Former Signal Hill police sergeant dies

[aesop_image imgwidth=”500px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Screen-Shot-2016-10-06-at-2.05.36-PM.png” align=”center” lightbox=”on” credit=”Photos courtesy James Butzbach” caption=”Retired Signal Hill Police Sergeant Armando Luis Talavera died Monday, Oct. 3. He served on the force from 1965 to 1992.” captionposition=”center”] [aesop_character name=”Cory Bilicko” caption=”Managing Editor” align=”left” force_circle=”off”] [aesop_image imgwidth=”200px” img=”http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Screen-Shot-2016-10-06-at-2.05.41-PM.png” align=”right” lightbox=”on” captionposition=”right”] Retired Signal Hill Police Department (SHPD) Sergeant Armando Luis Talavera, who served on the force from 1965 to 1992, passed away peacefully at 4:25pm on Monday, Oct. 3, after a short battle with cancer, according to retired SHPD Police Commander James Butzbach.
In a phone interview with the Signal Tribune Thursday, Butzbach said the two former police officers had stayed in touch through the years. Butzbach referred to his friend and former colleague as “Mando.” Butzbach said he himself began working with SHPD in April of 1966, just five months after Talavera had been hired.
In an email Monday, Butzbach wrote that he had communicated with Talavera’s children that day.
“I talked to Mando’s daughters, Chris and Karen, early this evening,” Butzbach wrote. “It was Mando’s desire to be cremated. The girls will be meeting with funeral directors tomorrow…I believe Mando was 76 years old. Chris and Karen expressed how delighted Mando was with the visits, telephone calls and cards he has received the past month and a half from his former colleagues. I attached a couple pictures of Mando he was fond of. Please remember Mando and his family in your thoughts and prayers in the days ahead. Vaya con Dios, Mando!”