ST. GEORGE – A long procession of law enforcement vehicles provided escort from St. George into California Monday as the bodies of Ventura County Sheriff’s Sgt. Steve Arthur and his wife, Linda, two of seven hikers killed by a flash flood in Zion National Park last week, were driven home to their final resting place.
With lights flashing, representatives from Washington County Sheriff’s Office, St. George Police, Utah Highway Patrol and Arizona Department of Public Safety, along with the Ventura County Sheriff, two deputies and six bikes from the Utah Patriot Guard Riders escorted the white hearse, which was outfitted with the Ventura County Sheriff’s logo and encased the remains of the couple, left Spilsbury Mortuary for the six-and-a-half-hour drive to the couple’s hometown of Camarillo, California.
“It was a pretty somber experience,” Arizona Department of Public Safety Sgt. John Bottoms said, “there weren’t a lot of words spoken except to coordinate the movement of the patrol vehicles.”
Bottoms said it was an honor to assist the Ventura County and Washington County sheriffs offices in a small way, adding that it was nice to see the way so many people paused to pay their respects to Sgt. Arthur as the procession left St. George.
Not only was there an outpouring of support from local law enforcement agencies, Utah Patriot Guard Ride Captain Kent Hardman said, but from other agencies all along the route to California as well.
“Once we were going along,” Hardman said, “there was various exits where the local municipalities had sent – like at Beaver Dam Exit there was a fire truck and an ambulance there with their lights going and their drivers and patrons all saluting as the procession went by.”
As the procession approached Mesquite, Nevada, Hardman said, vehicles were again parked on both sides of the road as the escort crested the hill near the first exit going into Mesquite with those who stood waiting to honor and pay their respects to a man who had devoted 21 years of his life to public service.
The motorcade proceeded to Moapa Travel Plaza, approximately 20 miles north of Las Vegas, where the Utah Patriot Guard Riders handed the procession over to Nevada Patriot Guard Riders.
“I was with him until that point, and then I touched base with them afterwards,” Hardman said, “and they said that the handoffs went very well and said there was a great feeling and everybody had seen similar things the rest of the way where there was different agencies who … were standing on the exits showing their support as the procession went by.”
The procession proceeded from Moapa to the California border where they again changed the guard and California Patriot Guard Riders picked up the escort responsibility through California into Ventura.
Along the extra mile
One local authority made the decision to travel far past the Utah border, showing his respect for a fellow deputy. Washington County Sheriff Cory Pulsipher traveled the full distance of the journey to the Arthurs’ hometown.
“He and one deputy in his vehicle went the whole way – they stayed with him and escorted him all the way home,” Hardman said, adding:
He had indicated that they were going to go all the way, and then when I was talking to the two officers from Ventura, they had told me that, you know, how impressed they were that he was going to make the trip all the way to Ventura with them.
Related posts
- 7 Zion flood victims identified; Mesquite man among dead
- Families reflect on loved ones lost to Zion flash flood
- Sheriff’s sergeant identified among those killed in Zion flooding – regarding Steve Arthur
- Last of 7 canyoneers’ bodies found since flash flooding of Zion slot canyon
- Zion officials confirm 6th canyoneer body found; 1 still missing
- 18 found dead in 2 days in Washington County flash floods, 2 missing; new video
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I was wondering what that procession was about. What a sweet way to honor an officer and his wife.
This is a nice gesture, but let’s face it. This Sgt. was only one of several people that were killed, and he was not killed in the line of duty. I believe that this was just a little bit overboard.
It’s all private money, private sponsorship, voluntary participation by mostly retired or off-duty peace officers.
DRT I was waiting for someone like you to say it first before I posted but too me there were 7 people who died in that canyon; not just two. I do not like the some people are more special than others flavor to this ceremony. I agree with others he did not die in the line of duty. He and his friends chose to ignore sound advice and go in that canyon. I regret the loss of life but this was death because of bad judgement and not line of duty heroism. I do not think there should have been any more ceremony for him than for the other valuable human lives that were lost.
