police Department put themselves at personal risk to keep us all safe," Mayor Luis Marquez said."We are incredibly sorrowed at the loss of Officer Galvez and our thoughts and prayers are with all who knew and loved him."

Alex Saab, Downey's mayor pro tem, said it was a "difficult time for the entire Downey community."