Burial service for LAPD officer from Delano who died of COVID-19

A Delano family is mourning the loss of their beloved, an LAPD officer, who passed away from COVID-19 just last month.

Family and friends gathered in Delano today to pay their respects and mourn a life cut short.

FROM COVID-19 JUSTLAST MONTH.FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHERED INDELANO TODAY TOPAY THEIR RESPECTS AND MOURN ALIFE CUT SHORT.23ABC'S BAYNE FRONEY WAS ATTODAY'S SERVICES.

SHEJOIN US LIVE DELANO, WITH HOWHIS FELLOW BROTHERS INBLUE WANTED TO HONOR THE OFFICERAND HIS FAMILY DURINGTHIS TIME..

BAYNE?THATS RIGHT JESS, OFFICERVALENTINE MARTINEZ WASESCORTED FROM BAKERSFIELD TODELANO TODAY FOR A BURIALSERVICE EARLIER TODAY."HE WAS A GREAT OFFICER, HE WASREAL KIND-HEARTED AND VERYDEDICATED TO HIS WORK."OFFICER VALENTINE MARTINEZ LOSTHIS BATTLE WITHCOVID-19 IN LATE JULY.

IT ISBELIEVED THAT HE HAD CONTRACTEDTHE VIRUS WHILE HE WAS ON DUTY.JOSE MADRIGAL, POLICE CORPORALFOR DELANO POLICEDEPARTMENT, LEAD AN ESCORT FROMBAKERSFIELD TODELANO TO HONOR MARTINEZ AND HISFAMILY."THIS IS JUST OUR WAY TO PAYTRIBUTE TOHIM, FOR HIS SACRIFICE."MARTINEZ HAD BEEN ON THE POLICEFORCE FOR 13 YEARS ANDWAS L-A-P-D'S FIRST SWORNOFFICER TO DIE FROM THE VIRUS.THURSDAY.A FUNERAL SERVICE WASHELD IN HOLLYWOOD ATFOREST LAWN FOR THE 45 YEAROLD.FRIDAY HE WAS BROUGHTHOME TO DELANO WHERE HE GREW UP,SO HE COULD BE LAID TO REST.FRIENDS AND FAMILY GATHERED ATTHE BURIAL SITE TO PAY THEIRRESPECTS, REMEMBERING THE LIFETHAT WAS LOST."ITS AN HONOR PAYING RESPECTS TOOURBROTHERS IN BLUE AND GREEN, JUSTREPRESENTING THE DEPARTMENT ANDHAVING THAT CONNECTION BETWEENAGENCIES."EVEN IN TIMES OF SORROW,MADRIGAL EMPHASIZED THATIT IS IMPORTANT TO DO THE BESTWE CAN TO KEEP OURSELVES ANDOTHERS SAFE.JOSE MADRIGAL, POLICE CORPORALFOR DELANO POLICEDEPARTMENT"IT IS A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY FOREVERYONE OUT THERE TO MAINTAINTHEIR SOCIAL DISTANCE, WEARTHEIR MASK,AND JUST BE SAFE AND HOPEFULLYGET THROUGH THIS AS SAFELY ASPOSSIBLE."MARTINEZ LEAVES BEHIND FAMILYAND TWINS THAT ARE EXPECTED INNOVEMBER..

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