Behind the Badge
“Feisty.”
“Tenacious.”
“Determined.”
“Didn’t take crap from anyone.”
Orange County Sheriff’s Capt. Jason Park used these descriptors during his eulogy at the funeral of OCSD Dep. Courtney Ward at Crossline Community Church in Laguna Hills on Nov. 22.
On Nov. 6, Ward, 36, succumbed to a rare and aggressive type of cervical cancer called neuroendocrine carcinoma, but not before a months-long battle in which the nine-year deputy was determined to bring awareness to the cancer, of which little is known.
As family and friends gather at Crossline Community Church, O.C. Sheriff’s Capt. Jason Park talks about the life of Deputy Courtney Ward.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
About 150 of the 500 mourners were OCSD deputies.
Sheriff Sandra Hutchens was among them.
Since she knew the day was coming, Ward had a lot to say about how the funeral would take place and she wanted the service to be a celebration of her life, Park said.
David Ward, Courtney’s husband, served as a pallbearer along with other family members and friends.
Even Park, a hardened, seasoned deputy and Ward’s tactical training officer (TAC) – think Marine Corp drill sergeant – at the OCSD Training Academy, got choked up several times as he spoke.
OCSD Capt. Jason Park talks about Deputy Courtney Ward’s strength, determination and her battle with cancer during a memorial service for her at Crossline Community Church on Tuesday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
“There is no way we could put together a service that would accurately reflect her life,” Park said. “She wore the uniform with honor and she honored the uniform.”
Park confessed that he didn’t think Ward would survive the rigors of the academy.
He recalled a training run in which she had fallen way behind the pack.
In typical TAC fashion, Park dropped back from the lead pack and ran alongside Ward, yelling the whole time.
Orange County Sheriff’s Honor Guard member Mong Chhith stands watch next to the flag-draped casket of Deputy Courtney Ward, who passed away from cancer earlier this month.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Eventually, Ward caught up with the others.
“There are rare occasions when you witness an individual giving absolutely everything they have … using every ounce of energy to keep going,” Park said. “It is not physical energy at that point … it’s emotional and psychological. She made it clear that she was going to fight.”
It was at that moment, Park said, that he was certain Ward would complete the academy and become a deputy.
And while she is characterized by words that imply obstinacy and ferocity, Ward seemed to possess a spirit that could transform a person’s hostility to kindness.
Family and friends gather at Crossline Community Church in Laguna Hills as OCSD Capt. Jason Park talks about Deputy Courtney Ward.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Deputy DeAnne Wigginton shared about early interactions with Ward at the women’s jail, when Wigginton was a senior deputy and Ward was new on the job.
“I just wasn’t very nice,” Wigginton said.
Feeling a bit guilty, Wigginton decided she was going to go to Ward’s house and bring her a chocolate bouquet as an apologetic gesture.
“I kind of feel like I’ve been a jerk to you and I don’t like to see that when I look in the mirror,” Wigginton told Ward. “She wrapped her arms around me and she forgave me for not being a very nice person and it was at that moment that I thought, forgiveness … that is what that feels like.”
They wound up talking for hours, Wigginton said.
A photograph of OCSD Deputy Courtney Ward is displayed next to her flag-draped casket during her memorial service at Crossline Community Church in Laguna Hills on Tuesday.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
“We sat and we talked and we laughed and we cried and we shared stories,” she said. “Courtney really, really motivated me to dig deep and to truly be kind. Courtney’s heart was so pure. It was so sweet.”
Ward’s forgiveness motivated Wigginton to examine the way she was “living in the dash.”
Said Wigginton: “She taught me to count my blessings, to practice kindness, to let go of what I can’t control, to listen to my heart, to be productive and to just breathe.”
The OCSD rallied around Ward throughout her illness.
Deputy Terra Carrillo, Ward’s longtime friend, visited her frequently and for hours at a time.
OCSD Deputy DeAnne Wigginton talks about how Deputy Courtney Ward touched her life during a memorial service at Crossline Community Church.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Often, Carrillo just listened to her friend speak.
Carrillo would provide updates on the goings-on within the department or they would share stories about their lives.
“We caught up on a lot of lost time,” Carrillo said. “She had one of those personalities that you can’t help but love.”
Ward’s journey began in early 2015 after she went to the doctor for unusually heavy bleeding.
Doctors discovered a golf ball-size tumor in her cervix, diagnosed as small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.
This is not the type of cervical cancer that be found with a pap smear and usually nestles in the lungs.
OCSD deputies attend the memorial service of Deputy Courtney Ward who passed away from cancer earlier this month.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
On the rare instances when the cancer hides in the cervix, the survival rate is no higher than 20 percent.
Doctors don’t know how people get it or how to stop it and there is no funding to research it.
Ward was determined to change that.
Courtney and Dave started a Facebook page titled No One Fights Alone – Courtney Ward, where the couple’s journey was chronicled.
Brochures providing information on small cell cervical cancer were available at the funeral.
“Courtney wanted her legacy to be a battle,” Park said. “She spoke the words to many of us on many occasions: ‘I don’t want to be known for the war. I want it to be known that I chose to battle against that war.’”
Said Carrillo:
“It was very important for her to raise awareness,” Carrillo said. “That’s what her fight was for.”
Read previous story about Courtney here.
OCSD Chief Senior Chaplain Kathleen Kooiman talks about Deputy Courtney Ward during the conclusion of her memorial service.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens, center, watches as family, colleagues and friends of Deputy Courtney Ward exit the church at the conclusion of services.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD Chief Senior Chaplain Kathleen Kooiman makes closing remarks and recites a prayer at the conclusion of Deputy Courtney Ward’s funeral.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Deputy Courtney Ward’s casket is carried out of the church.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD Deputy Antoinette Bustamante salutes with her fellow deputies as Deputy Courtney Ward’s casket leaves the church.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Bagpipe players walk in front of Deputy Courtney Ward’s casket as it is carried away from Crossline Community Church in Laguna Hills on Nov. 22.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Courtney’s mother, Terri Horn (center), leads a procession of family and deputies as Courtney Ward’s casket is carried from the church.
From left is Jahlise Allen, Hugi Wallbridge and Courtney’s sister, Lisa Todoroff.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD deputies salute as the casket of Deputy Courtney Ward is carried past them at the conclusion of funeral services at Crossline Community Church.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
OCSD Deputy Laurel Yoshimoto salutes as Deputy Courtney Ward’s casket is carried past her.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