I drive by Tonaquint Cemetary and see some funerals are bigger than others. As a matter of fact some are down right huge. You have a problem with that or should all funerals be the same?
I was waiting for you to comment. I bet you that if her were alive, he wouldn’t have asked for this in the event of his death. No officer does. Despite what you might believe this is not some government conspiracy to spend money, take your guns, kill Christians or any other baseless “facts” presented by “obummerlies1776’s” youtube comments, Fox News or whatever right wing nutjob blog Google brought you to this week.
No.
You know what this is? This is people choosing to honor the passing of their friends, colleagues and family members. Oh before you say it, None of this was taxpayer funded. How do I know? My dad was a cop.
Not only overboard, but expensive on the taxpeyers dime!
Not one penny of tax payers money if you bother to read my prior comment.
Photos in other publications clearly show government owned public safety vehicles from various agencies in the procession. Obviously, public tax money was expended. Even if the gas used by these vehicles was paid for by private sources (which I seriously doubt), the “wear and tear” on those vehicles is on the public dime. Considering that this deputy’s death was the result of poor judgment outside the line of duty, it is highly inappropriate for this much hoopla to accompany his “ride” home.
You worried about tire wear? What a punk you are
hey 42, why so mad? u must’ve known the guy…
I apologize to Chris. Got a little mad I guess. Fact is the honor procession is all volunteer and it’s a non-profit org. When the body gets to Ventura, CA that’s their business and I’m sure some police vehicles will burn 3 gallons of gas each and wear down the tires a bit.
Don’t worry about it. The great thing about this forum is we can all blow off some steam anonymously, except for mesaman of course. We all know who he is.
blah blah. if they’re using public police vehicles then that’s taxpayer money. don’t know where u get ur info…
So Fun Bag, if both your friends want to have a funeral for you in a phone booth is that our business?
If government vehicles are involved, then yes, fun bag’s phone booth funeral would be our business
Tax payers money? What about the other deaths of this flood. Did they get the same honor?
I agree ladybug.
I guess the others that were killed don’t matter enough to get their own parade…?
They got the flag improperly lowered to half staff for a day.
It is very inappropriate considering he was not killed in active duty
I wouldn’t worry about it. going to funerals is just a hobby
GOOD HEAVENS UTAH PEOPLE…SHOW SOME DIGNITY WILL YOU!! No this off duty officer was not on the clock when his life and his wife plus many other life’s were lost because of the floods. If the least UTAH and Washington County Sheriff’s Department can do is accompany a fallen comrade and his wife whether it be losing his life in the line of duty or a tragic accident home to their home State for burial….so be it. Guess you all have nothing better to do with your time then tear down deceased accident victims for bad choices they made and so on and so forth!!! The other victims of the floods last week are also being helped in many ways from fundraisers to the State of Utah helping. Let’s try and refrain from the negative kackling of a bunch of negative Utah residents and thank all who have helped in anyway to ease the pain of all the families that are suffering over their losses. I’m a taxpayer here in St George and I’m gonna THANK all who precipitated in getting one of their fallen back home. I’m sure it’s not going to break me. That’s what you call a United Brotherhood. For you negative UTAHans…QUIT THE HATING!! By the way, there are NO LAW ENFORCEMENT in my family in case you are wondering!!!
The gang of misanthropes on this site are incapable of behaving with any dignity or intelligence. They maliciously tarnish the character of St. George and Utah as a whole. It’s a shame they are allowed to continue; however, STGNews is confronted with a difficult situation when censoring free speech.
hey trolly, ur one to talk. ur the most hateful mean person on the site
LOL. I’m sure we are all ashamed of ourselves. Maybe, you’d be happier at an “echo chamber” forum where everyone agrees. You obviously can’t handle hardball.
“Correction” Participated
I think to be fair each of the other six who were killed needs to have their own parade. I’d like to see our local cops writing up more tailgating citations, not going on roads trips to cali. Maybe we are over-funding our local police that they have time for these escapades…
SHAME SHAME ON YOU FUN BAG! “PARADE” REALLY! Goes to show the mentality you are thinking with. I’m proud of the Law Enforcement and the close Brotherhood that was shown in escorting one of their own back home. Not sure if this officer was a Veteran as well, but Thanks to our Patriot Guard for your dedication. May all of the victims of last week’s horrible floods Rest In Peace.
The only thing that concerns me about the whole thing. is the unfortunate loss of life. my sympathy to families..
If I put in 21 years at the same job, especially one that served the public good, and my coworkers and peers decided to honor me with a parade…I would be flattered. Perhaps the man deserved the respect he got. Only one vehicle from Utah made the entire journey, many in the “procession” were parked at highway exits (not travelling), and it was not funded by tax payers. I think this is beautiful. Do you really think his department would have done this if he had been a worthless employee or a bad cop? As for the other victims, it’s up to their families and coworkers if they want to have a parade in their honor. The plygs are just lucky that they get a memorial open to the public. From articles posted last week, it sounded like that was not going to be an option since the funerals were private and exclusive.
I think it was beautiful too. This man and his wife were heroes by every definition of the word. Thank you for being one of the few on here that isn’t trashing what happened.
I think it’s an honor however, they were killed by a flood, the same flood that killed others that were with them and I think it’s unfair that the others weren’t recognized as well. I know they are police but they weren’t killed in the line of duty. They were killed by a flood that did not discriminate and took civilians too.
And because the flood did not discriminate, the police force shouldn’t discriminate either and all that were killed in that group. by the same flood, should get the same treatment. There’s no honor in discrimination.
So what was suppose to be an honor turned into shame. Shame that those other lives didn’t seam to matter because they weren’t police officers. They all died together and only 2 got special treatment.
Only in your dreams
I THINK WE CAN ALL LEARN A LESSON FROM ALL THIS
Rainbow said the man and his wife were heros. To who and why?
Miss LadyBug you really need to your mute button! Cuz your CACKLIN WAY TO MUCH! THX YOU and have a great evening.
If i got a dime for everytime i heard that. I’d have like $20….You have a great evening too 🙂
In your dreams
Correction “HIT YOUR MUTE BUTTON PLEASE”
One should always follow their own advice
To who and why? To me, you and everyone else. To everyone who has ever been hurt in any way at any time. Why? Because he came when no one else would. Because he had the guts to approach peoplke so evil they make Warren Jeffs look like the prophet he claimed to be and hold them accountable for their actions. Because he devoted his life to protecting innocent people and holding the nopt so innocent ones accountable. Let mw leave you with this poem submitted to police link by “jtccss3” on Policelink:
We answered the calls just as they’d come
A man with a knife, two more with a gun
Fights that broke out in back alleys and bars
Chasing down felons in fresh stolen cars
My partner and I were always ready for hell
We watched each others’ back, we did it quite well
We’ve been shot at and missed by thugs selling rocks
We’ve been battered from rooftops with garbage and blocks
The word on the street was we’d take no guff
The skells would say we were fair but damn tough
Yup, ready for anything I always said
Never surprised… until I learned he was dead
See my partner worked overtime he needed more pay
He had two little boys and a girl on the way
No it wasn’t a robbery or a felon on the run
He just stopped a kid, to say be careful, have fun
But the kid on the bike was high on cocaine
Now my partner lay dead, a bullet in his brain.
I miss him real bad, he thought just like me
When I’m walking my beat, his face I still see
Every call he is with me, still watching my back
His voice reminds me, don’t ever slack
Take nothing for granted, keep on your toes
Cause, when’s YOUR shift end…? One never knows.
Poem Called: One Never Knows….
That is a beautiful poem.
Miss LadyBug…..Here’s .25 cents…call someone who cares! Shhhhhhh
You can’t make a phone call for 25 cents…. Duh.!