Dettom
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I learned yesterday that one of my friends/ coworkers, passed away. This has been one that finds me thinking, why does God let this happen?
His name was Ronnie Garcia, everyone called him RC. I had on been on the department for about two years when he came on. After working with him a short time, I thought to myself, oh yeah I'll be working for him someday. He was always on the quiet side, one those guys who actually thought before he spoke, unlike many of us, myself included.
He went on to become a Field Training Officer, then detective, then sergeant, serving in SWAT and gang units as a supervisor. He was promoted to lieutenant and shortly after I retired, promoted to captain. (I retired a lowly detective in 2012). No one was ever surprised by his success. He was extremely intelligent, nice to everybody and a mentor to many. A born leader in a world where they are in very short supply.
His son Gabe, who I think I met when he about 7, grew up to join our department too. He was a spitting image of his dad, always courteous and professional.
In 2014 or 2015, I can't recall, Gabe was working as an FTO and had his trainee with him. This was right at the height of the Michael Brown Ferguson Missouri riots. They came down the street one night and there was a group of idiots standing in the middle of the street. When they got out of the car in investigate, they were immediately fired on. The trainee, who had Iraq combat experience, engaged them and was involved in a three minute long firefight with one of them. Three minutes is an eternity, but he finally killed the asshole. To his horror, he discovered that Gabe was hit in the head and was laying next to a signal box.
He was rushed to Loma Linda Hospital and by some miracle of God they saved him. But he would never be the same. After a few years of intense therapy, he was left paralyzed on one side and has some speech issues and the other stuff that goes with a TBI. Right after this happened, RC retired from the department and made a full time job out of helping his son rebuild his life. He took him to therapy and the gym everyday. A bunch of our guys got together and fixed up Gabe's house for him to make it user friendly, given his situation. RC and his wife, put everything they had into helping Gabe.
Gabe is now married and has a young daughter.
RC was diagnosed with kidney cancer 5 years ago. His awesome wife , Lydia was diagnosed with bladder cancer the following day. Ron had surgery, radiation and chemo as did his wife. His cancer came back 8 months later then went to his lungs and then his brain. She stopped her chemo to take care of him and I'm not sure what her outcome is going to be.
Ron was also always very involved in the community and his church. They are fixtures in Yucaipa. But his family was always more important to him than anything.
To say it is a loss to see him go is a major understatement. Some guys are just plain irreplaceable and he is one for sure. Ronnie Garcia gave the last full measure. Godspeed buddy. We will always miss you.
His name was Ronnie Garcia, everyone called him RC. I had on been on the department for about two years when he came on. After working with him a short time, I thought to myself, oh yeah I'll be working for him someday. He was always on the quiet side, one those guys who actually thought before he spoke, unlike many of us, myself included.
He went on to become a Field Training Officer, then detective, then sergeant, serving in SWAT and gang units as a supervisor. He was promoted to lieutenant and shortly after I retired, promoted to captain. (I retired a lowly detective in 2012). No one was ever surprised by his success. He was extremely intelligent, nice to everybody and a mentor to many. A born leader in a world where they are in very short supply.
His son Gabe, who I think I met when he about 7, grew up to join our department too. He was a spitting image of his dad, always courteous and professional.
In 2014 or 2015, I can't recall, Gabe was working as an FTO and had his trainee with him. This was right at the height of the Michael Brown Ferguson Missouri riots. They came down the street one night and there was a group of idiots standing in the middle of the street. When they got out of the car in investigate, they were immediately fired on. The trainee, who had Iraq combat experience, engaged them and was involved in a three minute long firefight with one of them. Three minutes is an eternity, but he finally killed the asshole. To his horror, he discovered that Gabe was hit in the head and was laying next to a signal box.
He was rushed to Loma Linda Hospital and by some miracle of God they saved him. But he would never be the same. After a few years of intense therapy, he was left paralyzed on one side and has some speech issues and the other stuff that goes with a TBI. Right after this happened, RC retired from the department and made a full time job out of helping his son rebuild his life. He took him to therapy and the gym everyday. A bunch of our guys got together and fixed up Gabe's house for him to make it user friendly, given his situation. RC and his wife, put everything they had into helping Gabe.
Gabe is now married and has a young daughter.
RC was diagnosed with kidney cancer 5 years ago. His awesome wife , Lydia was diagnosed with bladder cancer the following day. Ron had surgery, radiation and chemo as did his wife. His cancer came back 8 months later then went to his lungs and then his brain. She stopped her chemo to take care of him and I'm not sure what her outcome is going to be.
Ron was also always very involved in the community and his church. They are fixtures in Yucaipa. But his family was always more important to him than anything.
To say it is a loss to see him go is a major understatement. Some guys are just plain irreplaceable and he is one for sure. Ronnie Garcia gave the last full measure. Godspeed buddy. We will always miss you.
