I duped myself from GD, but I don't care, and I don't think you guys do either.

Body of LAPD Officer Killed in Afghanistan Returns Home

                   
                       

28-year-old Marine Staff Sgt. Joshua J. Cullins was killed by a roadside bomb.



Watch Cheryl Getuiza's report

                   

                   

                   
                       
                           




                       
                       
                           




                       


                       




                   
                       
                       
                           
                           
                       
                               
                                   

                                       

                                       
                                           KTLA News
                                       

                                       
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                                   
                                                   
                                               
                                                       
                                                   
                                           

1:23 p.m. PDT, October 28, LOS ANGELES (KTLA) –– The body
of an LAPD officer killed by a roadside bomb while serving in
Afghanistan was returned to Los Angeles Thursday.

                                       
                                   

                               
                               

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A formal honors ceremony is planned at LAX for the 1 p.m. arrival of an
Angels Flight carrying the body of Marine Staff Sgt. Joshua J. Cullins,
of Simi Valley.
The 28-year-old reservist was an explosive ordinance disposal officer
and died Oct. 18th from injuries caused by a bomb that detonated as his
unit investigated an earlier explosion.
Cullins recently recovered from a concussion he suffered in July while
dismantling another bomb. In August, police officers created a get-well
video to encourage him in his recovery and cheer him up.
His fellow LAPD officers were heartbroken at the news of his death.
"We were all sad. We actually had a psychologist that was inside the
roll call room in case any of us had any issues, which all of us did,"
LAPD Officer Erik Solter told KTLA.




"It's just a hard hit. It's a big loss to everybody," said LAPD Officer Robert Bean.
Cullins joined the Marines immediately after graduating from high school
in June 2000.  He had served initially on an active-duty basis until
August 2007 and then became a reservist in August 2008.
He had served two tours of duty in Iraq and was currently serving his
second tour of duty as an explosive ordnance disposal technician with
the First Marine Logistics Group, First Explosive Ordnance Disposal
Company, 2nd Battalion, and 9th Marine Regiment in Marja in
Afghanistan's treacherous Helmand province.
Cullins had been decorated with several combat medals and awards for his
service in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  He had only two days left in the
field before a replacement would have relieved him.
Cullins joined the LAPD in 2007.  Upon graduation from the Police
Academy, he was first assigned to patrol duties in the Department's
Topanga Area and was currently serving at Central Area.  "He was very
dedicated and personable," said LAPD Bomb Squad Officer Steve Hennigan,
who was a close personal friend of Cullins. "He had the kind of
personality that attracted people to him, and he truly excelled in the
Department. He would have been a perfect fit for the Bomb Squad.  We
were greatly looking forward to having him onboard."
Cullins is survived by his father and step mother, as well as two
younger brothers, ages 12 and 17.  Arrangements for memorial services
are still pending and will be announced as soon as they are finalized.
Cullins is the second LAPD officer killed in Afghanistan. A bomb killed
SWAT officer Robert J. Cottle along with another Marine in March .

 

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Rest in peace brother.  Semper Fi.