Santa Monica Police Chief James T. Butts, Jr. issued the folIowing statement Friday.
“It is with extreme sadness and remorse that I announce the passing of Officer Ricardo A. Crocker, known to all of us as ‘Rick’, 39 years of age and a 10-year veteran of the Santa Monica Police Department. Officer Crocker was in the midst of his second tour of duty in Iraq, and was killed yesterday (5/26/05) morning at 6:45 a.m. (PST) in the province of Al-Anbar, Iraq by an RPG (Rocket Propelled Grenade) attack. Rick was identified by his Dog Tags and the name badge on his uniform. It is unknown at this time if there were additional casualties in this attack.
“Rick is survived by his mother Jeanette, father Curtis, sisters Marisa and Maria, brother Carlos and has one deceased sister, Linda, who passed 11 years ago. Rick was single and had no children.
“Officer Crocker held the rank of Captain in the U.S. Marines, when he was hired on July 21, 1995 and has since been promoted to the rank of Major. He was an excellent Santa Monica Police officer and ambassador and protector of the community. Extremely fit and tactically proficient, Rick’s last assignment was with the Police Activities League where he served as an outstanding role model and mentor for the youth of Santa Monica. Rick was the consummate caring professional who represented the highest standards and traditions of law enforcement and this Department. He was admired and loved by most everyone that had the opportunity to know him and it was just that, an opportunity, to know Rick.
“He will be missed by all of us. The City of Santa Monica has lost a great guardian and role model.
“Information on services of course, has not been finalized at this time. Although his parents live in the South Bay, Rick could potentially be interred at Arlington Cemetery. Rick’s remains will be returned within 5 to 7 days to Dover AFB in Delaware. Rick left a sealed envelope behind containing his instructions for the type and location of services he wanted. I am informed that the envelope will not be opened until later today when his mother does so in the presence of Marine personnel. We will of course, provide any assistance desired by Rick’s family. His sister, Maria, came to the station this morning to notify us.“When further information is available, you will be notified by my office.”
