- Elizabeth Larson
- Posted On
VIDEO: Community gathers to welcome home Deputy Steely
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – Law enforcement officials from around Northern California and Lake County community members dedicated Sunday to giving a Lake County Sheriff's deputy a heartfelt welcome home.
The body of Deputy Jake Steely was brought home Sunday afternoon via a miles-long procession of police and fire agency vehicles.
The procession was the long unwinding of a shattering week for Steely's family, friends, and his brothers and sisters in the law enforcement community, who honored the 39-year-old father and husband and his work as an officer and deputy with a mix of deep affection, pride and protectiveness.
On Monday, Steely and his 11-year-old son were rescued from the ocean at Mendocino Headlands State Park. It has been reported that Steely was mortally injured trying to save his son from the water.
That same day Steely was flown to Enloe Hospital in Chico, where he remained in intensive care.
By Thursday afternoon, however, doctors had determined he was brain dead. But Steely's death would end up saving more lives, as it has been his wish that his organs be donated.
On Sunday at around noon, Sheriff Brian Martin reported that he and group escorting Steely and his family left Chico.
A larger contingent of law enforcement agencies waited to join the procession at Williams, where ladder trucks held a flag over Highway 20.
From there the procession moved quickly westward, through the hills and over Highway 20's winding route, toward home.
The group of dozens of law enforcement vehicles arrived at the intersection of Highway 20 and Highway 53 east of Clearlake Oaks shortly ahead of the scheduled time of 2:30 p.m. before turning south to travel around the lake through Lower Lake and Kelseyville, on the way to Lakeport.
Agencies represented came from all over Northern California, including police, fire, sheriff's offices, California State Parks, Cal Fire, California Highway Patrol and the US Forest Service. Among them was the Redwood City Police Department, an agency where Steely was reported to have accepted a job offer. Patriot Guard riders on motorcycles also accompanied the procession.
Lining the route were hundreds of Lake County residents, many holding signs and American flags.
In downtown Lakeport, preparations for Steely's passage through town had begun early Sunday morning, when Boy Scout Troop No. 42 placed American flags along the route on Main Street.
About an hour before the procession arrived, two ladder trucks parked on either side of Main Street at Third Street, flying a large American flag that whipped in the unseasonably cold, sharp wind.
Well ahead of the procession's arrival, downtown Lakeport filled up quickly, with people spilling into the streets.
When the procession neared, a REACH air ambulance hovered overhead, signaling its arrival from a distance.
It took close to 10 minutes for the approximately 113 vehicles – all but about six of them were police and sheriff's cruisers and fire trucks – and nearly 30 motorcycles traveling with the procession to pass under the American flag on their way to the final point in the route, Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary.
A public funeral for Steely is expected to take place later this week. Details are still forthcoming.
Accounts to help Steely's family are receiving donations online at https://www.gofundme.com/29y4dxk4 , and at Mendo Lake Credit Union in Lakeport under the name “Deputy Jake Steely Family.”
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.