Santa Monica Police Activities League (PAL) presents the “4th Annual Rick Crocker 5K,” a walk-run benefiting PAL and honors the life of an American hero, revered Santa Monica Police officer and Santa Monica resident, on Thursday, May 16, 2024, at 4 p.m. Check-in for participants will be on the pier deck just behind the Santa Monica Pier Carousel at 200 Santa Monica Pier.
The 5K course begins on the deck behind the Santa Monica Pier Carousel and travels south on Ocean Front Walk to the Bay Street loop, then proceeds northbound on Ocean Front Walk to the Montana Stairs Parking Lot, loops around finishing back in behind the Santa Monica Pier Carousel. Participants are met with enthusiastic crowds of supporters lining the route, especially at the start-end point of the course. Santa Monica Police and Fire Departments provide additional support with display of their patrol cars, fire trucks and other emergency response vehicles.
Officer Ricardo Crocker was a 10-year veteran of the Santa Monica Police Department and a Marine Corps Reserve Major. He was appointed as a police officer on July 21, 1995. Officer Crocker was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade while on tour and in service to his country in Iraq on May 26, 2005. Officer Crocker held the rank of Captain in the United States Marines when he was hired by the police department and has since been promoted to the rank of Major.
Officer Crocker’s last assignment with the Santa Monica Police Department was with the Santa Monica Police Activities League, where he mentored the most vulnerable youth in the community.
“My brother was passionate about helping the youth of Santa Monica reach their full potential through exercise, education and sharing his enthusiastic appreciation of the outdoors,” said
Maria Crocker, Officer Ricardo Crocker’s sister.
The ‘4th Annual Rick Crocker 5K’ walk-run will be a highlight during the Santa Monica Pier’s “Locals’ Night” from 3:30-10 p.m., that will feature a lineup of activities and entertainment including an unforgettable evening of music, food, and community that’s presented at multiple locations throughout the Pier.
“We are grateful to the Santa Monica Pier to be able to host or event here and join them during their ‘Local’s Night,’ which helps increase participation for the walk-run marathon and raise awareness in the community for the needs of PAL kids and afterschool programming,” said Eula Fritz, Director at Santa Monica Police Activities League. “We are so proud to also present the ‘4th Annual Rick Crocker 5K’ walk-run on behalf of PAL and for all the team members and families that were impacted by his presence and ongoing legacy.”
Officer Rick Crocker’s service to the City of Santa Monica was memorialized by dedicating the Santa Monica portion of Interstate 10 in his honor.
To register for the “4th Annual Rick Crocker 5K” walk-run, please visit https://RickCrocker5k.givesmart.com. For more information, please contact pal@santamonica.gov.
Parking for the “4th Annual Rick Crocker 5K” walk-run is located at Beach Lot 1 North – 1550 Pacific Coast Highway, Santa Monica, CA 90401, for map directions, please visit https://www.santamonicapier.org/directions-parking.
