Nov 25, 2008 7:05 pm US/Eastern
Visitation Tuesday For Officer Killed In Crash
Taft Street will be shut down from State Road 7 to 64th Avenue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday
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HOLLYWOOD (CBS4) ―
Friends and family are saying good-bye to Hollywood police officer Alex Del Rio, who was killed in the line of duty over the weekend.
The memorial viewing is being held at Fred Hunter's Hollywood Memorial Gardens at 6301 Taft Street 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday evening.
Many visited during the afternoon hours Tuesday. Fellow officers, family and friends paid their respects to Officer Del Rio, the line stretching deep into the parking lot.
Hollywood police captain Tony Rode remembered the young officer. "Alex was just a great guy. I worked with him. I supervised him. He was a joy, great sense of humor."
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Calvary Chapel of Ft. Lauderdale at 2401 Cypress Creek Road. An internment service will follow at Fred Hunter's Hollywood Memorial Gardens. Taft Street in Hollywood will be shut down from State Road 7 to 64th Avenue from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday for the funeral.
A 9-year veteran of the Hollywood Police Department, Del Rio, 31, had just completed a traffic stop on Sheridan Street Saturday evening when he apparently went after a driver who was speeding. At some point, Del Rio lost control of his cruiser and slammed into a palm tree.
Cell phone video captured his car as it became engulfed in flames. While it is still unclear why he crashed, investigators believe he may have been trying to avoid a taxicab in the road.
Neighbors in the Sunshine Park neighborhood of Hollywood, where Del Rio lived, have left flowers and a stuffed snowman at a makeshift memorial in front of his home.
Betsey Dubois said it's sad that he died trying to protect others. "Here he was out protecting us and serving us and making sure that we stay safe on the streets and then for this to happen and take his life, it's very, very sad," said Dubois.
Carol Lovins said Del Rio worked the nightshift and had only lived at his home for about a year and a half. She says he always had a smile on his face.
"He was out there working the nightshift, working late and how this happened; it doesn't make sense really," said Lovins.
A fund has been set up to assist Del Rio's family. Donations can be made through:
Broward County PBA Hope Fund - Alex Del Rio
Attn: Linda Brickman
2650 West State Road 84
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
(954) 584-7600
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