Update: Costa Mesa police today were mourning the death of a 32-year veteran of the department killed when his car slammed into a concrete pillar supporting an overpass.
iStock photo
Detective Mike Delgadillo’s car struck the pillar on Bristol Street under the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to Costa Mesa police Lt. Tim Schennum.
Delgadillo’s fellow officers and firefighters rushed him to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where he was declared dead this morning, he said.
Mayor Jim Righeimer, who went to the hospital after last night’s City Council meeting, said “we’re deeply saddened for the family.”
No information was made public about the circumstances of the apparent accident.
According to Schennum, Delgadillo joined the police department in October of 1981.
Among his beats was the South Coast Plaza.
From 1988 through 1994, he worked with the canine unit and was given multiple commendations for work with his canine partner Nero, Schennum said. In 1996, Delgadillo joined the gang unit as an investigator, transferring to the anti-drug unit the next year. In 2004, he was assigned to the detective bureau.
He is known as a “loyal, dedicated, hardworking employee,” Schennum said. “Mike is probably best known for his charismatic personality and his strong desire to train and mentor others, by imparting his vast knowledge and many years of experience to the younger and less experienced,” Schennum stated in a prepared release.
The chiefs of the Costa Mesa police and fire departments were at the crash site early this morning. Officers were affixing black bands to their badges to reflect their loss, a photographer at the scene said.
Original Story: An off-duty Costa Mesa police officer was killed when the car he was driving slammed into a cement column beneath a freeway overpass in Costa Mesa, according to reports from the scene.
The crash beneath the Costa Mesa (55) Freeway on Bristol Street near Newport Avenue was reported at 10:22 p.m. Tuesday March 5, said Sgt. Jerry Hildeman of the Costa Mesa Police Department.
The driver, the vehicle’s sole occupant, was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, Hildeman said.
He was later pronounced dead, according to KNX 1070, which reported that he was 30-year veteran of the Costa Mesa Police Department.
The chiefs of the Costa Mesa police and fire departments were at the crash site early this morning and officers were affixing black bands to their badges, a news photographer reported from the scene.
Newport Beach police were called to assist in the crash investigation, said the Newport Beach Police Department watch commander.
The victim was driving a Honda Accord, the photographer reported.
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God bless you Sir, Rip. A 30 year career was above and beyond the call of duty and you must have been a above reproach officer. I pray family and friends are carried in our Lords arms during this difficult time of anger, and loss.
Michael it was such a pleasure spending time with you and Kim.. Thank you for bringing so much joy and happiness to me and my Dogs you will be so missed! We will never forget you! Love Eryn, Max, Norma, Presley and Brando
God Bless all of us, as I am Kim, his girlfriend. With all due respect for Michael. I have since him passing not been the same. As I will tell all of you ! He was one in a million, he loved his children, his dogs, his life, his partners……Jose, Bruno, Jimbo, John, Cohen, Pa Pa John, Janis, John, Treasure, Eryn, Donnie, Tina,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, the list will go on. But with all due respect. I met this truly old school gentlemen (and they are very few)….I fell from the monent I met Michael. (Those crazy, darn, butterflys) From that day on, my life was never the same.
He truly was honest, loyal, had your back, never lied, never stold, never cheated, always
smiled, always laughted, could take a joke…..a punch. A 5.8″ blonde whom loved him more than life. So for all that I have read, please take a breath and be blessed for your opportunity of meeting one of the greatest men in life. He would of given you his last dollar and the shirt off his back. He truly changed my life for all the better and I am so lucky and blessed to of had him for the time I did. I was taken short as he was, as we all were. So when you comment, with all due respect this man gave his life for us. And I will truly testify he was not A drunk !!, not careless, but rather caring and loving. He will never be replaced. And I will forever and ever love him………………with honor and complete admiration and respect.
Kim Forbes Seidenberg – Real Estate Broker 25 years, and the girlfriend of Michael, and very proud to say this. God Bless him and his children…