Remarks by District Attorney Tony Rackauckas
Victims’ Rights March and Rally
April 27, 2009
Good Morning! This is a wonderful day to remember those we have lost, honor those who have survived, and celebrate the tenacity and strength of the people who carry on the fight for justice.
Let me introduce the distinguished guests who are here with me. To my right are Ruth Allen, Erin Runnion, and the Honorable Collene Campbell. To my left are Patricia Bates, Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Chief Robert Gustafson of the Orange Police Department and Vice President of the Orange County Chiefs’ and Sheriff’s Association, Janet Nguyen Vice Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, and Marsella Leach, who will be introduced shortly.
It is my honor to stand with friends to welcome you to the first Annual Orange County Victims’ March. This event is long overdue. I am calling this the first annual march because I am making a commitment to make this a yearly event to remind us at the District Attorney’s Office and in law enforcement why we do what we do.
It is not only our job to seek punishment for those who have done harm, but to serve and to protect the victims of those criminals and to make sure justice is done in every case we can.
At this time I would like to welcome Orange Police Chief Robert Gustafson.
(Chief Gustafson: Presentation of the Colors)
At this time, I would like to recognize Patricia Bates, Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Thank you Chair Bates and the Orange County Board of Supervisors for co-hosting this event.
(Pat Bates: Brief welcoming remarks)
(Presents CSP resolution)
(Ask for a moment of silence)
(Release of the doves)
I wanted to acknowledge the many elected officials and dignitaries who have joined us for this event. Their presence here signifies the importance of this event. Thank you for holding your applause to the end:
Tom Daly, County Recorder, Chriss Street, Orange County Treasurer, David Sundstrom, Auditor-Controller, John Williams, Public Administrator, Chief Colleene Preciado, Orange County Probation, The Honorable Debbie Carillo, Orange County Superior Court Judge, Mayor Pro Tem Claudia Alvarez, City of Santa Ana, Mayor Pro Tem Tri Ta, City of Westminster, Mayor Lisa Bartlett, City of Dana Point, Mayor Jim Rhains, City of Villa Park, Councilwoman Leslie Daigle, Newport Beach, Council Member Tyler Diep, Westminster, Council Member Andrew Do, Garden Grove, Council Member John Paul Ledesma, Mission Viejo, Councilwoman Deborah Pauly, Villa Park, Council Member Marty Rhodes, Laguna Woods, Anna Bryson, Trustee, Capistrano Unified School District , Matthew Harper, Santa Ana Unified Board Member and Trustee, Representatives from: Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, Michelle Steel, Board of Equalization Member and Representative Ken Maddox, and Assemblyman Michael Duvall.
We also have law enforcement represented here:
Chief Robert Gustafson, Orange Police Department, Chief Dave Maggard, Irvine Police Department, Chief Bill Hutchinson, Brea Police Department, Chief Mark Yokoyama, Cypress Police Department, Chief Kenneth Small, Huntington Beach Police Department, Chief Joseph Polisar, Garden Grove Police Department, Chief Todd Mattern, Los Alamitos Police Department, Chief Paul Walters, Santa Ana Police Department, and representatives from the Orange County Chiefs’ and Sheriff’s Association, Anaheim Police Department, Brea Police Department, Costa Mesa Police Department, FBI, Huntington Beach Police Department, Irvine Police Department, Orange County Sheriff’s Department, Placentia Police Department, San Juan Capistrano California Highway Patrol, Santa Ana California Highway Patrol, Tustin Police Department, Our Small World Counseling Center, MADD, JFTB, and Anaheim Family Justice Center.
Let’s give them a round of applause.