Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Never forgotten, RIP.

Deputy Sheriff Los Angeles
County Sheriff

December 22, 2023

Descansa en paz compa. Mario was my first probationer officer to train.

PO3 Dan Shaw
LAPD RAMP

June 5, 2023

26 years ago and you’re never forgotten. RIP.

anonymous
LAPD Newton

December 26, 2022

Mario, compañero de generación en la secundaria Rafael Buelna Tenorio, en el pueblo de Pericos Mocorito Sinaloa, siempre te recuerdo, eras un joven serio y servicial. Dios te necesito pronto en su ejército celestial, dejandote poco tiempo con tus compañeros de cuerpo de policía. Hoy estoy contactando a mis compañeros de secundaria generación 1984, y tú eres parte de ella. Gracias a Dios por permitirme conocerte y por el tiempo que nos permitió esa amistad.

Oficial de policía II Mario Navidad JR.
Amiga

December 14, 2022

Rest in peace Officer Navidad.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 18, 2022

Officer Navidad,
On today, the 25th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Los Angeles. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

December 22, 2021

The face and name of Mario Navidad will be with me forever...I was involved in the tragic event that day and I wish beyond anything a different outcome. The same worthless human who took officer Navidad’s life pointed that same gun at my head minutes earlier. It was I who flagged down the patrol car on Olympic street still shaking and trembling blocks away. Officer Navidad spoke with me and made sure I was ok and then the officers rushed off to the location I directed them to. That is when the officers came across the convenient store clerk. I had no idea about the chain of events that day until I saw the news that evening. I saw officer Navidad‘s face on the screen. I knew that I was the one who put officer Navidad at that location at that exact time. I contacted and spoke with detectives. My heart broke for officer Navidad and his family that day and still aches. I’m so sorry to his family. I’ve always regretted flagging down officer Navidad that day.

Audrey
Civilian

January 31, 2021

NEVER FORGOTTEN!
On Sunday, December 22, 1996, a worthless man, whose name is irrelevant, took the life of Officer Mario Navidad, Jr. Officer Navidad was murdered after he and his partner were flagged down by a convenience store clerk who told them a man had just stolen a 12-pack of beer. Officer Navidad and his partner spotted the man in an alley and as they approached him, he pulled out a gun and shot at them, striking Officer Navidad. His partner was able to return fire and killed the assailant. The world is a better place for Officer Navidad having been here and a lesser place for having gone. God bless you and your family and thank you for your service and sacrifice. Please keep Mario’s family and so many others like them in our thoughts and prayers.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

Chief Paul Philipps Ret.
Parsippany Police Department

December 22, 2020

I remember this. It happened not too far from where I lived. There’s now a memorial plaque there. I was struck by the fact that his name means Xmas in Spanish and he was killed three days before Christmas. I’m so sorry for his loss and I hope his family is doing well… They were too young to lose a husband and a father… Rest in peace

Randy Farhi
Randy Farhi civilian

May 5, 2020

NEVER FORGOTTEN!
23 years ago, on Sunday, December 22, 1996, a worthless coward, whose name is irrelevant, took the life of Officer Mario Navidad, Jr. Mario’s life was taken after he and his partner were flagged down by a convenience store clerk who told them a man had just stolen a 12-pack of beer. The officers spotted the man in an alley and as they approached him, he pulled out a gun and shot at them, striking Officer Navidad. Mario’s partner was able to return fire killing the assailant. The world is a better place for Mario having been here and a lesser place because of losing him. God bless you and your family and thank you for your service and sacrifice. The loss of a loved one is always difficult, but having it happen on Christmas week has been even more painful for Mario’s lovely wife and his two children. Let’s keep Mario’s family and so many others like them in our thoughts and prayers.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

Paul Philipps Chief (Ret.)
Parsippany Police Department

December 22, 2019

May you continue to Rest In Peace on the 23 anniversary of your tragic death

Mark Mottola

December 22, 2019

I hope life has been kind to your wife and children. We never get over tragedies like this but we can find a new happiness. “To live in the hearts we leave behind is to live forever.” (Carl Sagan). Rest in peace Officer Navidad.......you will always be honored for your sacrifice and for your place on the LAPD.

Nancy
Surviving spouse of LAPD Officer Roger Warren (eow 5/8/67)

December 22, 2019

I was the third car responding to the help call. They put him in a black and white and we followed to hospital while they did CPR on him. One of the saddest if not the saddest of my career.

PO Sullivan
LAPD

December 24, 2018

Every Christmas since Mario was taken from his wife and children has been a cruel reminder of their loss.
Please keep Mario’s family and so many others like them in our thoughts and prayers.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

Paul Philipps Chief (Ret.)
Parsippany Police Department

December 22, 2018

Never forgotten.

LT Andy Mathes
LAPD

December 22, 2018

Rest In Peace Brother. You are honored and remembered on the 21st anniversary of your EOW. Thank you and your family for your service and sacrifice.

