Behind the Badge
After a two-year hiatus forced by COVID-19, the Tustin Police Department revived its annual memorial ceremony for the agency’s only officer to have died in the line of duty, Waldron “Wally” Karp.
Twenty-one rifle volleys fired by a Tustin Honor Guard broke the quiet of the solemn ceremony. Sher Karp, daughter of Wally Karp, and his grandson, Jacob Karp, placed white roses at the feet of a statue of a kneeling officer.
The event followed U.S. Peace Officers Memorial Day on May 15 and is held in conjunction with National Police Week and Law Enforcement Appreciation Month.
Tustin Police Department’s Honor Guard posts the colors at the start of the annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Earlier in the ceremony, Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg acknowledged the deadly shootings in Buffalo, N.Y., and Laguna Woods and their impact on the nation.
“What we’re facing here as a country is unprecedented. Law enforcement in general has faced more challenges in the last three or four years than, in my opinion, in the last four decades. We’ve seen attacks, we’ve seen critiques, criticism, verbal threats, physical threats, and through it all, we continue to rise. We continue to stand up and face those challenges head on,” Greenberg said.
A native of Watertown, N.Y., Karp enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1958 and became a Medical Corpsman. He served in Vietnam and was awarded an Air Medal by the U.S. Air Force for his role in numerous evacuation flights. He received an honorable discharge in 1967.
Tustin police officers salute as the colors are posted at the start of the department’s annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
In 1970, Karp started as a reserve officer with the Tustin Police Department.
At 2:15 a.m. on Dec. 6, 1972 — Sher Karp’s 10th birthday — a woman called Tustin police to report a man with a rifle banging on her door. While talking to the caller, the dispatcher heard gunshots in the background.
The 31-year-old was one of two Tustin officers patrolling a city home to about 20,000 residents at the time when the call came in. After arriving on the scene with his fellow Tustin officer, Karp shouted at someone to drop his weapon and surrender. Deputy sheriffs meanwhile responded to assist with the volatile situation.
Tustin Police Department’s Honor Guard posts the colors at the start of the annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The gunman opened fire on Karp with a hunting rifle loaded containing armor-piercing rounds. The suspect fired several rounds, one of which struck Karp in his arm and traveled into his torso. Another round struck Deputy Sheriff Tim Stewart in the face.
Despite being gravely wounded, Karp returned fire and struck the assailant. Additional deputy sheriffs arrived and took the suspect into custody.
Although badly wounded, Stewart provided first aid to save Karp’s life. Karp was transported to the hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. He died from his injuries on Jan. 7, 1973.
Tustin Police Capt. Manny Arzate salutes as the colors are posted at the start of the department’s annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
“Every year, law enforcement as a profession gathers to honor their fallen heroes. Rest assured the men and women of the Tustin Police Department stand ready to live up to the standard that has been set by those who have gone before us,” Greenberg said.
Tuesday’s ceremony also served as an opportunity to unveil a replica of two freeway signs that dedicated a section of I-5 near Tustin Ranch Road as the Officer Waldron Karp Memorial Freeway. The signs were installed early on in the pandemic but were officially recognized for the first time during the ceremony.
Retired Tustin Police Chief Charlie Celano spearheaded the dedication during his tenure and attended the ceremony. Former Tustin Mayor Al Murray and State Assemblyman Steven Choi were key in seeing the project through to fruition.
“I drove by it the other day and I felt a lump in my throat,” Celano said. “It was really nice to see the sign because so many people were involved in making it happen.”
Tustin Police Department’s honor guard posts the colors at the start of the annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Sher Karp, daughter of Wally Karp, and Jacob Karp, grandson of Wally Karp, right, stand with Tustin Police Capt. Manny Arzate and other officers as they salute while the colors are posted at the start of Tustin Police Department’s annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
A white rose held by Tustin Police Deputy Chief Robert Wright during the annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Department’s Honor Guard stands watch as Police Chief Stu Greenberg gives a speech during the Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg gives a speech as the Tustin Police Department Honor Guard stands watch during the Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Mayor Austin Lumbard speaks during Tustin Police Department’s annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Stephanie Distefano, management assistant for the Tustin Police Department, left, and Lt. Luis Garcia unveil the Medal of Valor Recipient Waldron Karp Memorial Highway sign. Although the sign has been up along the I-5 Santa Ana Freeway since 2020, the unveiling ceremony was put off until now due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Department’s annual Wally Karp (Waldron Karp) Memorial Ceremony was held in front of Tustin Police headquarters.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg gives a speech as the department Honor Guard stands watch during Tustin Police Department’s annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Officer Andrew Ok, left, and Sgt. Sarah Fetterling present the Officer Karp Scholarship from the Tustin Police Officer’s Association.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tim Thai, Junior Tustin Police Officer, left, hands the traditional wreath to Robert Wright, Senior Tustin Police Officer (Deputy Chief), during Tustin Police Department’s annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony. Behind him is Councilman Ryan Gallagher.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Honor Guard members give a 21-gun salute near the conclusion of Tustin Police Department’s annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Bugler Brian Penny plays Taps as officers salute during Tustin Police Department’s annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Capt. Manny Arzate escorts Sher Karp, daughter of Wally Karp, and Jacob Karp, grandson of Wally Karp, up to place a flower at the base of Tustin Police Department’s memorial statue during the annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Retired Police Chief Charles Celano places a flower at the base of Tustin Police Department’s memorial statue during the annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony. Behind him is Councilman Ryan Gallagher.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Mayor Austin Lumbard places a flower at the base of Tustin Police Department’s memorial statue during the annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony. Behind him is Councilman Ryan Gallagher.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Officer I. Flores places a flower at the base of Tustin Police Department’s memorial statue during the annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Explorer R. Aragon places a flower at the base of Tustin Police Department’s memorial statue during the annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Officer Tyler Wackerman places a flower at the base of Tustin Police Department’s memorial statue during the annual Wally Karp Memorial ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Explorer A. Saldivar places a flower at the base of Tustin Police Department’s memorial statue during the annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Chief Stu Greenberg, left, Jacob Karp, grandson of Officer Wally Karp, Sher Karp, daughter of Wally Karp, and Capt. Manny Arzate stand during a moment of silence during the annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
The Tustin Police Honor Guard with Police Chief Stu Greenberg, center, after Tustin Police Department’s annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Explorers with Officer Mark Sauerwein, left, and Honor Guard Michelle Jankowski after Tustin Police Department’s annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin City Council members, from left, Ryan Gallagher, Rebecca “Beckie” Gomez, Letitia Clark and Mayor Austin Lumbard after Tustin Police Department’s annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Department Deputy Chief Robert Wright, left, with former Deputy Chief Jeff Blair, Police Chief Stu Greenberg and former Police Chief Charles Celano gather after the annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
Tustin Police Capt. Manny Arzate, left, Lt. Ryan Coe, Deputy Chief Robert Wright and Police Chief Stu Greenberg gather at Tustin Police Department’s memorial statue after the annual Wally Karp Memorial Ceremony.
Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge
