California Highway Patrolman Joseph Sanders was laid to rest today, one day after the 29-year-old officer would have successfully completed his probation period.
Sanders, a Galt High School graduate, had served just 359 days as a CHP officer - his longtime goal - before he was struck and killed one week ago today while conducting traffic in heavy rain on a Los Angeles County highway.
Hundreds of family, friends and uniformed officers gathered in Elk Grove this morning to remember Sanders, who had been assigned to the CHP's Santa Fe Springs area office in Southern California. Law enforcement officers from all across the state -- including a large contingent from Southern California -- and as far away as Texas filled the First Baptist Church to memorialize Sanders.
Sanders' death marks the CHP's first line-of-duty death of 2008 and the 214th in the CHP's 79-year history.
Sanders is survived by his wife, Tondria, who is pregnant; the couple's four children; his parents; and two sisters.
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