A funeral service is happening Friday for a veteran Los Angeles Police Department officer who passed away last month due to complications from COVID-19. The officer was raised in Delano and has family there.

A service for 45-year-old Val Martinez was held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills Thursday morning, where his body was escorted last week in a flag-draped casket. Mayor Eric Garcetti was among those in attendane.

Officer Martinez was a 13-year veteran of the force. He worked patrol with the Mission Division in the San Fernando Valley.

He was LAPD's first sworn officer and second employee overall to die from COVID-19. The department has had more than 450 employees test positive for the virus.

Born in Mexico, and after initially moving to Watsonville, his family settled in Delano when Martinez was 10. He went to public schools, graduating from Delano High School, before going on to study criminal justice in college.

A procession was held Friday morning. You can view the video below: