Flag to be lowered to half staff in Reedley

REEDLEY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The Reedley Police Department's emblem volition beryllium lowered to half-staff for astir a week starting adjacent Tuesday. Police accidental it's successful grant of a chap serviceman killed successful the enactment of duty.

On Feb. 25, 2010, Reedley Police Officer Javier Beja responded to a telephone of an serviceman down successful Minkler. On scene, Fresno County Sheriff Deputy Joel Wahlenmaier was suffering from a gunshot wound. Bejar was changeable portion attempting to rescue him.

According to the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, the suspect, Ricky Liles, killed himself during the shootout.

To grant Bejar's bravery and service, flags astatine the Reedley Police Department volition beryllium lowered to half-staff connected Feb. 25 astatine 9 a.m. They volition stay astatine half-staff until March 1, the time erstwhile Bejar was taken disconnected beingness support.

Javier Beja and Joel Wahlenmaier

Bejar served with the U.S. Marine Corps and was a combat seasoned of Operation Iraqi Freedom; helium served with the Reedley Police Department for 5 years. 

Wahlenmaier was a postgraduate of Fresno State and served Fresno County arsenic a lawman for 12 years.