The Yolo County Retired Peace Officers’ Association is dedicated to honoring all Yolo County Peace Officers who died in the line-of-duty, conducting annual memorial ceremonies in May, and providing Yolo County Fallen Peace Officers Memorial Scholarships to students desiring to pursue a career dedicated to law enforcement or a law enforcement related field.
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Meetings — 2024
January 20th
February 17th
March 16th
April 20th
May 18th
June 15th
July 20th Annual Membership Meeting
August 17th
September 21st
October 19th
November 16th
December – No Membership Meeting
Meetings are held at the Elks Lodge #1299 in Woodland, 500 Bush Street at the corner of College and Bush Streets. Meetings start at 9:00 a.m. Members are welcome to come earlier and order breakfast before the meeting, except during the summer months when the kitchen is closed. Donuts are provided at those meetings that the kitchen is closed.
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Scholarships
The Yolo County Retired Peace Officers Association has established a scholarship program to assist the further education of a graduating high school student from Yolo County. The scholarship is to be used for the purpose of furthering the recipient’s education with the intent of entering into a law enforcement career or a related field.
Thanks to the generous donations of the 100 Club of Solano and Yolo Counties, the YCRPOA was able to increase their scholarship award in 2021 to $2,000.00, and they paid for YCRPOA to give a $2,000.00 to Andrew Stapleton, graduate of Woodland Christian School who will be attending San Jose State University in fall.
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2021 Annual BBQ
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2021 Fun Shoot
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2021 Memorial Service
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2020 Memorial Service
Small, but memorable service for Yolo County’s fallen peace officers
Little publicity for event meant to remember those who fell in the line of duty
By JIM SMITH | jsmith@dailydemocrat.com | Woodland Daily Democrat
PUBLISHED: May 14, 2020 at 3:07 p.m. | UPDATED: May 14, 2020 at 3:08 p.m.
For the first time in nearly a decade, relatives and close friends who would attend the annual memorial ceremony honoring Yolo County law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty were not allowed to because of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a deliberately small ceremony, only three retired law enforcement officers, as well as a representative from American Legion Post 77 attended the noon Thursday event. The lack of publicity about the ceremony was done as a means of limiting the spread of the coronavirus. Had too many people shown up it would have been difficult for them to keep their distance from one another in the small, front entryway sidewalk to the Historic Yolo County Courthouse.
Even so, it was still impossible for the three people placing the wreath in front of the jet-black memorial to keep their distance from one another, since they had to carry the wreath together and place it on a pedestal. Normally, around 200 mourners would be in attendance, but because of the pandemic, there were no serving officers, or members of the District Attorney’s Office, who typically attend the service.
There wasn’t even much of a memorial. Don Campbell simply read the names of those service members who lost their lives in the line of duty while Doug Bera recited a prayer in their memory. Lee Refsland helped place the wreath and American Legion Post 77 member Vince Olvera performed Taps on the trumpet.
Since 1912, 12 members of the local law enforcement community have died in the line of duty — the most recent being Davis Police Officer Natalie Corona.
The Yolo County Fallen Officers Memorial takes place annually during National Police Week, when the nation celebrates the contributions of law enforcement from around the country, recognizing their work, dedication, loyalty and commitment to keeping communities safe. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the courage and unwavering devotion of law enforcement officers to the communities they swore to serve, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Three of the law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty being remembered this week are from the Eastern District of California and include Davis Police Officer Natalie Corona, killed in January 2019; Officer Tara O’Sullivan of the Sacramento Police Department, and Deputy Brian Ishmael of the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department.
The names of the fallen officers who have been added in 2020 to the wall at the National Law Enforcement Memorial were read on Wednesday, during a Virtual Annual Candlelight Vigil.
The Yolo County memorial is a creation of the Yolo County Retired Peace Officers Association and was constructed in 2013.
Annual BBQ
For those that missed it…it was a fun day spent re-connecting and visiting with former co-workers at the railroad museum in Woodland. Restored vintage CHP and Davis PD patrol vehicles were on display, as was (later in the day) a Woodland PD SWAT armored rescue vehicle. Also, on display was a 2019 Chevrolet Z71 pickup being raffled off by the 100 Club of Solano and Yolo Counties.
Many thanks to the YCRPOA, Susan Lundquist, Dave Wallace and their BBQ committee for putting on this event. Thanks also to Ron Turner and Sondra Cardwell of the 100 Club of Solano and Yolo Counties, Yolo County Sheriff Tom Lopez and Woodland Interim Police Chief Derrek Kaff, for their participation and support!
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