Traffic Police Honor Officer Killed in the Line of Duty

Driving city-owned white cars and a cluster of tow trucks, hundreds of Los Angeles parking enforcement officers moved through the streets of Echo Park on Wednesday in a procession to honor a fallen colleague.

Henry Medina, 47, of Alhambra was the first traffic officer in the history of the city’s Department of Transportation to die of injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Medina died May 20 after being struck by a car as he was impounding an illegally parked vehicle in Hollywood.

About 600 officers in blue-gray regimental uniforms gathered for the funeral Wednesday at Angelus Temple in Echo Park.

“This is a city coming together to respect an officer who has earned it,” said Sgt. John Curtin, who helped organize the services. “If we had a lot more officers like him, we’d have a more proficient department.”

In a gesture of solidarity, parking enforcement officers from Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Seattle also attended the services.

“We’re closer, more of a family unit now,” said Los Angeles Traffic Officer J.C. Williams. “And we take more precautions. We’re all aware that this could have been one of us.”