Memorial service held ahead of funeral procession for La Mesa police officer

LA MESA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- It was a vulnerable silence hanging in the air as officers from the La Mesa Police department remembered one of their own, one of their best.

The memorial service for Officer Lauren Craven is the first in La Mesa’s history.

The speakers were brief and powerful speaking of a young woman filled with cunning and capability far beyond her 25-year age, but mostly speaking about Craven’s ability to love.

“She was so energetic and bubbly and she was the first person to jump to help anyone else,” said best friend Abby Hentschke.

Hentschke, a paramedic from Rochester, New York, says her and Craven rubbed off on each other in serving their communities, but Craven was simply the best friend anyone could have, and Hentschke has the receipts.

Craven died attempting to save a victim of a car accident on the 8 freeway east when a drunk driver crashed into the accident scene, killing Craven and her patient.

“She was in this pursuit, most trainees would have never been able to succeed and she was driving,” said Rob J. Rose.

Rose was Craven’s recruitment officer for the La Mesa Police Department, who marveled at then Cadet Craven’s tenacity and determination against all odds to get on the department, and as a rookie Craven showed she wasn’t one to shy away from the tough stuff.

Pursuits, domestic violence, de-escalation and just good old fashion police work, the La Mesa Police department says Craven was on her way to being one of their best officers. Her first responder friends say she was simply irreplaceable.

“It’s really, really hard to see that happen to someone I love,” Hentschke said.

The procession for Craven starts at 7:30 a.m. leaving from Snapdragon Stadium. The funeral is expected to start at 8:30 a.m. at Skyline Church in La Mesa.