Police remember officers killed

Costa Mesa police observed a moment of silence at 10:20 p.m. Wednesday, marking the 23rd anniversary of the deadliest day in the department’s history, when two of its officers were killed in action.

At 10:20 a.m. March 10, 1987, Costa Mesa Police Officers John William “Mike” Libolt, 39, and James David Ketchum, 39, were killed when their police helicopter collided with a smaller Newport Beach police helicopter during a pursuit.

A third passenger in the helicopter, civilian observer Jeffrey Pollard, 27, was also killed. The two officers in the Newport Beach helicopter survived.

Libolt and Ketchum were pulling away from the pursuit and handing it over to the Newport Beach helicopter when the collision occurred.

The suspect they were following was later arrested.

— Joseph Serna