Family, colleagues saying goodbye to CHP Sgt. Steve Licon with funeral procession, service
The final farewell to California Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Licon is underway Tuesday morning, April 16, as a police escort moved through Riverside streets and arrived at a church for the funeral for the fallen officer.
Licon was killed Saturday, April 6, after being hit by a car on the 15 Freeway in Lake Elsinore as he wrote a traffic ticket for another vehicle.
MORE: Live coverage from today’s funeral procession, service
#CHPSgtSteveLicon funeral today 10 a.m. @ Riverside’s Harvest Christian Fellowship. @WillLesterPhoto, @RKDeAtley, @DavidDowneySCNG, @Brian_Rokos coverage. Donations: https://t.co/Su5ocRuAZ5 Fund or CAHP Credit Union, P.O. Box 276507, Sacramento, CA 95826 @pressenterprise pic.twitter.com/DJDrg1Ywx4
— Cindy Yamanaka (@Cyamanaka7) April 16, 2019
A procession began about 7:30 a.m., departing from Acheson & Graham Garden of Prayer Mortuary on Magnolia Avenue, near Ramona High School. Riverside police saluted as it went through streets until its 7:48 a.m. arrival at Harvest Christian Fellowship, at the corner of Adams Street and Arlington Avenue.
A public memorial is set to begin at 10 a.m., followed by a private burial service.
Law enforcement prepare for the funeral procession for CHP Sgt. Steve Licon Tuesday morning in Riverside pic.twitter.com/bbMKiroFDd
— Will Lester (@WillLesterPhoto) April 16, 2019
Students at nearby Ramona High School and businesses on the route stood along the route to pay their respects and watch the line of hundreds of law enforcement vehicles on their way to the funeral.
Sylvia Almada was one of several McDonald’s employees who rushed to the curb along Arlington Avenue to catch the passing CHP motorcade.
“That was a very beautiful procession,” Almada said. “I was all teary-eyed.”
Expand
The procession included several tow-truck operators.
Josh Ballesteros, 25, of Steve’s Towing in Rancho Cucamonga, said he worked with Licon and was there “to honor him.” He had few words on a sad morning.
Licon, a 53-year-old Perris resident, worked 28 years for the CHP. He leaves behind a wife, Ann; daughter Marisa; step-daughter Kelly; mother, Helen; and father, Lawrence.
Michael Callahan, a 36-year-old Winchester man was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Authorities say Callahan, who had minor injuries, was driving on the freeway’s right shoulder and struck Licon.
Prosecutors allege Callahan was driving under the influence. He has pleaded not guilty, and remains in custody in lieu of $1 million bail.
Jerry Sincich, who is active in community affairs in the Temescal Valley, said in an interview Friday, April 12, that Sgt. Licon was helpful to residents of the area where Sincich has lived for 10 years.
“There’s an awful lot of community members who feel the loss of Sgt. Licon,” he said.
The CHP handles the many traffic issues faced by those who live in the area south of Corona.
Backups on the 15 Freeway prompt motorists to use Temescal Canyon Road as a bypass, Sincich said. “Some days, it’s really horrendous,” he said.
Motorists had been using a right-turn-only lane to get around a stop sign on that road, which was causing its own problems, Sincich said. Another issue, he said, was truckers parking in the middle lane of Temescal Canyon Road to eat at Tom’s Farms, causing a safety hazard.
Licon was instrumental in fixing those issues, Sincich said.
“He is really an individual, when we brought up issues and community concerns, he has taken an active role in identifying the issues and then bringing in the resources to make sure those issues were being resolved,” Sincich said. “Through his efforts, we’ve seen some real improvement in the truck traffic stopping and (drivers) getting food and intersections being much more passable.
“He was always willing to do something for you. There wasn’t any hesitation. He’d take your concerns and try to come up with a way of resolving them,” Sincich said.
Staff writers Richard K. DeAtley and David Downey contributed to this report.