Crime & Safety
Candlelight Vigil, Memorials for Napa's Fallen Hero Deputy Ricky Del Fiorentino
Candlelight vigil is Tuesday and public memorial is Wednesday in Fort Bragg.
From Facebook tribute page: "Remembering Deputy Ricky Del Fiorentino MCSO EOW 3/19/14."
"He will always be remembered for his bravery and the love he had for his fellow citizens and especially his wonderful family in our small community. His wonderful smile and personality. One of Mendocino's Coast finest sheriff's! Thank you for the fine service given. May he rest in peace!"
Residents in Napa and Mendocino counties, and beyond, are mourning a Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputy Ricky Del Fiorentino, 48, a former Napa resident, who was slain last week by an armed robbery suspect.
A public memorial service is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 26 at the Cotton Auditorium in Fort Bragg.
"He will always be remembered for his bravery and the love he had for his fellow citizens and especially his wonderful family in our small community. His wonderful smile and personality. One of Mendocino's Coast finest sheriff's! Thank you for the fine service given. May he rest in peace!"
Residents in Napa and Mendocino counties, and beyond, are mourning a Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputy Ricky Del Fiorentino, 48, a former Napa resident, who was slain last week by an armed robbery suspect.
A public memorial service is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 26 at the Cotton Auditorium in Fort Bragg.
For those unable to attend the services, Mendocino Access Television
will make it available on Channels 3 and 65 and online at www.mendocinoaccess.org.
And a candlelight vigil is Tuesday -- March 25 -- at 8 p.m. at Ten Mile Courthouse, 700 South Franklin St, according to Mendocino County Sheriff’s Association.
The candlelight vigil is open to anyone wishing to pay respects to the 26-year law-enforcement veteran -- who was also a husband, father, grandfather, son and brother, said organizers.
More details on the Tuesday vigil can be found on Facebook tribute page “Candle Light Vigil in Honor of Ricky Del Fiorentino.”
Del Fiorentino is survived by his wife, children (ages 21, 19, 18, 6), step-son (age 29), grandson (age 5 months), step-grandchildren (ages 6, 3), parents and siblings.
Anyone wishing to make monetary donations to the Ricky Del Fiorentino Memorial Fund can do so by contacting or visiting Savings Bank of Mendocino County locations or by mail to Post Office Box 3600, Ukiah, CA 95482 (707-462-6613).
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A former Napa High School hall-of-famer in the 1980s, Del Fiorentino was shot by Ricardo Antonio Chaney, 32, of Eugene Ore., the suspect in the armed robbery on March 19, deputies said.
Chaney, 32, fled Eugene in a stolen car and drove to Mendocino County, authorities said.
Sheriff's deputies spotted Chaney, and Del Fiorentino came upon Chaney's car in Cleone near MacKerricher State Park north of Fort Bragg, the sheriff's office said.
Chaney fired an assault rifle into Del Fiorentino's patrol car while the deputy was still inside, and Fort Bragg police Lt. Don Naulty then killed Chaney during an exchange of gunfire.
Both Gov. Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris expressed remorse over Del Fiorentino's death.
"Anne and I were saddened to learn of the tragic death of Deputy Del Fiorentino today," Brown said.
"Deputy Del Fiorentino was killed upholding the oath he swore: To protect his community. We extend our deepest condolences to Deputy Del Fiorentino's family, friends and coworkers and to the community of Fort Bragg," Brown said.
Del Fiorentino was with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office for 16 years and with the Fort Bragg Police Department for 10 years. Harris said Del Fiorentino's tragic death "is a stark reminder of the danger our brave men and women in law enforcement face every day to keep our communities safe.
"Deputy Del Fiorentino will never be forgotten by the people of California," Harris said.
Del Fiorentino was a star football player and wrestler at Napa High School in the early 1980s.
He was elected to the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. His football coach Les Franco, 70, of Napa remembered him today as a great athlete and person.
"He was one of the best players I ever coached. He was a great individual, a great man. He was loved by everyone. All the students loved him. He had a great sense of humor, a great smile and a great laugh, and he was very compassionate," Franco said.
Del Fiorentino went to the state wrestling championships when he was a senior at Napa High School in 1983, Franco said. "He made it to the final round and lost 2-1," Franco said.
"He received a full-ride scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, but he was a California kid. He stayed a year and came back here," Franco said.
Del Fiorentino, an outside lineman, was among 10 exceptional football players who turned the Napa High School Indians' football program around, losing only two games one year, Franco said.
According to the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame, Del Fiorentino anchored the offensive and defensive lines for the 10-0 junior varsity football team. He earned honors playing offense and defense on the championship varsity football teams in 1981 and 1982.
