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Burbank Police Officer Laid To Rest
Nov 21, 2003 3:03 pm US/Pacific
Thousands turned out under leaden skies for Friday's funeral service for slain Burbank police Officer Matthew Pavelka, as the search continued for his suspected killer.
Governor Schwarzenegger attended the service amid a sea of officers in blue from as far away as Las Vegas and San Diego.
A bagpipe played as officers saluted the flag-draped casket at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills.
State Attorney General Bill Lockyer and Los Angeles County District Attorney Steve Cooley also attended.
Six Burbank police officers served as pallbearers.
The chaplain of the Burbank police department opened the hour-long memorial service by saying, "This is a day we prayed would never come."
Pavelka was described as a happy-go-lucky rookie with "gentle strength."
His girlfriend, Jessica Dicristina, called Pavelka her hero and said, "I'll think of you as not gone away but living in the hearts of those you touched."
Burbank officials on Thursday announced a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of 19-year-old David A. Garcia, the prime suspect in the Saturday slaying of the 26-year-old rookie.
"This cash reward is just one sign that the city of Burbank takes extremely seriously the loss of one of the Burbank Family," City Manager Mary Alvord said. "We urge anyone with information about the suspect to come forward and do the right thing."
The city of Los Angeles is offering an additional $25,000 and County Supervisor Michael Antonovich has proposed another $10,000.
The suspect's father and two brothers made an appeal on television Thursday for him to turn himself in.
"We love you son and we've been praying for you. But your brothers have been incarcerated and are being charged with serious crimes. You need to come on in," said his father, Ernest.
"Your whole damn family is in trouble," added the fugitive's brother, Matthew Garcia.
Ernest, Matthew and Jesse Garcia refused, on the strong advice of their attorney, to make any additional comments. All have been arrested, although not charged, with aiding and abetting a murderer.
The suspect's 53-year-old mother, Loretta Gale Garcia of Sun Valley, was detained Wednesday at a hospital, where she was being treated for an unspecified ailment. She was released from custody a short time later.
Garcia is being sought in connection with the killing of Pavelka on Saturday night, said Burbank police Sgt. William Berry.
Officer Gregory Campbell, 41, was critically wounded in the same shooting, police said, while Garcia's alleged accomplice, Ramon Aranda, 25, was killed. Garcia got away.
Since Pavelka's death, sheriff's deputies and police from several cities around Burbank have arrested people close to Garcia on suspicion of drug and weapons violations.
James Garcia, 19, and Erwin DeLeon, 20, who were arrested Sunday, pleaded innocent in Burbank Superior Court Tuesday to charges of being an accessory to a crime, possessing an automatic gun, an illegal silencer and assault weapons. James Garcia is the fugitive's twin brother.
On Tuesday, Pavelka's mother and his father, an LAPD detective and 29-year veteran of the department, asked for the public's help in finding their son's killer.
"My son Matthew loved being a police officer," Mike Pavelka said.
"Last Saturday, his life was cut short by a violent man with no regard for human life," he said. "Until the time that he is brought to justice, the community cannot rest knowing that such a violent man is at large."
Burbank police said Campbell stopped a Cadillac Escalade in the 2900 block of San Fernando Boulevard -- an area known for drug dealing.
The vehicle had a paper license plate and the driver could not provide any proof of registration, police said. After the officer called for backup, Garcia and Aranda allegedly got out of the Cadillac and opened fire on Campbell and Pavelka, who had just arrived.
Garcia is about 6 feet 1, 220 pounds, with brown eyes and a shaved head. Burbank police asked that anyone with information on his whereabouts call them at (818) 238-3000.
On Tuesday evening, a candlelight vigil for Pavelka is scheduled in front of police headquarters.
A memorial fund has been established in Pavelka's name at Burbank City Employees Federal Credit Union, 1800 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, 91506. The phone number is (818) 846-1710.
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