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As the city prepares to honor Samuel Liberos, officers, friends and colleagues killed in a shooting at Baldwin Park remember him as a hero.
“He’s my best friend, you know, and it breaks my heart. It breaks the community,” said detective Mark Bellmen, who once patrolled the streets at Riveros.
Belmen says he was on his fifth birthday when he received the heartbreaking news.
“We’re pounding piñatas. I’ve started getting calls saying one of my best friends is down,” Bellmen said. “And I had to go. I had to leave. I hurt not being there for him, so I had to respond.”
Belmen says the 35-year-old sacrificed his life for his fellow officers.
“No doubt. If you ask Sam, he wouldn’t be the other way. He would have always had a bullet for us. If he had the chance, he would still come across that gunshot.
Liberos is the first Baldwin Park officer to be killed in duties in department history.
“You know, it’s hard to find words so that you can express all your emotions, all your sadness,” said Baldwin Park police chief Robert Lopez.
After Officer Liberos’ death, Baldwin Park Police Chief Robert Tropez delivered news that the chief didn’t want.
“When you’re a small department, it makes even more impact, you know, you know, you know, you see Sam walking down the hallway, so you always stop and talk. And you know, you all talk about his infectious smile. That smile was an amazing smile,” Lopez said.
Candlelights are scheduled to begin at 7:20pm at Baldwin Park Police Station.
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