RETIRED GGPD Lieutenant Steve Sanders was the guest speaker (Tribune photo).

By Jim Tortolano
Orange County Tribune

The 39th Annual “Call to Duty” memorial of the Garden Grove Police Department event on Thursday was a bridge between the heroism and service of one era and looking forward to another one.

Retired GGPD Lieutenant Steve Sanders spoke to a gathering in front of the “old” police facility and eulogized the GGPD officers who gave their lives — “The Fallen Six” – in service to their community.

The new police department building – three stories high with gleaming mirrored walls – was under construction nearby on Acacia Parkway.

“This will be the last memorial held at this facility, a place where many of us spent our entire career here. These walls have seen our triumphs, our challenges, our laughter and our tears,” said Sanders.

“It is only fitting that we start this ceremony with those who had a dream to serve, to protect, wear the badge with pride.

“They served with honor, dignity and compassion. They served their community with courage that defined their character and shaped their legacy.

“And today, we say their names because their names deserve to the spoken with pride.”

The “Fallen Six” are:
• Sgt. Myron Trapp, 1959;
• Reserve Officer Andy R. Reese, 1970;
• Officer Donald F. Reed, 1980;
• Officer Micheal L. Rainford, 1980;
• Master Officer Howard E. Dallies, Jr, 1993;
• Lieutenant John Reynolds, 2021.

The ceremonies included comments by Police Chief Amir El-Farra, performances by the Bolsa Grande High School Concert Choir, a recitation of the patriotic poem “My Name is Old Glory’ by GGPD Sgt. Jose Herrera and a singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” by Orange Police Department Officer Lavance Reed.

The welcome, introduction and “thank you” were by Captain Luis Payan.