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| OFFICER EDWARD REED #19477 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY TRANSIT POLICE DEPARTMENT Date of Birth: April 16, 1963 Date of Hire: December 9, 1991 End of Watch: February 21, 1993 |
Officer Ed Reed was killed in the line of duty on February 21, 1993 when his patrol unit was struck by a drunk driver.
Officer Reed joined the Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) Police in December of 1991. After attending the Rio Hondo Police
Academy, he graduated and was assigned to Uniform Patrol at the then-RTD Police. Officer Reed worked patrol and provided law
enforcement service to the patrons and employees of the buses and trains in Los Angeles and it’s surrounding counties, and to the public at
large.
During early 1993, the RTD was merged with the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, forming today’s MTA. At that time, the
RTD Police became the MTA Police. Because of this, Officer Reed is remembered as an officer of the MTA Police Department.
At approximately 0130 hours on February 21, 1993 Officer Reed and his partner were working patrol, and driving northbound on Central
Avenue. Officer Reed was the passenger officer. As their unit passed through the intersection of 42nd and Central Avenue, it was struck by
a drunk driver running the a red light.
From the impact of the crash, the patrol unit struck a pole, killing Officer Reed. The driver of the other vehicle fled the scene, but was later
taken into custody by officers from Newton Street Division. Officers at the scene that night described it as looking like an explosion had
occurred, there were pieces of vehicles and debris everywhere. Chief Papa, who responded to the scene, openly wept for her fallen officer.
The suspect driver was later sentenced to state prison.
Officer Reed is remembered by his friends as a caring, friendly, and compassionate friend. Although physically large in stature, his friends
knew him as a kind and gentle man. Officer Reed was a sports fan, especially of baseball and football. Officer Reed liked going to local
games with his friends, particularly for the Anaheim Angels and San Diego Padres. At the time of his death, Officer Reed was engaged to be
married.
His name appears on the California State and United States National Memorials for Peace Officers. There is also a memorial for him at the
MTA Gateway Building.
Officer Reed joined the Southern California Rapid Transit District (RTD) Police in December of 1991. After attending the Rio Hondo Police
Academy, he graduated and was assigned to Uniform Patrol at the then-RTD Police. Officer Reed worked patrol and provided law
enforcement service to the patrons and employees of the buses and trains in Los Angeles and it’s surrounding counties, and to the public at
large.
During early 1993, the RTD was merged with the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, forming today’s MTA. At that time, the
RTD Police became the MTA Police. Because of this, Officer Reed is remembered as an officer of the MTA Police Department.
At approximately 0130 hours on February 21, 1993 Officer Reed and his partner were working patrol, and driving northbound on Central
Avenue. Officer Reed was the passenger officer. As their unit passed through the intersection of 42nd and Central Avenue, it was struck by
a drunk driver running the a red light.
From the impact of the crash, the patrol unit struck a pole, killing Officer Reed. The driver of the other vehicle fled the scene, but was later
taken into custody by officers from Newton Street Division. Officers at the scene that night described it as looking like an explosion had
occurred, there were pieces of vehicles and debris everywhere. Chief Papa, who responded to the scene, openly wept for her fallen officer.
The suspect driver was later sentenced to state prison.
Officer Reed is remembered by his friends as a caring, friendly, and compassionate friend. Although physically large in stature, his friends
knew him as a kind and gentle man. Officer Reed was a sports fan, especially of baseball and football. Officer Reed liked going to local
games with his friends, particularly for the Anaheim Angels and San Diego Padres. At the time of his death, Officer Reed was engaged to be
married.
His name appears on the California State and United States National Memorials for Peace Officers. There is also a memorial for him at the
MTA Gateway Building.
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