Remembering ‘a protector.’ Newman honors slain police officer one year later
Hundreds of people made a candlelight march to the spot where Newman police Cpl. Ronil Singh was slain a year ago Thursday.
Family, colleagues and other supporters gathered at the downtown plaza, still festooned in Christmas lights, to remember a man devoted to his work.
“It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since that horrific day,” said Casey Graham, a Newman City Council member and police officer in Modesto. “... To our community, he symbolized a friend, family and most importantly a protector who paid the ultimate price.”
Singh, 33, was shot after pulling over a suspected drunk driver at Merced Street and Eucalyptus Avenue at about 1 a.m. Dec. 26, 2018. A 55-hour manhunt led to the arrest just east of Bakersfield of Paulo Virgen Mendoza, then 32, on suspicion of shooting the corporal. Seven other people, including Mendoza’s girlfriend and brother, were arrested on charges of accessory after the fact, or aiding and abetting.
Mendoza remains at the Stanislaus County Jail. A preliminary hearing scheduled to start March 10 will determine whether there’s enough evidence for him to stand trial.
Thursday night’s vigil was much like the one held just three days after the shooting. Speakers recalled the pride that Singh felt in immigrating from Fiji and fulfilling his dream of becoming a police officer. His wife, Anamika, attended both events, as did their son, Arnav, now 17 months. And once again, they brought the corporal’s K-9, Sam, who has retired to their Modesto home.
The officer’s brother, Reggie Singh, broke into tears as he spoke to the vigil audience: “My brother, we miss you. We love you so much.”
This year’s vigil differed with the four-block march from the plaza to the scene of the crime. Marchers made their way along the closed-off streets as emergency lights from several police agencies flashed. The march ended at a flagpole recently installed in Singh’s memory, flying the American flag and the variation that honors police.
Arnav Singh received another memento on Christmas. His father’s coworkers presented him with a miniature patrol car with decals signifying Newman PD.
This story was originally published December 26, 2019 at 10:20 PM.
