LAPD Honor’s Officer Killed in the Line of Duty

Los Angeles – On Tuesday, August 8, 1998, Southwest CRASH Officers Filberto Cuesta and his partner, Officer Richard Gabaldon, were monitoring a loud ‘gang’ party near Carlin Avenue and Duray Place in Southwest Area. Upon their arrival, Officers Cuesta and Gabaldon determined that they should wait for back up, due to the number of people attending the party.

As Officers Cuesta and Gabaldon waited inside their police vehicle for back up, they were ambushed from behind. Officer Cuesta was struck once in the head by a suspect’s bullet. Officer Cuesta, 26 years of age, 4-year veteran of the Department, husband and father of two young daughters, succumbed to his injury on August 9, 1998.

Officer Cuesta is survived by his widow, Sylvia and daughters, Samantha and Sierra Rose.

On Wednesday, August 9, 2000, at 1:00 p.m., Southwest Area Community Police Station, will hold a Memorial Tree Planting and Memorial Plaque Dedication. The ceremony is to commemorate the 2nd Anniversary of Officer Filberto Cuesta’s tragic death.

The ceremony will be held in the southeast parking lot of the Southwest Area Community Police Station, located at 1546 W. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, Los Angeles.

For additional information, please contact Sergeant Virgil County at 213-485-2580.

This press release was prepared by Officer Trevion Stokes, Media Relations Section.