SACRAMENTO, Calif. (KERO) — A bell toll tribute ceremony will be held in honor of California Highway Patrol Officer Andy Ornelas, who died in the line of duty Wednesday, Dec. 2.
On Nov. 23, Officer Ornelas was riding his departmental motorcycle in the Antelope Valley Area when he was involved in a crash that resulted in major injuries. Officer Ornelas was a 4-year veteran of the CHP. He had been assigned to the Antelope Valley Area CHP office since December 2019 and had previously worked in the Altadena Area.
He is survived by his wife, Taylor; his mother, retired CHP Officer Kellie Ornelas; his father, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Arturo Ornelas; his brother, CHP Officer Cody Ornelas; his sister, Nikki Ornelas; and an uncle, retired CHP Captain Andreas Ornelas.
Officer Ornelas becomes the 232nd officer to die in the line of duty in the 91-year history of the CHP.
The ceremony will be held by CHP Commissioner Amanda Ray CHP Academy officers and employees on Dec. 3 at 10 a.m.
The brief event will be live-streamed. The live-stream can be viewed by the media and public on chp.ca.gov or on the CHP Academy Facebook.
The CAHP Credit Union has established a memorial fund for Officer Ornelas. One hundred percent of all donations received will go to Officer Ornelas's wife.
The credit union is covering all processing fees and administrative responsibilities.
Donations can be made on the CAHP Credit Union website.
