First Anniversary of Matthew Pavelka’s Death is Remembered With Unveiling of Sign to Mark Stretch of Golden State Freeway in His Honor
By Mark R. Madler, The Los Angeles Times
DOWNTOWN BURBANK, Calif. — The memory of Burbank Police Officer Matthew Pavelka was paid tribute on the first anniversary of his death with the unveiling of a sign that marks a stretch of freeway in his honor.
Family members and fellow police officers flanked the sign at its unveiling Monday on the steps of police headquarters.
“I feel this tribute to Matt is a great way to remember him because so many people will pass it each day,” said Michael Pavelka, Matthew’s father, a sergeant with the Los Angeles Police Department.
Pavelka, 26, was shot and killed when responding to help Officer Greg Campbell with a traffic stop at the Ramada Inn on San Fernando Road. David A. Garcia and Ramon Aranda allegedly exited a car firing two handguns each at Pavelka and Campbell.
Aranda was killed during the shootout and Garcia was arrested several weeks later in Mexico. He faces charges of murder and attempted murder.
Pavelka was the city’s first officer killed in the line of duty. Campbell, who is now a detective, recently returned to active duty on a limited basis.
Esther Meir, who had met Pavelka once at the department, attended the unveiling because she said it was important to show that police officers are valued.
“It grieved me so much,” Meir said. “I wasn’t someone who personally knew [the family] but I met Matthew and I saw what a fine boy he was.”
The dispatchers who were on duty the night Pavelka died placed a poster board to remember him on the memorial outside police headquarters.
“We were just getting to know him,” said Fay Malcolm, the dispatch supervisor. “Then, all of a sudden, he was gone.”
Two signs on either side of the Golden State (5) Freeway between Burbank Boulevard and Hollywood Way will be installed in the next few weeks. Assemblyman Dario Frommer sponsored the resolution for the memorial sign.
Frommer and the Burbank Police Officers Assn. split the cost for the $3,000 sign.