Candlelight vigil honors 13 fallen officers at California Capitol.
SACRAMENTO, Calif — Hundreds of peace officers, families and state leaders gathered Sunday at the State Capitol for a candlelight vigil honoring 13 officers who died in the line of duty, marking the start of the 48th Annual California Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremonies.
Families described the vigil as both emotional and meaningful — a night that brings grief and gratitude together.
Three mothers from Modesto said they have made it a tradition to attend the annual ceremony, leaning on each other for support after losing their sons in the line of duty.
“We want others to know that fallen officers are not going to be forgotten,” said Nannette Wallace, whose son Dennis Wallace died in 2016.
Wallace, along with Gloria Casas and Rohini Singh, said they formed a close bond after meeting through shared loss. Casas and Singh lost their sons in 2018.
“I lost my son Christmas night 2018, he was my eldest. He had a five-month-old baby. When I started coming here, I found them as mothers, and it taught me I’m not alone,” said Rohini Singh, the mother of Ronil Singh.
The women said returning each year is painful, but helps them cope.
“My son was my only child. So, coming here, the support of everyone, it helps. It helps us all cope,” said Gloria Casas, who is the mother of Tony Hinostroza.
During Sunday’s ceremony, 13 families walked to the California Peace Officers’ Memorial Monument, surrounded by others who share the experience of losing a loved one in the line of duty.
Among them was the family of Osmar Rodarte, who was killed on March 26 last year.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta read the Roll Call of Heroes, naming the fallen officers as the crowd listened.
State Sen. Tom Umberg said holding the ceremony near the Capitol carries significance for lawmakers.
“It’s important that legislators come and elected officials come and see those who are bearing the burden, who are bearing the price,” Umberg said. “For laws that are enacted, some that aren’t enacted. For resources that are provided and maybe not provided.”
San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus, the keynote speaker, urged attendees to carry the memory of the fallen forward.
“May we honor them not only in this moment but in how we live, how we serve, and how we support each other moving forward,” Dicus said.
For families, the ceremony offers reassurance that their loved ones are not forgotten.
“We feel they are remembered. Our biggest fear was I didn’t want my son to be forgotten. So we feel they are remembered,” Singh said.
The memorial events continue Monday morning with a law enforcement caravan departing from the CHP Academy and traveling down Capitol Mall to the memorial monument. The procession will include patrol vehicles, motorcycles, horses, and officers on foot.
Here is the list of peace officers honored:
Deputy Timothy B. Corlew Riverside Co. Sheriff’s Office EOW: January 8, 2025
Deputy Hector Cuevas, Jr. San Bernardino Co. Sheriff’s Department EOW: March 17, 2025
Officer Osmar Rodarte Marysville Police Department EOW: March 26, 2025
Officer Samuel S. Riveros Baldwin Park Police Department EOW: May 31, 2025
Sergeant Shiou Lih Deng Los Angeles Police Department EOW: June 23, 2025
Parole Agent Joshua L. Byrd CA Dept. of Corrections & Rehabilitation EOW: July 17, 2025
Detective Joshua R. Kelley-Eklund Los Angeles Co. Sheriff’s Department EOW: July 18, 2025
Detective Victor M. Lemus Los Angeles Co. Sheriff’s Department EOW: July 18, 2025
Detective William C. Osborn Los Angeles Co. Sheriff’s Department EOW: July 18, 2025
Officer Lauren A. Craven La Mesa Police Department EOW: October 20, 2025
Deputy Andrew Nunez San Bernardino Co. Sheriff’s Department EOW: October 27, 2025
Officer Alec J. Sanders Alhambra Police Department EOW: November 20, 2025
Honored from the distant past: Deputy Paul W. DeRouen Sacramento Co. Sheriff’s Office EOW: March 29, 2008
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