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Friday, March 7, 2014

LAPD Officer Nicholas Lee: End Of Watch March 7, 2014

Today LAPD Officer Nicholas Lee of the LAPD's Hollywood Division was killed in the line of duty.  My heart aches every time I learn of a police officer being killed while protecting and/or serving the community.  In my posting of September 30, 2011 entitled Police and Fire Service Real Life Dangers I state the following: "Please be supportive of policemen and firemen; and the brave women in these professions.  They risk a lot everyday for very little in return.  They are the ones we turn to and rely on for help when an emergency situation presents itself."  



Here is the official LAPD News Release:

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Beverly Hills:  Today, an LAPD officer was killed during a traffic collision in the City of Beverly Hills. The accident also injured a second Los Angeles Police Officer.

Around 8 a.m. this morning, Hollywood Division Officer, Nicholas Lee and his partner were responding to an “unknown trouble” radio call in the City of Los Angeles when a large truck lost control and collided with their patrol car at Robert Lane and Loma Vista Drive in the city of Beverly Hills. 

Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to the scene and pronounced Officer Lee dead at scene and transported his partner to a local hospital.  The driver of the large truck was also taken to a hospital in critical condition.  Officer Lee’s partner officer and the truck driver are expected to survive their injuries.

Officer Lee leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.  Officers Lee was a 16 year veteran of the Department.  His past assignments include: Van Nuys Area, Wilshire Area and Hollywood Area and has received over 70 commendations.  Most recently Officer Lee was involved in sending a live birthday card video to a 7-year-old boy suffering from Leukemia.  This card can be view at http://youtu.be/0NlwHq5lKqY and https://vimeo.com/88196960 

“Every day police officers put their lives on the line to uphold the law and keep our communities safe.  That is the harsh reality of police work and today that reality took its awful toll, the life of one of our best, Police Officer III Nick Lee.  Nick was a great cop.  His hard work, dedication and leadership helped mold young police officers into law enforcement professionals.  Nick's death is a great loss to our police family, all of law enforcement and the residents of Los Angeles.  I send my most sincere thoughts and prayers to his wife, two daughters, the entire Lee family and Nick’s surviving partner officer.  We will all get through this together and honor Nick’s memory.” 

Chief of Police Charlie Beck

*Source of official information in this posting is the Los Angeles Police Department.