Calvary Chapel Downey hosting funeral for CHP officer who died on duty

DOWNEY — A funeral service will be held today for a California Highway Patrol officer who suffered a medical emergency and crashed the SUV he was driving in Culver City while he and his partner were taking a DUI and drug possession suspect to jail.

Wednesday's memorial service will be held at Calvary Chapel Downey

Officer Miguel Cano, 34, was driving the patrol SUV around 12:30 a.m. July 2 near Bristol Parkway and Green Valley Circle when the vehicle crashed. According to the CHP, Cano and his partner had arrested a DUI suspect who was also allegedly found to be in possession of "a large quantity" of suspected cocaine.

Cano told his partner he was feeling ill, and moments later the cruiser went off the road and crashed into a tree. He was taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where he died.

The other officer and the suspect both suffered minor injuries.

"We are devastated by the loss of Officer Cano, who gave his life while serving the people of California," CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee said that day. "His dedication, courage and commitment to public safety will never be forgotten. We stand with his family and our CHP family during this incredibly difficult time."

Duryee said that since the suspect had been in possession of drugs, Cano was administered the overdose remedy Narcan as a precaution. The crash occurred just a couple of blocks from the CHP's West Los Angeles office where the suspect was being taken.

According to Duryee, Cano lived in Moreno Valley and was married but had no children. He joined the CHP in 2023.

The service will be closed to the public but will be streamed on YouTube.