Local police officer Rick Crocker, 39, was a 10-year veteran of the SMPD and a major in the United States Marines Corps. On his second mission as a reservist, Crocker was killed on May 26 in a rocket-propelled grenade attack in the province of Al-Anbar.
In June, more than 1,200 people gathered at St. Monica’s Church to pay their final respects to Crocker. In addition to Crocker’s family and friends, the turnout of mourn-
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 31, 2005. Read the original PDF.