![LAPD officers attend the funeral for Officer Valentin Martinez at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8ec0e14/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3689x2459+155+0/resize/2000x1333!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F9d%2F7a%2F30cf6ceb41309746670f6652f241%2Fla-photos-1staff-588604-la-me-lapd-officer-covid-funeral-27-als.jpg)
Los Angeles Police Department officers, family and friends attended the funeral of Officer Valentin Martinez, the agency’s first sworn employee to die of complications from COVID-19. A memory service was held Thursday at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills’ Hall of Liberty. Martinez, 45, was a 13-year veteran of the LAPD and is presumed to have contracted the coronavirus while on duty. He he died on July 24, leaving behind his mother, Maria Martinez, his siblings and his domestic partner, Megan Flynn, who is pregnant with their twins. A Val Martinez Memorial Fund has been established for the family.
![LAPD Officer Valentin Martinez's flag-covered coffin is carried into Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6bc4e93/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2480+0+0/resize/2000x1240!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F98%2F22%2F115179a741e595c5acafcf8a4df8%2Fla-photos-1staff-588604-la-me-lapd-officer-covid-funeral-3-als.jpg)
![A photo of Officer Valentin Martinez at the memorial service.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/81e97ee/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2594+0+0/resize/2000x1297!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fd7%2F8b%2Ff0ca3dc64e1e871679cad7cb6e55%2Fla-photos-1staff-588604-la-me-lapd-officer-covid-funeral-16-als.jpg)
![A bagpiper leads the funeral procession.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/35dd605/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2586+0+0/resize/2000x1293!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fc5%2F75%2Ffba3338045b89b433e644bf48873%2Fla-photos-1staff-588604-la-me-lapd-officer-covid-funeral-4-als.jpg)
![An officer wipes a tear during the service.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3ffe348/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2739+0+0/resize/2000x1370!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F0b%2F50%2F0efe48b84040984118eba2819a8e%2Fla-photos-1staff-588604-la-me-lapd-officer-covid-funeral-5-als.jpg)
![A flag honoring Officer Valentin Martinez is folded.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/ed0757c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2673+0+0/resize/2000x1337!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F1c%2F10%2F5eb25ef44385be7d6bb4c1c81558%2Fla-photos-1staff-588604-la-me-lapd-officer-covid-funeral-9-als.jpg)
![Mourners embrace at the memorial service.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7624dc7/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/2000x1334!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F49%2Feb%2F1bb31fc44d8bb1d5a1edc2c4e04d%2Fla-photos-1staff-588604-la-me-lapd-officer-covid-funeral-7-als.jpg)
![L.A. Police Chief Michel Moore holds the flag to present to Megan Flynn, Martinez's partner.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a665c1c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2617+0+0/resize/2000x1309!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F05%2Fdc%2Fe70ef346451bb076eb9798d6e2e3%2Fla-photos-1staff-588604-la-me-lapd-officer-covid-funeral-22-als.jpg)
![Chief Michel Moore presents the flag to Megan Flynn.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/a35a23a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2684+0+0/resize/2000x1342!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2c%2F9b%2Feb488f484670a72f14ff581f2f59%2Fla-photos-1staff-588604-la-me-lapd-officer-covid-funeral-23-als.jpg)
![Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti consoles Maria Martinez, the officer's mother.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/638a02b/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2667+0+0/resize/2000x1334!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe6%2Fa3%2F0dbcfe0648c2bf8a9500af542a85%2Fla-photos-1staff-588604-la-me-lapd-officer-covid-funeral-26-als.jpg)
![Officer Martinez's coffin is carried after the service.](https://ca-times.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c678628/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4000x2611+0+0/resize/2000x1306!/quality/75/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcalifornia-times-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F53%2F69%2F1257a6c7455ab40bd63e2871fa84%2Fla-photos-1staff-588604-la-me-lapd-officer-covid-funeral-6-als.jpg)
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