(top) Jeannette Garcia, Mother of Major Ricardo A. Crocker, speaks during the 'Ricardo A. Crocker Memorial Highway Sign' dedication ceremony at the Santa Monica Police Activities League Center on Friday, March 7, 2008. The memorial highway sign has been placed on the Santa Monica Freeway. Maria Crocker (left), Major Crocker's sister, and SMPD Chief Timothy J. Jackman (right) also spoke during the ceremony. (above) The Third Civil Affairs Group of the United States Marine Corps (Crocker Unit) pose for a portrait with Jeannette Garcia (Maj. Crocker's mother) during the dedication ceremony. Major Ricardo A. Crocker, 39, of Mission Viejo, Calif., died from a rocket propelled grenade explosion while conducting combat operations in Hadithah, Iraq on May 26, 2005. Major Ricardo was a Santa Monica Police Officer from 1995-2005 and in the United State Marine Corps from 1989-2005.

1) (left to right) Santa Monica Police Officers Kim Sloane, Capri Redondo and Christina Coria, gift wrap presents on Thursday, December 20, 2007 during the 'Its a Wrap Party' at Santa Monica Place. 2) Santa Monica Police Chief, Timothy J. Jackman and Officer Redondo, wrap gifts during the party. 3) (left to right) SMPD Lieutenant Alex Padilla, SMFD Chief Jim Hone and SMPD Chief Jackman help wrap gifts. 4) Police Activities League volunteer Sebastain Couty (left) and SMPD volunteer Jeff Rochlin, assemble a boys bike during the wrap party. 5) Community leaders, volunteers from the Police Activities League  (PAL), Bayside District Corporation and Santa Monica Place, wrapped  more than 250 gifts which were collected during the Winterlit  “Best Gift Ever” community gift drive. Gifts collected will be distributed to children who might otherwise go without presents this holiday season.