Hundreds of beach city residents and law enforcement personnel from agencies far and wide honored the memory of Manhattan Beach Police Officer Chad Swanson on Friday evening, Oct. 6.
The somber ceremony — which began at the city’s Civic Center downtown and proceeded on foot to the Manhattan Beach Pier — brought out city officials, police officers from neighboring cities, religious leaders and family members.
Swanson died almost six years to the day after he rescued victims from the Route 91 Harvest music festival mass shooting in Las Vegas in 2017.
Friday’s vigil and pier walk was reminiscent of the one the city held that same year for two community members who perished during one of the worse mass shootings in the U.S.
The hour-long ceremony Friday was a fitting tribute to the 35-year-old officer and father of three young boys who died early Wednesday, Oct. 4, after a car collided with his police motocycle on the 405 freeway.
Before the ceremony, Councilmember Amy Howorth said it was important city leaders be there for the police department, for all city employees and especially for Swanson’s family.
“It’s very sad, heartbreaking,” Howorth added, “There really aren’t good words.”
Four of Swanson’s fellow MBPD officers spoke at the ceremony at Civic Center Plaza: Capt. Andrew Enriquez and Officers Kyle McCammon, Donovan Torres and Mike Lynch.
Enriquez remembered Swanson as mature beyond his years. He was honest and owed up to his mistakes quickly, Enriquez said.
“And despite our age difference and eventual difference in ranks, Chad and I became and remained friends,” Enriquez said.
The two friends celebrated many occasions together, including birthdays, gender reveals and Christmas parties.
Enriquez said Swanson was generous, but “never wanted recognition for his kindness or his generosity.”
Just last week, during an event at the police station, Enriquez said when Swanson saw Enriquez’s wife struggling to get through…
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