NEWMAN, Calif. — Residents of Newman blanketed their police station with flowers and blue balloons hours after the tragic death of Corporal Ronil Singh.
The makeshift memorial was created for the 33 year old, who was shot and killed down while on a routine traffic stop.
“I’m just heartbroken, my whole family is, this is a big loss for everyone," said Lisa Mykels. "It’s the holidays right now, this is just awful."
In an Instagram post, the Newman Police K9 Association shared their heartbreak, writing, "Ronil was an incredible officer and an even better man and friend who will be missed deeply."
Jose Garcia has been a resident of Newman for over 20 years. He says his son was friends with Singh, and described him as kind and honorable.
“Everyone in this town is heartbroken, he did not deserve this,” Garcia said.
The Blue Line Wives are a support group made up of wives whose husbands serve in the Newman Police Department, Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department and first responders from other counties. They hung blue ribbons in honor of Singh on Main Street next to the Newman Police Department. Cindy Richardson is the wife of Newman Police Chief Randy Richardson and a member of the group. She says she saw Singh just last week.
“I stopped by the station to see Randy and happened to see (Singh), I never thought that would be the last time I saw him," Richardson said. "He was going to a call, and we said hello to each other in the hallway."
The Blue Line Wives hung blue ribbons all along the Main Street strip and plan to do the same in Modesto, where they say Singh lived with his family.
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