Officer Mike Robinson, (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA

December 22, 2017

On Sunday, December 22, 1996, a few days before Christmas and a few days after his wife’s birthday, Officer Mario Navidad, Jr. of the Los Angeles Police Department was murdered a worthless piece of human waste. Officer Navidad and his partner were flagged down by a convenience store clerk who told them a man had just stolen a 12-pack of beer. The officers spotted the man in an alley and as they approached him he pulled out a gun and shot at them, striking Officer Navidad. His partner was able to return fire and killed the miserable cretin.
I can only imagine the pain that comes with every Christmas week for Mario’s family, especially his lovely widow. During the 2015 Police Unity tour I had the privilege of riding in honor of Officer Navidad, God bless you and your family and thank you for your service and sacrifice. Please keep Mario’s family and so many others like them in our thoughts and prayers.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

Chief Paul Philipps
Parsippany Police Department

December 22, 2017

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

September 21, 2017

NEVER FORGOTTEN!
During the 2015 Police Unity tour I had the privilege of riding in honor of Officer Navidad, Jr. of the LAPD. On Sunday, December 22, 1996, a worthless man, whose name is irrelevant, took the life of Officer Mario Navidad, Jr. Officer Navidad gave his life after he and his partner were flagged down by a convenience store clerk who told them a man had just stolen a 12-pack of beer. The officers spotted the man in an alley and as they approached him he pulled out a gun and shot at them, striking Officer Navidad. His partner was able to return fire and killed the assailant. The world is a better place for Officer Navidad having been here and a lesser place for having gone. God bless you and your family and thank you for your service and sacrifice. Please keep Mario’s family and so many others like them in our thoughts and prayers.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

Chief Paul Philipps
Parsippany Police Department

December 22, 2016

Rest in Peace

K.Brooks
Houston Police Dept.

June 16, 2016

I was sworn in as an LAPD police officer 19 years ago today, the day after your murder. Our academy class kept your name and your family close to our hearts. Your sacrifice will always be remembered. Rest easy my brother - we'll continue on in your memory.

Love and respect to the Navidad family.

Sgt. J. Kirkpatrick
LAPD '96 - '99, Anaheim PD '99 - pres.

December 23, 2015

I was sitting at home compiling photographs of my time with The Los Angeles Police Honor Guard when I came across one photograph someone took of me while honoring Police Officer II Mario Navidad Jr on my 1st trip to the National Police Officer Memorial Ceremony in Washington D.C. in 1997. Mrs Navidad had been holding the baby throughout the entire ceremony. After the ceremony, her daughter was now fast asleep and I took the opportunity to give Mrs. Navidad a well deserved break. So being a father of 2 daughters myself, I offered the carry her while she slept and until we all were ready to depart the location. I know she is full grown now and it is my hope all are doing well!

P- III (Retired) Anthony Ellis
LAPD Honor Guard

July 11, 2015

I remember watching the news and feeling a great sorrow for your friends and family. I remember being a 41 year old father of two young children and feeling a tremendous sadness for your friends and family at their loss of a friend, husband, father and son. I remember the outrage I felt when I saw gang members, comrades of the one that took your life, disrespectfully taking flowers and candles left at the sight where you fell and putting them next to the spot where the suspect died, killed by your LAPD partner. I remember being a youth gang counselor who had just left the security of a quiet banking job to go into the streets and work with the very same kind of people that eventually took your life and, in death, callously and with zero class, desecrate the spot where you would meet your cold fate.
Know this sir, you are not forgotten. Your memory and heart will live on in every new and veteran police officer throughout this country and in the mind and hearts of your family, friends, co-workers and everyday people like myself who remembered this news article back in late December 1996.
May you rest in peace. Gone but never to be forgotten.

Peter Q.
private citizen

December 24, 2014

On Sunday, December 22, 1996, a worthless man, whose name is irrelevant, took the life of Officer Mario Navidad, Jr. Officer Navidad gave his life after he and his partner were flagged down by a convenience store clerk who told them a man had just stolen a 12-pack of beer. The officers spotted the man in an alley and as they approached him he pulled out a gun and shot at them, striking Officer Navidad. His partner was able to return fire and killed the assailant. The world is a better place for Officer Navidad having been here and a lesser place for having gone. God bless you and your family and thank you for your service and sacrifice. Please keep Mario’s family and so many others like them in our thoughts and prayers.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Matthew 5:4

Chief Paul Philipps
Parsippany Police

December 22, 2014

Mario - I was just on the phone with Dr. Gerald Sweet, retired LAPD psychologist, discussing you. He and I were in the room, 18 years ago, tonight, assisting your wife when she saw you at Cedars-Sinai. Every time, at this year, I have thoughts about you and wish you were with your wife & kids, looking forward to retirement in a few years. May you watch over your brothers and sisters in blue, green and tan. Please be that "little voice" which reminds cops and deputies to turn and look, often. To watch the hands of the bad actors, and to protect themselves and their partners. God bless you.

Sgt. K. Moreland (#21769)
Arapahoe Community College PD (Ret. LAPD)

December 22, 2014