Nine years ago, on the first anniversary of his father’s slaying at the hands of a rogue ex-LAPD cop, Ian Crain was an 11-year-old cracking corny Justin Bieber jokes while playing with Legos.
Early Tuesday morning, Feb. 7, as police officers assembled for their annual gathering at the street corner where Riverside police Officer Michael Crain was killed and partner Andrew Tachias was wounded, now 20-year-old Ian Crain towered above almost all of them at 6-foot-4 and spoke about plans to study military weapons engineering in college.
“I can’t believe it’s been 10 years already,” Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez told about two dozen people in the parking lot of the 7-Eleven at Magnolia and Arlington avenues.
At 1:35 a.m., a dispatcher cleared the Riverside radio channel to hold a moment of silence.
“Officer Michael Daniel Crain, end of watch on Feb. 7, 2013. A father, husband, son, brother, Marine and police officer who will never be forgotten. To the Crain and Tachias families, you will always be a part of us,” the dispatcher said.
Ian, his uncle Jason and grandfather Stephen were riding along with officers this night.
“It’s something different. It’s entertaining,” Ian Crain said. “It’s good to keep the memory of my dad alive. Just by talking about him, showing up and telling stories.”
Stephen Crain, 69, worked as a police officer in Fallsburg, New York. He does ride-alongs as often as he can, he said, because “It’s the one job I miss.”
Attending the annual gatherings and talking about Michael Crain’s career, he said, “is my way of remembering my son. It keeps my son’s name out there. I can’t ask for anything more than that.”
Stephen Crain proudly recalled how his son could defuse tense situations by showing respect to others, and he described a domestic violence call as an example.
“That’s the worst call you can get because you are going to help one…
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