Fallen officer Eric Estrada remembered in emotional funeral service

SALT LAKE CITY — Tremonton-Garland Officer Eric Estrada was remembered in a public funeral service on Thursday, after his Aug. 17 death while on duty.

Members of Estrada’s family and partners on the force, including his older brother and young daughter, Cienna, shared their memories.

In an emotional eulogy given by Det. Michelle Cluff, Estrada was described as a dedicated officer, and “by far the better cop.” The two of them met in 2018 in the police academy, where Estrada helped train her.

Cluff said after training, she worked alongside him at the North Park Police Department, where he worked long shifts and weekends, “so he could show up for his kids and be present.” He also changed his schedule to allow him to train Spanish-speaking officers with “no complaint.”

“It was during this time that Eric encountered a man in the community, and with the permission of him and his family, I will share a short story,” Cluff said. “Eric arrested the man for a DUI. Nothing special about that — most of the officers in the room can say that we’ve done the same thing.”

However, Cluff continued through tears, Estrada treated him “like a person.” The way he presented himself to the man helped convince him to turn his life around.

“He has been sober ever since and is now happily married with a new child,” she said. “This is the man and the officer that Eric was. A man who valued and understood humanity.”

Cluff noted that Eric Estrada and the officer who died alongside him, Sgt. Lee Sorensen, died together.

“It is with horrible knowledge, but truth nonetheless, that it makes complete sense that Lee and Eric went together,” she said, “because neither of them would have left the other alone.”

‘Legends never die’

Estrada’s brother, Jesus Estrada, remembered his younger brother through movies they shared together — “The Goonies” and “The Sandlot.”

“‘Heroes get remembered, but legends never die,’” Jesus Estrada said, quoting the Sandlot. “Eric, you’re not just a memory. You’re a part of who we are. A legend in the little things — the laughs, the games, the badge, the late-night talks and the love you poured into your family and your community. This is not a ‘goodbye,’ it’s a ‘see you later.’”

Jesus Estrada began his words by highlighting what was most important to his brother — his family.

“Of all the roles Eric played in life, he was most proud of being a husband and a dad he had. He and Brittney have raised two incredible human beings, Cienna and Luca,” he said. “Cienna is strong, wise and grounded. She’s already showing a level of strength that humbles me. Luca is energetic, joyful and has that spark in his eyes, just like Eric did.”

Cienna followed her uncle, sharing her fun memories with her father — playing on the tramp with the hose, laughing together, playing Minecraft.

“He put others before himself,” she said. “He was a great human being. He will always be remembered for what he did for our country.”

Sacrifice for a stranger

Toward the end of the service, Gov. Spencer Cox spoke of the impact Eric Estrada had left on him in the wake of his death. Cox shared the story of meeting his wife, Brittney Estrada.

“I said please tell me about Eric,” he said. “Immediately the tears stopped and her eyes lit up as she got to tell me about the man that is Eric Estrada. She told me about how they met, she told me about the coincidences that couldn’t have been coincidences from their families and where they came from. She told me about the kind of husband and father he was — the kind of husband and father that I’m still trying to be.”

He then focused on the ultimate sacrifice Eric Estrada made.

“The question I have for you is…” Cox said, addressing the audience. “Would you lay down your life for a complete stranger? See, I think that’s the greatest love of all.”