There was plenty of praise for their thorough police work at the memorial service for slain El Monte police Sgt. Michael Domingo Paredes and Officer Joseph Anthony Saltana on Thursday.
But again and again, the speakers at Toyota Arena in Ontario kept coming back to the same theme: love of family.
Police officers — some in tears — from law enforcement agencies far and wide heard the tributes from blood relatives and police brothers during a two-hour ceremony for the men, who both grew up in El Monte.
“My dad was a great man, but an even greater dork,” said Bella Paredes, a daughter of Michael Paredes, 42. “He would torture me with country music. These memories will forever be held close to my heart.”
She urged mourners, “If any of you don’t have a family or a passion to practice, go make one. If it were my dad saying that, it would be more like ‘Get a life.’ Live the life you wish to leave behind. Create a legacy.”
Jose Santana, an uncle of Joseph Santana, said the whole family looked up to him. Every text or call would end with the message, “I love you.”
“He just wanted to live and enjoy life and be with his family that he enjoyed so much. If we honor Joseph, then be happy at all times,” Jose Santana said.
“So I love you forever,” Santana concluded, choking up.
The officers were fatally shot while responding to a report of a possible stabbing when they encountered a gunman inside the Siesta Inn on Garvey Avenue on June 14. Paredes served with the department for more than 20 years; Santana was a one-year veteran of the agency after working for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Paredes was promoted to sergeant after his death.
The day’s events began with an approximate 28-mile procession of police cars from the El Monte Police Department headquarters escorting the caskets to the arena. People lined the route to pay their respects, some saying the deaths hit home because they knew the officers or their families.
“These are our kids. It hurts,” said Nellie Huerta, a community liaison at Payne Elementary School. “It’s overwhelming to see the support from the different cities, she said. “We are not alone.”
Valerie Gauthier, who runs the school at the nearby First Baptist Church, was among those who stood on Valley Boulevard.
“I have much respect for our officers and what they do. Unfortunately, our society doesn’t. It’s pretty sad,” she said.
Inside the arena, large portraits of the officers were posted on either end of the stage, flanked by flower arrangements. Before the first speaker, a choir sang “Amazing Grace” and a symphony played.
“We can never repay the debt we owe Mike and Joseph,” El Monte Police Chief Ben Lowry said. “They left this world as valiant heroes. I am not saying this because they died, but because of how they lived.”
Lowry had worked alongside Paredes for 20 years. Paredes was a supervisor’s dream: He never needed supervision. Paredes never allowed anyone to provoke an unprofessional response. Lowry dug through Paredes’ work file after his death and couldn’t find any complaints or internal affairs investigations among his more than 40 commendations.
Paredes would go the extra mile to help anyone who needed it. He organized a drive to collect bicycle helmets for children and shared parenting tips with his fellow officers, Lowry said.
“Mikey was our brother. Maybe not by blood, but by spirit,” El Monte Detective Julian Urias said.
Officer Sergio Enriquez, a close friend, said, “Mikey was like a little brother to me.” He paused to compose himself.
They began working the same shifts 21 years ago. He said Paredes has a calmness about him and credited him with starting a 5K run and Trunk or Treat event that drew hundreds of children
“Mikey, you were loved by many and we will miss you.”
Lt. Christopher Cano, who said Paredes would have wanted this day to be one of celebration of his life, nevertheless acknowledged his sadness. His and Paredes’ lives changed forever in 2003 when Sony released the Star Wars Galaxies online role-playing game. They spent hours battling it out.
“Saving the Republic from Darth Vader is not going to be the same without Mikey there,” Cano said.
Lowry related praise from Santana’s co-workers. Santana was a proactive officer, the first on the job and the last to leave. Punctual, dependable and, no small thing for an officer, he had good penmanship. Santana would spend more time with victims than most officers.
“It was obvious he loved the job,” Lowry said.
Santana, 31, enjoyed talking about his family, how his youngest children kept him up at night and that he liked coaching his daughter in softball.
Lowry encouraged Santana’s children to watch a videotape of the ceremony “and learn what type of man their dad was.”
“Above all these things, your dad was honorable. He loved his wife with all his heart and was true to her,” Lowry said.
Added Gilbert de la Rosa, a pastor and longtime friend of Santana: “He strived to be the man God commanded him to be.”
The ceremony inside the arena concluded with a video tribute and a police dispatcher, Ruth Bonneau, calling out to Paredes and Santana one last time.
“Station to El Monte 0706. Station to El Monte 565 … Station to all El Monte units, no response from Officer Santana and Sgt. Paredes. … It is with great sadness we mourn the loss of Officer Joseph Santana and Sgt. Michael Paredes. … Your law enforcement family thanks you for your selfless service. … May you rest in eternal peace. You are cleared to return home. We have the watch from here.”
Staff Writer Brennon Dixson contributed to this report.