NICHOLAS CHOUNG LEE, 40 Public Servant. Husband. Father. Training Officer. Son. Friend. Brother. Classmate. Role Model. Officer Nicholas Choung Lee wore many hats. When the much-respected, veteran Los Angeles Police Department officer died in a traffic accident while serving the Hollywood community on March 7, 2014, he left behind a gigantic legacy. In his many roles, he seemed to touch lives wherever he went. Whether joking around at the station or racing to the scene of a shooting, he always left a distinct impression on all he met. On Thursday, March 13, 2014, thousands of law enforcement officials filled the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to lay their fallen brother to rest. The ceremony, attended by Governor Jerry Brown, Attorney General Kamala Harris, Mayor Eric Garcetti, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, Long Beach Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell and scores of other elected officials and law enforcement personnel, attracted interest throughout the state. “He was a critical cornerstone in the foundation of the city and its safety,” Mayor Garcetti said. “Instead of running away, he ran to service…. He held himself up to the highest standard.” A standard that will be forever remembered. Lee was assigned to patrol basic car area 6A65 on his final day, a car that will never be deployed again in tribute to his sacrifice. As Chief Beck addressed the crowd, he became emotional when he spoke of Lee’s lasting legacy. “When I look out and see that sea of blue, I see Nick’s face,” Beck said. “He was the quintessential LAPD officer…. He was one of us. He was the best of us.” The example Lee set, as a tireless worker who always looked out for his friends and saved time for his wife and two young daughters, Beck said, is one to which all officers should aspire. On the day before he died, Lee was assigned to Southeast Division to provide extra patrol after a rash of gang-related shootings. Though outside of his normal surroundings, he left an impression with his take-charge demeanor and positive attitude. These are things that will not fade, Beck said. The thousands of sworn and civilian employees who made up Lee’s police family will take up that example. They will reach out to his children, wife, brother, sister and parents to remind them that Nick Lee’s life will not be forgotten. “Heroes never die,” Beck continued. “They live forever in the hearts of their brothers and sisters…. I cannot replace your father. But I can promise you that you will have 13,000 uncles and aunts and brothers and sisters who will never forget you.” Captain Peter Zarcone, commanding officer of Hollywood Division, recalled Lee’s careful balance of his enthusiasm for work and his love for his family. “I knew, from the moment I met Nick, he was something special,” Zarcone said. “He exuded confidence and professionalism at all times. But more than being a great police officer, Nick was a great family man. He had his priorities straight.” Prior to his time in Hollywood as a Field Training Officer, Lee worked Wilshire Division, the same neighborhood where he grew up. His loss was felt particularly sharply by his old squad mates in Vice. Sergeant Al Reyes recalled how easily Lee could shed his uniform and blend into any situation. “He was very friendly, very easy going, and very professional,” Reyes said. “He was great with the undercover work. He knew all the street lingo.” Captain Eric Davis, commanding officer of Wilshire Division, said the way Lee applied that street lingo—including his famous greeting of “Hey, brah!”-- gave Lee an approachable demeanor, in spite of his hard-charging work ethic. “Nick was a really cool guy,” Davis said. “He was a person you could count on. You never left any conversation with him on a negative note.” That feeling resonated, even years later. Officer Hilda Garcia, Lee’s classmate, recalled him as both a hilarious storyteller and devoted family man. After graduating in Academy Class 8B-99, they reunited at Wilshire Vice and shared many good times and fond memories. “We were a small unit, but we were a close knit unit and took care of each other,” she wrote in Lee’s funeral program. “We had a lot of fun working Koreatown. Nick was loud and he would crack me up all the time.” Lee set such a high standard in his personal and work life, it would be difficult to match. But, his brother Danny said in his funeral remarks, that doesn’t mean others should not try. In an emotional, heartfelt address, Danny Lee remembered his brother as a stern taskmaster, but great guide for a life well-lived. “How do we all honor the life of Nicholas Lee?” he said. “By living life with purpose. By living a life of sacrifice.” As he finished his remarks, the thousands of people in the audience rose to their feet and cheered. This loud, raucous response was what Nick Lee would have wanted, his brother said, a holler that could be heard to the heavens. A cry to let him know that his life was cherished and that the community he served will look out for his beloved family. “(To the family,) with 10,000 police officers, 40,000 city workers, 4 million souls in this city and beyond, we hold you,” said Mayor Garcetti. “We look upward and see Nick’s angel soaring above this City of Angels.” - submitted by Officer Brent Hopkins, Wilshire Division
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:46:26 +0000
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