News

Local police agencies attend funeral for hero deputy in Thousand Oaks shooting

Published November 15, 2018 8:31 PM

Sergeant Ron Helus of the Ventura County Sheriff’s Department was remembered and honored for his service during the Thousand Oaks mass shooting. Helus was one of the first to come face to face with the shooter at “Borderline Bar and Grill” in Thousand Oaks last Wednesday night.

Helus was one of the 11 who lost their lives that night. Witnesses said he did everything in his power to eliminate the threat. Many credited his courageous quick action for saving hundreds of lives that night.

“He went in to save lives, to save other people,” Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said of Helus.

Now, a week after the tragedy, a funeral service was held in Westlake Village for Helus.

Thousands of people came out to pay their respects, including deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department and officers from the Palm Springs Police Department, who are calling Helus a hero.

“It could’ve happened to anybody. He was there, he got a call for service. He didn’t hesitate, he didn’t say, ‘You know, I’ve been a deputy for 29 years, I can’t go here.’ He just knew there were people inside that needed help and he went inside to help them,” said Officer Joe Cook, president of the Palm Springs Police Officers’ Association.

Last month marked two years since Palm Springs Police Officers Jose “Gil” Vega and Lesley Zerebny were shot and killed in the line of duty.

Watch: 2 years later: Fallen PSPD officers remembered by community