โI lost an entire future:โ Fallen Officer Kevin Valenciaโs widow stays strong for young sons
For the first time after laying her husband to rest, the widow of Orlando Police Officer Kevin Valencia opened up about how tough itโs been trying to move forward and how sheโs trying to stay strong for their young sons.
โOur hero:โ Fallen Orlando police Officer Kevin Valencia honored at funeral
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Tears were shed and stories were shared as Orlando police Officer Kevin Valencia was honored and remembered Wednesday at his funeral. His wife, Meghan Valencia, spoke as did Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolรณn, Valenciaโs coworkers and friends during a ceremony that lasted for several hours. Officer William Thomas from the Orlando Police Department said he never expected to be speaking at Valenciaโs funeral. RIGHT NOW: @OrlandoPDChief speaking at fallen officerโs Kevin Valenciaโs funeral: โHe was a leader who put the needs of others before his own.โ pic.twitter.com/yiKkjqMJVa โ Jerry Askin (@JerryAskinNews6) March 24, 2021He added that Valencia was a family man above all. Before the ceremony began at First Baptist Orlando, the hearse carrying Valenciaโs body arrived and the Orlando Police Department performed a tribute.
Flags will be flown at half-staff in honor of Orlando officer Kevin Valencia
ORLANDO, Fla. โ As fallen Orlando officer Kevin Valenciaโs funeral is taking place on Wednesday, flags at local government buildings will be flown at half-staff in his honor. Ron DeSantis issued a memorandum Tuesday evening ordering that United States and Florida flags be lowered at the Orange County Courthouse, Orlando City Hall and the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee from sunrise to sunset. He was awarded a Purple Heart by the Orlando Police Department for his heroic response. Officer Valencia will be remembered for his selfless courage to protect the lives of others at the cost of his own,โ the memorandum read. AdAfter shooting Valencia, the man killed the four children and then himself during a daylong standoff situation.
Procession held for fallen Orlando police officer
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Officers with Orlando Police Department on Wednesday escorted the body of Officer Kevin Valencia from Lake County to his final resting place. The Orlando Police Department announced Monday that Valencia had died of his injuries. The procession began around 10 a.m. Wednesday in Leesburg and concluded at Baldwin Fairchild funeral home in Orlando. During the 55-mile journey, the vehicle carrying Valencia was escorted by a formal procession of vehicles, motorcycles and officers to honor the fallen police officer. It hurts, but our officers are strong,โ Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon said.
โItโs never guaranteedโ officers will come home, Orlando police chief says of Officer Kevin Valenciaโs passing
ORLANDO, Fla. โ When a police officer puts on their uniform and starts a shift, thereโs always a chance they might not come home, Orlando Police Chief Orlando Rolon said Tuesday following the passing of Officer Kevin Valencia, who died this week more than two years after he was shot while responding to a hostage situation. Valencia was shot in the head on June 11, 2018 as he tried to enter an Orlando apartment where a man had barricaded himself and four children inside. After 33 months, including rehabilitation, the Orlando Police Department announced Monday Valencia had died of his injuries. Ad[RELATED: What is qualified immunity and how has it impacted Central Florida law enforcement?] (WKMG)Valencia was afforded the ability to do the job he was trained for with qualified immunity, Rolon said.
โHe is a hero:โ Orlando officer Kevin Valencia dies after being shot during 2018 standoff
ORLANDO, Fla. โ Orlando Police Officer Kevin Valencia has died from injuries he suffered during a standoff on June 11, 2018 when he was shot, according to the Orlando Police Department. โIt is with deep regret and heartache that I inform you of the passing of Officer Kevin Valencia,โ Chief Orlando Rolon said in a statement Monday. Officer Kevin Valencia risked his life for this community and paid the ultimate sacrifice,โ Orange County Sheriff John Mina said. Officer Kevin Valencia risked his life for this community and paid the ultimate sacrifice. This evening, Officer Kevin Valencia was escorted by our officers, as well as those from other agencies.
Orlando officer Kevin Valencia showing signs of improvement after 2018 shooting
ORLANDO, Fla. โ An Orlando Police Department officer who was shot in the head in 2018, sparking a standoff that ended with a man killing himself and four children, is showing signs of improvement. Officer Kevin Valencia was awarded a Purple Heart, which his wife Meghan Valencia accepted Tuesday during a retirement ceremony. She also received a plaque naming her husband an honorary K9 handler since he expressed interest in becoming a K9 officer before he was injured. Thank you so much for making him an honorary K9 officer, I canโt wait to tell him,โ Meghan Valencia said during the ceremony. In a news release, the police department said the now-retired officer has been showing signs of improvement.
Orlando police sergeant broke policy in shooting that left Kevin Valencia in coma
ORLANDO, Fla. โ An Orlando police sergeant violated department policy in a 2018 shooting that left Orlando police Officer Kevin Valencia in a coma, according to an internal Orlando Police Department investigation. White covered the apartment door peephole with a piece of gum, according to the report. Valencia attempted to use the key to open the door but it broke off in the lock, according to the investigation. White told investigators she made the decision to force entry because there were no sounds coming from the apartment. There was no sound coming from inside,โ White told investigators.