OFFICER MICHAEL T. ANAYA
ID 2422
E.O.W.:03/21/1979
In 1978 things were changing rapidly for 24-year-old Mike Anaya and it all looked good. A graduate of Sweetwater High School and San Diego State University, he had just married his sweetheart Laura and began a new career as a police officer.
In less than a year the dream would be over.
Appointed on July 10, 1978, Mike Anaya had only been out of the academy three months when he took a call of a man with a knife at 4100 Altadena Avenue on March 21, 1979. According to witnesses the man, 24-year-old Ervin Richardson, had attacked several members of his family with the knife.
Officer Anaya was alone when he arrived at the call and confronted Richardson. Instead of complying with Officer Anaya, Richardson attacked him. As Officer Anaya fought to defend himself, Richardson managed to get Officer Anaya's gun from the holster and shoot him in the neck.
With officer Anaya lying on the ground wounded, Richardson used the fallen officers gun to commit suicide.
Officer Anaya was rushed to Sharp Memorial Hospital badly wounded but alive. The gunshot wound left him paralyzed from the neck down. His police career was over barely before it was started.
As Officer Anaya valiantly struggled to recover, officers and citizens alike rallied behind him. Sadly it was not to be. The young officer died April 11, 1979.
The departments mourning phase for Anaya wouldn't be allowed to last long. There would be another officer that would also lose his life way before his time.
ID 2422
E.O.W.:03/21/1979
In 1978 things were changing rapidly for 24-year-old Mike Anaya and it all looked good. A graduate of Sweetwater High School and San Diego State University, he had just married his sweetheart Laura and began a new career as a police officer.
In less than a year the dream would be over.
Appointed on July 10, 1978, Mike Anaya had only been out of the academy three months when he took a call of a man with a knife at 4100 Altadena Avenue on March 21, 1979. According to witnesses the man, 24-year-old Ervin Richardson, had attacked several members of his family with the knife.
Officer Anaya was alone when he arrived at the call and confronted Richardson. Instead of complying with Officer Anaya, Richardson attacked him. As Officer Anaya fought to defend himself, Richardson managed to get Officer Anaya's gun from the holster and shoot him in the neck.
With officer Anaya lying on the ground wounded, Richardson used the fallen officers gun to commit suicide.
Officer Anaya was rushed to Sharp Memorial Hospital badly wounded but alive. The gunshot wound left him paralyzed from the neck down. His police career was over barely before it was started.
As Officer Anaya valiantly struggled to recover, officers and citizens alike rallied behind him. Sadly it was not to be. The young officer died April 11, 1979.
The departments mourning phase for Anaya wouldn't be allowed to last long. There would be another officer that would also lose his life way before his time.
OFFICER MICHAEL T. ANAYA
ID 2422
E.O.W.:03/21/1979
In 1978 things were changing rapidly for 24-year-old Mike Anaya and it all looked good. A graduate of Sweetwater High School and San Diego State University, he had just married his sweetheart Laura and began a new career as a police officer.
In less than a year the dream would be over.
Appointed on July 10, 1978, Mike Anaya had only been out of the academy three months when he took a call of a man with a knife at 4100 Altadena Avenue on March 21, 1979. According to witnesses the man, 24-year-old Ervin Richardson, had attacked several members of his family with the knife.
Officer Anaya was alone when he arrived at the call and confronted Richardson. Instead of complying with Officer Anaya, Richardson attacked him. As Officer Anaya fought to defend himself, Richardson managed to get Officer Anaya's gun from the holster and shoot him in the neck.
With officer Anaya lying on the ground wounded, Richardson used the fallen officers gun to commit suicide.
Officer Anaya was rushed to Sharp Memorial Hospital badly wounded but alive. The gunshot wound left him paralyzed from the neck down. His police career was over barely before it was started.
As Officer Anaya valiantly struggled to recover, officers and citizens alike rallied behind him. Sadly it was not to be. The young officer died April 11, 1979.
The departments mourning phase for Anaya wouldn't be allowed to last long. There would be another officer that would also lose his life way before his time.
ID 2422
E.O.W.:03/21/1979
In 1978 things were changing rapidly for 24-year-old Mike Anaya and it all looked good. A graduate of Sweetwater High School and San Diego State University, he had just married his sweetheart Laura and began a new career as a police officer.
In less than a year the dream would be over.
Appointed on July 10, 1978, Mike Anaya had only been out of the academy three months when he took a call of a man with a knife at 4100 Altadena Avenue on March 21, 1979. According to witnesses the man, 24-year-old Ervin Richardson, had attacked several members of his family with the knife.
Officer Anaya was alone when he arrived at the call and confronted Richardson. Instead of complying with Officer Anaya, Richardson attacked him. As Officer Anaya fought to defend himself, Richardson managed to get Officer Anaya's gun from the holster and shoot him in the neck.
With officer Anaya lying on the ground wounded, Richardson used the fallen officers gun to commit suicide.
Officer Anaya was rushed to Sharp Memorial Hospital badly wounded but alive. The gunshot wound left him paralyzed from the neck down. His police career was over barely before it was started.
As Officer Anaya valiantly struggled to recover, officers and citizens alike rallied behind him. Sadly it was not to be. The young officer died April 11, 1979.
The departments mourning phase for Anaya wouldn't be allowed to last long. There would be another officer that would also lose his life way before his time.
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