Dozens gather on anniversary of officer's death
SEATTLE -- One year after a six-time felon ran a red light and crashed into his patrol car, friends and family of Joselito "Lito" Barber gathered at the intersection of 23rd and Yesler where the 26-year-old Seattle police officer was killed.
"It's been hard," his mother, Lorna Alverez Ring said of the last year. But "Seattle police has been wonderful to Lito."
Barber's family drove up from California for the planned anniversary and gathered with friends and fellow police officers for a moment of silence at about 3:30 a.m. and lit candles near the intersection.
Ring said the gathering was part of a Filipino tradition to honor a family member on the anniversary of their death.
While the last year has been difficult for her, Ring said one of the things that helped her most was meeting the families of other officers who have been killed in the line of duty.
"We went to the National Police Week in Washington, D.C. There I met with a lot of parents like me. Then I knew I was okay," she said. "We bonded with other families there."
On Aug. 13, 2006, Barber, who had been on the job just a few months, was killed when his cruiser was broadsided by a GMC Yukon that, according to investigators, ran a red light at about 80 mph.
The driver of the sport utility vehicle, Mary Jane Rivas has been charged with vehicular homicide and cocaine possession.
Police said Rivas, 32, was high on cocaine at the time of the crash.
But the people who gathered early Monday morning were there to honor their friend, fellow officer, and family member.
Barber was remembered by colleagues as a fiercely loyal friend with a passion for police work.
"We're honoring Lito," Ring said. "We'll be up here next year again."
"It's been hard," his mother, Lorna Alverez Ring said of the last year. But "Seattle police has been wonderful to Lito."
Barber's family drove up from California for the planned anniversary and gathered with friends and fellow police officers for a moment of silence at about 3:30 a.m. and lit candles near the intersection.
Ring said the gathering was part of a Filipino tradition to honor a family member on the anniversary of their death.
While the last year has been difficult for her, Ring said one of the things that helped her most was meeting the families of other officers who have been killed in the line of duty.
"We went to the National Police Week in Washington, D.C. There I met with a lot of parents like me. Then I knew I was okay," she said. "We bonded with other families there."
On Aug. 13, 2006, Barber, who had been on the job just a few months, was killed when his cruiser was broadsided by a GMC Yukon that, according to investigators, ran a red light at about 80 mph.
The driver of the sport utility vehicle, Mary Jane Rivas has been charged with vehicular homicide and cocaine possession.
Police said Rivas, 32, was high on cocaine at the time of the crash.
But the people who gathered early Monday morning were there to honor their friend, fellow officer, and family member.
Barber was remembered by colleagues as a fiercely loyal friend with a passion for police work.
"We're honoring Lito," Ring said. "We'll be up here next year again."