LAKE COUNTY – Local law enforcement agencies are preparing to send representatives to pay their respects at the funeral services planned for four Oakland Police officers killed in the line of duty last Saturday.

Lake County Sheriff's deputies, and officers with Clearlake and Lakeport Police departments will make the trip to Oakland Friday to honor Sgt. Mark Dunakin, 40, of Tracy; Sgt. Daniel Sakai, 35, of Castro Valley; Sgt. Ervin Romans, 43, of Danville; and Officer John Hege, 41, of Concord who died after being shot by parolee Lovelle Mixon, 26, of Oakland.

The Associated Press reported that on March 21 Mixon shot Hege and Dunakin after they pulled him over in a routine traffic stop. Sakai and Romans were part of a SWAT team that stormed an apartment where Mixon was hiding and were fatally wounded in the shootout in which Mixon also died. Hege remained on life support until Monday.

“All four officers willingly put themselves in harm’s way and their heroic sacrifice is a grave reminder of the dangers all law enforcement officers face while protecting our communities,” Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in a March 21 statement.

Schwarzenegger ordered the flags at the State Capitol building to fly at half-staff in honor of the fallen officers.

Press reports anticipate thousands of officers from across the United States and Canada will take part.

Capt. James Bauman of the Lake County Sheriff's Office said the agency is sending a volunteer contingent of four people to the services.

Clearlake Police Lt. Mike Hermann said they're also sending several officers.

Lakeport Police Chief Kevin Burke, Lt. Brad Rasmussen and two more officers will take two department units down to the funeral, Rasmussen said Wednesday.

The California Highway Patrol also will be represented at the memorial service, but there will be no officers attending from the Clear Lake office, said Officer Steve Tanguay.

The Oakland Police Officers Association said March 21 has become the deadliest day in the Oakland Police's department's history.

“In the 160 year history of Oakland Police Department there has never been such a singular incidence of devastation to our ranks,” the association said in a statement.

The funeral services Friday will be held at Oakland's Oracle Arena at 11 a.m. The services are open to the public.

The funeral services are expected to be broadcast live.

Dunakin was an 18-year Oakland Police veteran who is survived by his wife and three children, according to a report from the governor's office. Hege was with the agency for 10 years and leaves behind his mother, father and two sisters. Romans was a 13-year Oakland Police veteran; he's survived by his wife and 3 children. Sakai, a married father of one, was with Oakland Police for nine years.

Trust funds have been set up for the families of the fallen officers. For more information visit the Oakland Police Officers Association's Web site, www.opoa.org/trustfunds.htm.

E-mail Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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