El Centro Police Department honors fallen officer
The police department will host a candlelight vigil for fallen Officer Efren Coronel - 13 On Your Side's Vince Ybarra reports
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KECY, KYMA) - Officer Efren Coronel will be remembered Monday at Memorial Park in El Centro. The police department said they worked with the city to get a street named after Officer Coronel.
The fallen officer passed away last year due to COVID-19 complications. The departments said he was in an altercation with someone who had COVID-19 and later passed away.
El Centro Police Officer, Luis Hernandez, said the unveiling of the street name on Monday is special because it would be his birthday.
The street will be called Efren Coronel Drive, and it's near 3rd street in El Centro.
Officer Hernandez said the passing of Officer Coronel has been a huge loss.
“I know he was very involved with the community, especially the girl's soccer team. It’s a big loss not just for the department but for the community,” said Officer Hernandez.
Officer Coronel was with the police department for almost 25 years and had several different roles during his time there.
Officer Hernandez hopes they have a big turnout Monday at Memorial Park to honor his friend and colleague.
Officer Coronel's wife, Sandra, hopes that people in the community remember him for his kindness.
“I want them to remember him as a very humble person. And he cared about his community, his family, his city,” said Coronel.
She went on to thank the city of El Centro for naming the street after her husband. Coronel also thanked the police department for their help during such difficult time.