Robert Joe Mata was born in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Etiwanda High School in June of 1991. In November of 1992 he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving on the destroyer U.S.S. Fletcher (DD-992). In his service to our country, Robert was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (First Award), and the Southwest Asia Service Medal. The latter medal awarded to those naval personnel who patrolled the area near Iraq, in the months after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
Upon his discharge from the Navy, Robert settled in Hawaii, where he met and married his wife, Holly. Homesick for Los Angeles, Robert and Holly moved to Whittier, California. Holly and Robert had two daughters, five year-old Kalei and two year-old Pilani.
Robert entered the Los Angeles Police Academy on January 22, 1996. He served his probationary time in Newton Area, where one daily rating complimented his handling of a 15 year-old potential runaway. Robert convinced the troubled teen to stay home and seek help to work through his troubles with his parent. Passing his probation, he moved on to Southeast Area. Robert's final division of assignment was Harbor Area, where he was assigned the Specialized Enforcement (Anti-gang) Unit. On Tuesday, Sept. 19, Mata and his partner, Officer Sonny Patsenhann, were enroute to a back-up request from a fellow officer who was involved with a stolen vehicle investigation with a suspect. Mata lost control of his police vehicle on a curve and collided with a cement light post. Both Mata and Patsenhann were trapped.
Responding officers were able to remove Patsenhann through the passenger window but, unfortunately, it took the Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics an hour to cut the car's top off and extricate Mata. He talked with paramedics during the ordeal, but went into cardiac arrest as he was finally being pulled from the wreckage. Mata underwent two hours of surgery, but because of his injuries coupled with the length of time his heart had not beaten on its own, he was not able to overcome the trauma of the accident.
Officer Mata had been employed with the LAPD for six years. He is survived by his wife and 2 young daughters.
Upon his discharge from the Navy, Robert settled in Hawaii, where he met and married his wife, Holly. Homesick for Los Angeles, Robert and Holly moved to Whittier, California. Holly and Robert had two daughters, five year-old Kalei and two year-old Pilani.
Robert entered the Los Angeles Police Academy on January 22, 1996. He served his probationary time in Newton Area, where one daily rating complimented his handling of a 15 year-old potential runaway. Robert convinced the troubled teen to stay home and seek help to work through his troubles with his parent. Passing his probation, he moved on to Southeast Area. Robert's final division of assignment was Harbor Area, where he was assigned the Specialized Enforcement (Anti-gang) Unit. On Tuesday, Sept. 19, Mata and his partner, Officer Sonny Patsenhann, were enroute to a back-up request from a fellow officer who was involved with a stolen vehicle investigation with a suspect. Mata lost control of his police vehicle on a curve and collided with a cement light post. Both Mata and Patsenhann were trapped.
Responding officers were able to remove Patsenhann through the passenger window but, unfortunately, it took the Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics an hour to cut the car's top off and extricate Mata. He talked with paramedics during the ordeal, but went into cardiac arrest as he was finally being pulled from the wreckage. Mata underwent two hours of surgery, but because of his injuries coupled with the length of time his heart had not beaten on its own, he was not able to overcome the trauma of the accident.
Officer Mata had been employed with the LAPD for six years. He is survived by his wife and 2 young daughters.
Robert Joe Mata was born in Los Angeles, California. He graduated from Etiwanda High School in June of 1991. In November of 1992 he enlisted in the United States Navy, serving on the destroyer U.S.S. Fletcher (DD-992). In his service to our country, Robert was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (First Award), and the Southwest Asia Service Medal. The latter medal awarded to those naval personnel who patrolled the area near Iraq, in the months after the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
Upon his discharge from the Navy, Robert settled in Hawaii, where he met and married his wife, Holly. Homesick for Los Angeles, Robert and Holly moved to Whittier, California. Holly and Robert had two daughters, five year-old Kalei and two year-old Pilani.
Robert entered the Los Angeles Police Academy on January 22, 1996. He served his probationary time in Newton Area, where one daily rating complimented his handling of a 15 year-old potential runaway. Robert convinced the troubled teen to stay home and seek help to work through his troubles with his parent. Passing his probation, he moved on to Southeast Area. Robert's final division of assignment was Harbor Area, where he was assigned the Specialized Enforcement (Anti-gang) Unit. On Tuesday, Sept. 19, Mata and his partner, Officer Sonny Patsenhann, were enroute to a back-up request from a fellow officer who was involved with a stolen vehicle investigation with a suspect. Mata lost control of his police vehicle on a curve and collided with a cement light post. Both Mata and Patsenhann were trapped.
Responding officers were able to remove Patsenhann through the passenger window but, unfortunately, it took the Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics an hour to cut the car's top off and extricate Mata. He talked with paramedics during the ordeal, but went into cardiac arrest as he was finally being pulled from the wreckage. Mata underwent two hours of surgery, but because of his injuries coupled with the length of time his heart had not beaten on its own, he was not able to overcome the trauma of the accident.
Officer Mata had been employed with the LAPD for six years. He is survived by his wife and 2 young daughters.
Upon his discharge from the Navy, Robert settled in Hawaii, where he met and married his wife, Holly. Homesick for Los Angeles, Robert and Holly moved to Whittier, California. Holly and Robert had two daughters, five year-old Kalei and two year-old Pilani.
Robert entered the Los Angeles Police Academy on January 22, 1996. He served his probationary time in Newton Area, where one daily rating complimented his handling of a 15 year-old potential runaway. Robert convinced the troubled teen to stay home and seek help to work through his troubles with his parent. Passing his probation, he moved on to Southeast Area. Robert's final division of assignment was Harbor Area, where he was assigned the Specialized Enforcement (Anti-gang) Unit. On Tuesday, Sept. 19, Mata and his partner, Officer Sonny Patsenhann, were enroute to a back-up request from a fellow officer who was involved with a stolen vehicle investigation with a suspect. Mata lost control of his police vehicle on a curve and collided with a cement light post. Both Mata and Patsenhann were trapped.
Responding officers were able to remove Patsenhann through the passenger window but, unfortunately, it took the Los Angeles Fire Department paramedics an hour to cut the car's top off and extricate Mata. He talked with paramedics during the ordeal, but went into cardiac arrest as he was finally being pulled from the wreckage. Mata underwent two hours of surgery, but because of his injuries coupled with the length of time his heart had not beaten on its own, he was not able to overcome the trauma of the accident.
Officer Mata had been employed with the LAPD for six years. He is survived by his wife and 2 young daughters.
Inscription
Beloved Husband, Father, Son, Brother & Uncle
I spend last night dreaming of your eyes,
but your hair kept getting in the way.
Your lips dropped in to tell me how you'd been,
and when I tried to kiss them, my pillow told me I
missed them. Your voice dropped by and sang a lullaby,
and it was then I knew just what to do. I'd fall asleep
and then I'd dream of you again.
You lit every room you stepped into.
Your smile made everything sing. You made everyone laugh.
Your friends were your world. Dodger games
Will never be the same. We'll see you later.
We love You Bobby. "How Much?
……..More than a periwinkle needs water."
Joy, Kalei, Pip, Mom, Dad, Diane & Nat.
Hey Bob!..... Where's the "You are her?"
(PIOJITOS, PIOJITOS)
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