Christmas

Deputies Decorate Fallen Colleague's House for Christmas

Deputies have been helping decorate her house for 14 years.

With Christmas a few weeks away, deputies from the Lakewood Sheriff's Station visited the wife of a deputy killed in the line of duty to put up some holiday decorations and honor the memory of her husband. 

Deputies have been helping decorate Emma Powell's house in Torrance for 14 years.

"First year it was five people, then it was 12 and then it was 24," Powell said. "It just kept growing from there … It's amazing."

Powell's husband, Deputy David Alan Powell, was killed in the line of duty in 2002. He had been with LASD for 18 years.

Deputies visit the Powell house before every Christmas to mark the anniversary of his death. Deputy Greg Emerson, who helps organize the event, said the tradition started shortly after David Powell's death when a small group of people came up with the idea.

"They thought maybe we should at least go over to [Emma's] house, make sure she's not alone," Emerson said. "It kind of just snowballed from there."

On top of the decorations, Emerson said the deputies also help out around the house. Over the years, they have worked on remodeling the bathroom and helped with other household maintenance jobs.

"These guys work so hard, and they still make the time to come up and put my decorations up," Powell said.

Sgt. David Parker, who attended the event, said the sheriff's department needs to keep doing this to remember their fallen colleague.

"We cannot let a deputy's life being taken go forgotten," he said. "We can’t forget the family."

Deputy David Powell was killed on Nov. 30, 2002 when he was shot in the chest while trying to force his way into a house. He and other deputies were trying to prevent a possible hostage situation.

David Powell was 42 when he died. He was survived by his wife Emma, four daughters and eight grandchildren.

Emerson said helping Powell is the least they can do. He said they plan to continue this tradition for as long as possible.

"As long as Emma's smiling the entire time, then it was a success," he said.

Emerson said about 50 deputies visited the Powell house this year to put up the Christmas decorations.

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