Slain officer’s services have yet to be finalized
IRAQ — A well-respected Santa Monica police officer was killed in combat this week.
Officer Ricardo A. Crocker, 39, who was known as “Rick,” was a 10-year veteran of the Santa Monica Police Department and a major in the United States Marines Corps. He was killed on May 26 in a rocket propelled grenade attack in the province of Al-Anbar, according to the SMPD.
It’s unknown if there were additional casualties in the attack.
Crocker was identified by his dog tags and the name badge on his uniform. He was single and had no children.
Crocker is survived by his mother, Jeanette; father, Curtis; sisters, Maria and Marisa; and brother, Carlos. Linda, a deceased sister, passed 11 years ago.
Crocker held the rank of captain in the U.S. Marines when he was hired as a Santa Monica police officer on July 21, 1995. He had since been promoted to major in the Marines. As a reservist with the Marine Corps., Crocker had already served in Iraq and had been redeployed.
Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts, Jr. said Crocker was an “excellent police officer and ambassador and protector of the community” and a “consummate caring professional who represented the highest standards and traditions of law enforcement and this department.”
Described as being extremely fit, intelligent and tactically proficient, Crocker’s last police assignment was serving with the Police Activities League where he was viewed as an outstanding mentor for the city’s youth.
Patty Loggins-Tazi, a PAL supervisor who knew Crocker well, said his loss is significant for PAL and the community.
“Rick was an excellent role model for our kids,” Loggins-Tazi said. “It was really an opportunity to know him. He was energizing to be around. He was very bright, and the kids really respected him.”
Loggins-Tazi said Crocker was a proficient writer who did his undergraduate work at George Washington University and received his masters degree in English and journalism from Pepperdine University.
He taught the ACT preparation class at PAL. He also was responsible for organizing some of PAL’s most popular activities. In August of 2003 he took a group of youth camping in Yosemite. For many who participated, Loggins-Tazi said it was the first time they had been camping.
“He loved the great outdoors, and he loved taking kids on trips that involved the great outdoors,” she said.
Memorial services have not yet been finalized. Although Crocker’s parents live in the South Bay, he could be interred at Arlington Cemetery in Washington D.C. His remains will be returned within five to seven days to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware.
Crocker left a sealed envelope containing instructions for the type and location of services he wanted.
The envelope is to be opened by his mother in the presence of Marine personnel.
Butts said the SMPD will provide any assistance desired by Crocker’s family.
“He will be missed by all of us,” Butts said. “The city of Santa Monica has lost a great guardian and role model.”
Crocker’s family has asked that well-wishers, in lieu of flowers, send any don-mations to PAL, 1401 Olympic Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90404
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 28, 2005. Read the original PDF.