Last Updated on June 7, 2022 by CCAR Staff
Even though he could afford to move out, Whittier Police Officer Lanell Whitfield lived in the Lynwood home he grew up in with his grandmother, his family said, so he could help her with chores and maintenance.
He had just picked up his motorcycle from the shop on Saturday afternoon, June 4, and was on his way home to change clothes and attend a family gathering in Carson when he crashed in the 3900 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard.
The 25-year-old off-duty police officer died as a result of blunt force trauma, according to Los Angeles County Coroner’s officials.
Investigators ruled Whitfield’s death an accident. Relatives said they were relieved he did not die because of violence in the line of duty.
“We are at peace because he lived such a full life,” Rodrick Whitfield Jr., his 33-year-old brother, said through tears. “He really lived.”
Whitfield is survived by his parents, three sisters, three brothers and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. They described him as dependable, determined and kind. His father, Rodrick Lanell Whitfield Sr., 56, called him a “go-getter.”
“If he said he was going to do something, he would make it happen,” Whitfield’s father said. “And he excelled at everything he did.”
Even as a child, Whitfield was easy to get along with and made many friends, his sister, Kalia Whitfield, 29, said. He loved to tinker and learn with his hands.
“We were looking at pictures and there was one of him, 3-years-old, this bike with training wheels, and he’s holding a wrench,” Whitfield’s brother said. “Before we knew it, those training wheels were gone.”
He developed a passion for cars, and eventually bought a Corvette Z06 that he customized over the years, relatives said. Friend Josh Gonzalez said he was fearless and competitive on the track, but didn’t cut corners when it came to safety on the road. He also enjoyed skateboarding, played soccer, dabbled as a model, and had recently learned to play guitar, his sister said.
“At some point in the pandemic, he told us he was going to record an album,” Kalia Whitfield said. “Then, just a couple of weeks later he’s sending us Spotify tracks.”
Whitfield was inspired by the example of his grandfather, a retired LAPD lieutenant, the Whittier officer’s father said. The Lynwood native was a former police explorer and had been a part of his local Reserve Officer’s Training Corps program. So few were surprised when Lanell Whitfield chose a life of service in law enforcement.
He graduated from the University of La Verne and joined the Whittier police department in October 2021 after two years as a deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He worked patrol in Whittier.
“This tragic and sudden loss has been very difficult for our law enforcement family, ” Whittier Police Chief Aviv Bar said in a statement on Monday. “In a very short time, Lanell developed a strong bond with his fellow police officers and with the community that he enjoyed serving each day, a testament to his character, commitment, and friendly personality. He truly loved and enjoyed being a police officer.”
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Traffic Services Detail is investigating the crash but has not released any details about it.
The Peace Officers Research Association of California and the Whittier Police Officers’ Association created a memorial fund to help the officer’s family with funeral expenses.
“As we grieve this terrible loss, our thoughts and prayers are with Lanell’s family, his many law enforcement partners and friends, and the community he protected,” Bar said.
