Fallen Los Angeles County officers honored in 3-day torch run

SAN GABRIEL, Calif. (KABC) -- Fallen law enforcement officers will be honored in a three-day torch run conducted by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department this weekend.

The 39th Annual Memorial Torch Relay Run kicked off at the Hall of Justice in downtown L.A. around 9 a.m. Friday.

The event is held annually to honor the memory of peace officers who died in the line of duty while serving the residents of L.A. County. The three-day relay run consists of 58 legs, totaling more than 300 miles overall.

Comrades of the fallen officer will pass by each mainland sheriff's station before ending the relay at the Altadena Sheriff's Station on Sunday.

Lt. Ron Bottomley of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department lost his partner, Deputy Michael Arruda, in the line of duty in 2004.

"He was working Industry Station when he was killed in the line of duty. It's an honor for me to be able to run on his behalf because he's not here anymore," Bottomley said.

Downey police Officer Ricardo "Ricky" Galvez, 29, was the only Los Angeles County law enforcement officer who lost his life in the line of duty this year.

Galvez, a five-year veteran of the police force and former Marine, was killed in a botched robbery attempt while sitting in his personal car in a public parking lot behind the police station.

Along with Galvez, five others are being added as historic entries this year. Those law enforcement officers died between the years of 1925 and 1990.

The torch will ultimately be presented on May 18 at the 47th annual L.A. County Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony at the Sheriff's Training Academy in Whittier.