Fallen OPD officer Tuan Le called 'superhero' by family at memorial service
OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- Passing under the American flag, more than 500 uniformed Oakland police officers lined up to greeted Officer Tuan Le for his memorial service at 3Crosses Church in Castro Valley.
"Your hurt is our hurt. Your grief is our grief. Every member of the Oakland Police Department, feels the pain of your loss. And I, along with the entire department, stand before you completely broken-hearted," said Oakland Interim Police Chief Darren Allison, during his speech.
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Interim Chief Allison called Officer Le a "hero" - an officer who brought compassion to policing.
Le, 36, was working undercover when he was fatally shot and killed while responding to a burglary at a cannabis business in Oakland on December 29.
"He had a true heart for service. His desire to better the lives of others was ingrained in his identity. It was just simply who he was as a person," said Allison.
VIDEO: Interim OPD Chief Darren Allison speaks at Ofc. Tuan Le's memorial
Le was a Vietnamese refugee who came to the Bay Area when he was 7-years-old.
Dr. Jennifer Tran, President of the Oakland Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce, says the stories shared at the memorial speak to Officer Le's character.
"Friends telling stories from elementary (school), from when he was a toddler, how he was and how he continued to show that character of integrity, and love and dedication from throughout high school until his time as a police officer," said Tran.
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Le grew up in Oakland, graduating from Oakland High in 2006. Many calling him a true representative of the City of Oakland.
"He was so Oakland. To look at the pictures, even from his engagement, wherever there were on that time that he proposed, he was still representing Oakland. He had an Oakland hat on! To see his joy, gave a measure of calm in the midst of just grieving," said Oakland City Council member Treva Reid.
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"He graduated from Oakland High School. He was a beloved member of our community. He was a beloved graduate," said John Sasaki, spokesperson for the Oakland Unified School District.
The family also spoke at the memorial. Le's brother-in-law called Officer Le a "superhero."
Interim Chief Allison told Le's mother, who was among the hundreds of guests in attendance, that she should be of the proud of her son.
Interim Chief Allison concluded by saying, "Thank you for all the times you covered us and supported us, your brothers and sisters in law enforcement. Thank you for all the times you answered the call. I know this was not how it was supposed to end. But you can rest easy. You have given us hope. You have given us love. You've held the line. You are a true hero. Just know we have the watch from here."
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