Detective Jeremiah MacKay remembered

By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY

Senior Writer

 

On this the 13th anniversary of the murder of Sheriff’s Detective Jeremiah MacKay, the statue of the late detective has been installed at the end of the peninsula in Lake Arrowhead Village, overlooking the lake.

With his hand over his heart, the statue shows a man who was focused on defending his community. He ultimately gave up his life in the line of duty, trying to capture a cop killer who was running amuck in these mountains after he waged a 10-day rampage of violence, shooting and seriously injuring San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Deputy Alex Collins, as well as killing two Riverside police officers and kidnapping two workers in Big Bear.

Mountain residents were terrified upon learning the murderer, identified as Christopher Dorner, a fired Los Angeles police officer, was apparently seeking revenge for his release from LAPD.

Thus began the largest manhunt in Southern California history, with all roads into and out of the San Bernardino Mountains closed and closely guarded by sheriff’s patrol units.

On Feb. 12, 2013, Detective Jeremiah MacKay was ambushed as he arrived at a cabin at Seven Oaks Camp, where the murder suspect was hiding, and fatally shot MacKay. Dorner reportedly succumbed from the flames ignited during a shootout with authorities.

MacKay, a third-generation member of a Lake Arrowhead family and a 1995 Rim High School graduate, had been stationed at the Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station, as well as the sheriff’s station in Yucaipa.

MacKay’s funeral, held at Blockbuster Pavilion in Devore, was attended by thousands. A great deal of bagpipe music was played since MacKay had played bagpipes for many others, showing the impact he had on the community during his life.

The statue was created by accomplished, award-winning sculptor Khachik Khachatouryan, who had moved to Twin Peaks and whose works were already on display in many locations, including the Huntington Library Gardens and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Khachatouryan had been inspired by MacKay’s bravery and offered to donate his time and talents to design this monument. Lake Arrowhead Village graciously offered to provide a prominent display location, near their carousel, under the trees, as the perfect setting for the bronze sculpture, as a tribute to his bravery.

Many mountain residents, coordinated by Operation Provider, helped raise funds for the materials and expenses to create the statue. Several fundraisers were held, with artists donating art to be auctioned. The statue was installed to much fanfare of grieving residents honoring a hometown boy who was a true hero, dying while trying to protect his community from a bad man.

“Jeremiah was a hero, and will remain a hero in the eyes of everyone,” County Supervisor Janice Rutherford said of Jeremiah MacKay during a dedication ceremony. “So, when they see his name, they will remember what he did and what it means to give the greatest sacrifice.”

The original statue had a dove next to his lower hand, which was broken off many years ago and has since been replaced. The statue had been placed out of sight during the recent Village remodeling. MacKay’s statue was relocated last summer onto the peninsula next to the flagpole in the middle of the grassy area, adjacent to the water.

MacKay was memorialized in January at the Yucaipa sheriff’s station’s Honor Walk with a plaque dedicated to his “ultimate sacrifice in bravely protecting county residents.” During the ceremony installing the plaque, it was said, “Jeremiah MacKay’s legacy calls us to live with courage, act with kindness and stand for good.”

MacKay was a husband, a father, a friend and a “cop’s cop.” His family shared their gratitude for a community that continues to remember him, 13 years later. Their words were a powerful reminder that, while time passes, love and remembrance endure.

After the Yucaipa ceremony, Supervisor Dawn Rowe said, “Detective Jeremiah MacKay was a decorated officer with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, who tragically died in the line of duty in 2013. Yesterday, the City of Yucaipa added his plaque of remembrance to the Honor Walk, a place set aside to remember first responders who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.”

Jeremiah MacKay had said, “If you are not willing to move with purpose to the sound of gunfire, you should find another job.” No wonder he was respected during his life here on the mountain and remembered now, 13 years after his passing, by all who knew him.