The Huntington Beach Police Department, along with allied public safety agencies, will be holding a procession through Huntington Beach on Tuesday morning leading up to Officer Nicholas Vella’s Memorial Service. The procession will begin at the Huntington Beach Police Department on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 7:00 a.m., and travel along various City streets. We invite members of the community to view the procession and pay their respects to Officer Nicholas Vella. The procession will travel along the following streets:
- Goldenwest Street, between Yorktown Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway
- Pacific Coast Highway, between Goldenwest Street and Magnolia Avenue
- Magnolia Avenue, between Pacific Coast Highway and Talbert Avenue
- Talbert Avenue, between Magnolia Avenue and Brookhurst Street
The Memorial Service for Officer Nicholas Vella will be held at the Honda Center, located at 2695 East Katella Avenue in Anaheim, on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. The event will be livestreamed on the City of Huntington Beach’s YouTube channel for members of the public who wish to view.
On the evening of Saturday, February 19, 2022, the Huntington Beach Police Department helicopter, HB-1, was responding to a priority call when it crashed into the waters off Newport Beach with two officers onboard. Both officers were pulled from the helicopter by civilians and emergency responders and transported to local area hospitals. The crash resulted in the injury of one officer and the death of Officer Nicholas Vella. The second officer has since been discharged from the hospital.
An 18-year law enforcement veteran, 14 of those years with the Huntington Beach Police Department, 44-year old Nicholas Vella, is remembered by all who knew him as a selfless and driven police officer and man. Prior to joining the Huntington Beach Police Department in 2008, he was a well-loved and well-respected officer with the Laguna Beach Police Department. Nick leaves behind his wife and teenage daughter.
For those who wish to support the family of Officer Vella, a donation site for the family has been setup to alleviate financial strain.
