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Memorial wall honors 2 Costa Mesa officers killed in 1987 copter crash

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Police Chief Robert Sharpnack speaks during a memorial and dedication ceremony Friday to mark the 30th anniversary of the deaths of two Costa Mesa police officers in a helicopter crash.   (Kevin Chang / Daily Pilot)
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Katie Libolt Wright, center left, and her mother, Becky Libolt West, center right, attend a memorial and dedication ceremony Friday marking the 30th anniversary of the helicopter crash in which officers John “Mike” Libolt and James “Dave” Ketchum died in the line of duty.   (Kevin Chang / Daily Pilot)
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Police Chaplain Dave Brooks shares stories during a memorial and dedication ceremony Friday at Costa Mesa police headquarters honoring officers John “Mike” Libolt and James “Dave” Ketchum, who died after their helicopter collided with a Newport Beach chopper on March 10, 1987.   (Kevin Chang / Daily Pilot)
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Front row from right, Officer James David Ketchum’s daughter, Hilary Ketchum-Bos, wife, Meg Ketchum, and grandsons David Bos, 9, and Jasper Bos, 7, laugh as Police Chaplain Dave Brooks, not pictured, shares stories during a memorial and dedication ceremony Friday marking the 30th anniversary of the helicopter crash in which Officer Ketchum and Officer John “Mike” Libolt were killed.

  (Kevin Chang / Daily Pilot)
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Family members and friends look on as a memorial wall is unveiled Friday honoring Officers John “Mike” Libolt and James “Dave” Ketchum, who died after their helicopter, Costa Mesa Eagle II, collided with a Newport Beach chopper on March 10, 1987.   (Kevin Chang / Daily Pilot)
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A memorial wall is unveiled Friday at Costa Mesa police headquarters honoring officers John “Mike” Libolt and James “Dave” Ketchum, who were killed March 10, 1987, when their helicopter crashed.   (Kevin Chang / Daily Pilot)
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Family members, two past police chiefs and the present police chief pose in front of a memorial wall unveiled Friday at Costa Mesa police headquarters honoring officers John “Mike” Libolt and James “Dave” Ketchum, who died after their helicopter collided with a Newport Beach chopper on March 10, 1987.   (Kevin Chang / Daily Pilot)
By Hannah FryStaff Writer 

Costa Mesa police on Friday unveiled a memorial wall at the department’s headquarters honoring two officers who were killed 30 years ago in a helicopter crash.

March 10, 1987, marked the deadliest day in the Costa Mesa Police Department’s history. At 10:20 p.m., officers John William “Mike” Libolt, 39, and James David Ketchum, 39, were killed when their helicopter, Costa Mesa Eagle II, collided with a Newport Beach chopper during a pursuit.

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The memorial wall features photos of the two men.

Libolt and Ketchum, who were both 15-year veterans of the department, were pulling away from the pursuit and handing it over to the Newport Beach helicopter when the collision occurred. Jeffrey A. Pollard, a civilian flight instructor, also died in the crash.

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Costa Mesa police officials, former officers and Libolt’s and Ketchum’s families attended the ceremony.

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Twitter: @HannahFryTCN

Hannah Fry

Hannah Fry covers breaking news for the Los Angeles Times. She most recently covered Orange County for The Times and has written extensively about criminal trials, housing, politics and government. In 2020, Fry was part of the team that was a Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of a boat fire that killed 34 people off the coast of Santa Barbara. Fry came to The Times from the Daily Pilot, where she covered coastal cities, education and crime. An Orange County native, Fry started her career as an intern at the Orange County Register.
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