DOWNEY – The Downey Christmas Parade will be dedicated to the memory of Downey police officer Ricky Galvez, who was shot and killed outside the police station last week. 

The parade is put on by the Downey Chamber of Commerce and is Sunday, Dec. 6. It starts at 1:30 p.m. on Downey Avenue, just south of Florence Avenue.

“Like everyone in the city, after hearing the tragic news that Officer Galvez was shot, I was in shock,” said John Zander, who is helping organize the parade for the Chamber. “Something like that makes you want to do something. I thought dedicating this year’s Downey Christmas Parade to him may be a way to honor Officer Galvez while we were all joined together in the same place.

“With the blessing of the Downey Police Department the Downey Chamber of Commerce will be dedicating the Christmas Parade to Officer Ricardo Galvez. 

“We will be asking for a moment of silence before the DPD leads the Parade down Downey Avenue.”