Thousands Mourn Slain Riverside Police Officer

RIVERSIDE (AP) — Thousands of mourners remembered a Riverside police officer Tuesday who was shot to death while pursuing a suspected truck thief.

KNX 1070's Mike Landa Reports

Officer Ryan Bonaminio, 27, was shot to death on Nov. 7 after chasing a suspect down a dark path and into a park. The Army veteran, who had returned to work on his hometown police force after tours in Germany and Iraq, was likely shot with his own service weapon, police said.

Witnesses Say Bonaminio Pleaded For His Life

Authorities on Monday charged Earl Ellis Green, 44, with murder and other felonies.

But mourners preferred to focus on Bonaminio's life as they spoke at a podium positioned above his flag-draped coffin, which was brought into Grace Community Church in Riverside by a police honor guard.

Huge photos of Bonaminio, including one in his uniform, hovered over the stage, flanked by rows of seated brothers-in-arms. Police from other cities were working in Riverside on Tuesday so the department could attend the memorial.

Military colleagues hailed Bonaminio's service as a police officer, both in Riverside and as part of the Army's 314th Military Police Company, where he earned the nickname "Bondo" because his sergeant got fed up with his long last name.

He was always upbeat and smiling, despite temperatures in Iraq that reached 155 degrees, unpalatable meals and sleeping in the sand for days on end without showers, his fellow soldiers said.

Through it all, Bonaminio kept a huge smile on his face, boosting the other soldiers' spirits, said Doug Spencer, who served with him in Iraq in 2003 and carpooled with him to weekend training sessions before deployment.

"I never understood it, but if you've ever met Ryan, you understand it. That was his way, to support me, to support the other troops that were there," Spencer said of Bonaminio's smile.

"We made a pact. The pact was to come home alive, to watch each other's backs, to help with everything -- just to cope with everything over there. Having Ryan by my side in Iraq is what brought me home," he said.

Once Bonaminio returned, he enlisted in the Riverside police force, something he had always planned to do.

Police who knew him on the force lauded his courage, dedication, humility and his commitment to the community where he grew up. Chief Sergio Diaz urged the other officers to follow their fallen colleague's example and never forget his sacrifice.

"Ryan has taught us how to live," Diaz said, choking back tears. "Today we bury Ryan's physical body, tomorrow we take the mourning bands off our badges and we will get on with our work. And it will be a shame on us if we pass on the opportunity to be inspired by Ryan's example."

Bonaminio was to be buried at Riverside National Cemetery after the service.

Green will be arraigned next month after he is evaluated by a psychotherapist.

Prosecutors say Green fled from Bonaminio when he was pulled over in a stolen big-rig and lured the officer down a dark path into a park. Green then beat Bonaminio with a weight bar, stole his service weapon and fired on Bonaminio as he pleaded for his life, District Attorney Rod Pacheco said.

Green, of Rubidoux, faces special circumstance allegations on the murder charge that could make him eligible for the death penalty if convicted.

Bonaminio was born and raised in Riverside, a city of 300,000 people about 60 miles east of Los Angeles.

Bonaminio was proud to wear his police uniform, which he methodically inspected for loose threads and kept impeccable -- lessons he learned in Junior ROTC, his father Joseph Bonaminio said.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)