Behind the Badge
Editor’s note: The public is invited to the funeral tomorrow, Friday, March 3, for slain Whittier PD Officer Keith Boyer. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. at Calvary Chapel Downey, 12808 Woodruff Ave. A procession and graveside ceremony will follow immediately after at Rose Hills Memorial Park, 3888 Workman Mill Road, Whittier.
A peaceful prayer vigil was held outside the Garden Grove Police Department on Tuesday, Feb. 28, to honor 27-year veteran Whittier Police Officer Keith Boyer, who was killed in a shootout with a gang member after responding to a routine traffic crash at 8:20 a.m. Feb. 20.
The ceremony was co-sponsored by the Garden Grove Neighborhood Association and the Garden Grove Downtown Business Association.
Police officers from agencies that include Whittier and Garden Grove attend a prayer vigil for Whittier PD Officer Keith Boyer outside the GGPD on Feb. 28.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
GGPD, Whittier PD and city officials talked about Boyer and his years of service in front of the memorial honoring the five GGPD officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty — the most of any O.C. municipal police agency.
“Today, we are here to honor another fallen hero,” GGPD Chief Todd Elgin told the assembled at the 5:30 p.m. ceremony.
Elgin decried the increase in ambushes on law enforcement personnel nationwide and California legislation that he said has led to more crimes in cities throughout the state.
“Today, and on Friday morning, we will remember and celebrate the life of Keith Boyer,” Elgin said. “His policing efforts and love for the community he served will not go down in vain.”
Garden Grove PD Explorers line up at the start of the prayer vigil.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove Councilwoman Stephanie Klopfenstein said Tuesday’s event was held for the community to come together as a whole and pray.
“Let tonight be a time of peace, love and faith,” Klopfenstein said. Whittier Police Officer Mike Rosario, president of the Whittier Police Officers’ Association, expressed gratitude for the event.
“I have never seen the amount of community support that we’ve experienced in just the last week and a couple of days,” Rosario said. “These types of things make us stronger. These types of things bring us together, and it really reminds us of what these five men here sacrificed. And the sacrifice isn’t just them, it’s their families.”
Added Rosario, a former GGPD officer: “We can’t be shaken, and we won’t be shaken.”
Behind the Badge OC photographer Steven Georges contributed to this story.
Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin salutes at the start of the prayer vigil for Whittier PD Officer Keith Boyer.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The Pacifica High School NJROTC Color Guard posts the colors at the start of the prayer vigil.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Whittier Police Officer and President of the Whittier Police Officers’ Association Mike Rosario talks about his coworker, Officer Keith Boyer.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove Councilwiman Stephanie Klopfenstein gives the opening remarks.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
People gather for the candlelight and prayer vigil at the GGPD Police Officer Memorial in honor of Whittier Police Officer Keith Boyer.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove Police Chief Todd Elgin talks about Whittier PD Officer Keith Boyer, as well as state laws he says are leading to an increase in crime, during a prayer vigil at the GGPD Police Officer Memorial.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Garden Grove PD officers line up to honor Whittier PD Officer Keith Boyer at the prayer vigil.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
People gather for the candlelight and prayer vigil at the GGPD Police Officer Memorial in honor of Whittier Officer Keith Boyer.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Christina, left, and Chris participate in a candlelight vigil with Sophia, 7, and Ashley, 7, right, at the conclusion of the prayer vigil for Whittier PD Officer Keith Boyer.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Flowers lie at the base of the GGPD Police Officer Memorial after the service honoring Whittier PD Officer Keith Boyer, who was killed in the line of duty Feb. 20, 2017.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Chrisy Geck-Orcholski, of the Los Angeles Police Emerald Society, plays “Taps” on the bagpipes at the conclusion of the prayer vigil for Whittier PD Officer Keith Boyer.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