He won All-County, All-Region and All-Northern California accolades as a senior. A heavyweight wrestler, he placed second in the state championship, and once pinned an opponent in under eight seconds. His overall high school wrestling record was 102-8 and he was 343-1 with 41 pins in his senior year.
He won honorable mention in U.S.A. Wrestling's 1983 All-American Team.
Franco said Del Fiorentino loved hunting and fishing and moved to Mendocino County.
The last time Franco saw Del Fiorentino was at his Hall of Fame induction.
"We'd always say we're gonna get together, and it hurts we didn't spend more time together," Franco said.
"It's a sad story. He would have given him (Chaney) a chance. It cost him his life. He was sprayed with a series of shots from a semi-automatic," Franco said.
"I'm sure there will be a great outpouring. A lot of people are affected by this," Franco said.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2014 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
The candlelight vigil is open to anyone wishing to pay respects to the 26-year law-enforcement veteran -- who was also a husband, father, grandfather, son and brother, said organizers.
More details on the Tuesday vigil can be found on Facebook tribute page “Candle Light Vigil in Honor of Ricky Del Fiorentino.”
Del Fiorentino is survived by his wife, children (ages 21, 19, 18, 6), step-son (age 29), grandson (age 5 months), step-grandchildren (ages 6, 3), parents and siblings.
Anyone wishing to make monetary donations to the Ricky Del Fiorentino Memorial Fund can do so by contacting or visiting Savings Bank of Mendocino County locations or by mail to Post Office Box 3600, Ukiah, CA 95482 (707-462-6613).
#####
A former Napa High School hall-of-famer in the 1980s, Del Fiorentino was shot by Ricardo Antonio Chaney, 32, of Eugene Ore., the suspect in the armed robbery on March 19, deputies said.
Chaney, 32, fled Eugene in a stolen car and drove to Mendocino County, authorities said.
Sheriff's deputies spotted Chaney, and Del Fiorentino came upon Chaney's car in Cleone near MacKerricher State Park north of Fort Bragg, the sheriff's office said.
Chaney fired an assault rifle into Del Fiorentino's patrol car while the deputy was still inside, and Fort Bragg police Lt. Don Naulty then killed Chaney during an exchange of gunfire.
Both Gov. Jerry Brown and Attorney General Kamala Harris expressed remorse over Del Fiorentino's death.
"Anne and I were saddened to learn of the tragic death of Deputy Del Fiorentino today," Brown said.
"Deputy Del Fiorentino was killed upholding the oath he swore: To protect his community. We extend our deepest condolences to Deputy Del Fiorentino's family, friends and coworkers and to the community of Fort Bragg," Brown said.
Del Fiorentino was with the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office for 16 years and with the Fort Bragg Police Department for 10 years. Harris said Del Fiorentino's tragic death "is a stark reminder of the danger our brave men and women in law enforcement face every day to keep our communities safe.
"Deputy Del Fiorentino will never be forgotten by the people of California," Harris said.
Del Fiorentino was a star football player and wrestler at Napa High School in the early 1980s.
He was elected to the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998. His football coach Les Franco, 70, of Napa remembered him today as a great athlete and person.
"He was one of the best players I ever coached. He was a great individual, a great man. He was loved by everyone. All the students loved him. He had a great sense of humor, a great smile and a great laugh, and he was very compassionate," Franco said.
Del Fiorentino went to the state wrestling championships when he was a senior at Napa High School in 1983, Franco said. "He made it to the final round and lost 2-1," Franco said.
"He received a full-ride scholarship to the University of Oklahoma, but he was a California kid. He stayed a year and came back here," Franco said.
Del Fiorentino, an outside lineman, was among 10 exceptional football players who turned the Napa High School Indians' football program around, losing only two games one year, Franco said.
According to the Napa High School Athletic Hall of Fame, Del Fiorentino anchored the offensive and defensive lines for the 10-0 junior varsity football team. He earned honors playing offense and defense on the championship varsity football teams in 1981 and 1982.
He won All-County, All-Region and All-Northern California accolades as a senior. A heavyweight wrestler, he placed second in the state championship, and once pinned an opponent in under eight seconds. His overall high school wrestling record was 102-8 and he was 343-1 with 41 pins in his senior year.
He won honorable mention in U.S.A. Wrestling's 1983 All-American Team.
Franco said Del Fiorentino loved hunting and fishing and moved to Mendocino County.
The last time Franco saw Del Fiorentino was at his Hall of Fame induction.
"We'd always say we're gonna get together, and it hurts we didn't spend more time together," Franco said.
"It's a sad story. He would have given him (Chaney) a chance. It cost him his life. He was sprayed with a series of shots from a semi-automatic," Franco said.
"I'm sure there will be a great outpouring. A lot of people are affected by this," Franco said.
Bay City News contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2014 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
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