Community gathers to honor fallen law enforcement

2021 memorial looks a little different due to COVID-19 restrictions

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The Imperial Valley Law Enforcement Memorial in partnership with local law enforcement agencies honors our fallen officers Friday evening. 

"Today we're honoring the Imperial Valley Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, with a motorcade from the United States border patrol El Centro sector headquarters to the El Centro courthouse on Main Street," shares Border Patrol agent Carlos Pitones. "In the past, we have honored 41 officers who have died in the line of duty here in the Imperial Valley. And this year, we'll be adding two more officers to that list: Border Patrol agent Flores-Bañuelos and Officer Coronel from the El Centro Police Department."

Last year’s motorcade was cancelled due to the pandemic. Authorities have since been eager to honor their fellow officers and agents, with the rest of the community. 

"Typically for the law enforcement memorial, we do a whole stand-in ceremony at the courthouse on the steps. Due to COVID, we're unable to do that,” says Sergeant for the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office Steven Green. "So, we came up with a game plan, and the best we could think of to honor the fallen officers, was to set up the flags and the display at the courthouse in the yard there; and then to do a motorcade from here as we normally do every year, from here to the courthouse."

Local agencies participating in the motorcade gathered at the Border Patrol El Centro Sector, before proceeding down Imperial Avenue to the El Centro courthouse. 

Officer Efren Coronel passed away last year after contracting COVID-19 on duty. His wife, Sandra Coronel, and their two children visit the Imperial Valley Law Enforcement Memorial to pay respect. 

"My husband used to work for the police department here in El Centro for more than 20 years," shares Coronel. "He loved his job. He had a passion to help the community. He loved helping people, and, he always wanted to do good for the community. And thats what he did. His passion was: just helping people."

Reporting from KYMA.com, this is Caleb Fernandez.