New East County Park Opens in Honor of Late Hometown Hero

SANTEE, CA – More than 100 city officials and community members honored the memory of a San Diego County sheriff's deputy during a grand opening ceremony Saturday for a Santee park named after the late hometown hero.

Nestled against State Route 52, Deputy Ken Collier Neighborhood Park is named in memory of Collier, who was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 28, 2010 while trying to stop a drunk driver going the wrong way on the highway in Santee.

"Ken made the ultimate sacrifice serving the citizens of Santee. He was that kind of guy,"
said Santee Sheriff's Station Capt. Tony Ray. "I believe if Ken could speak to us right now, he would be humble and grateful that his name graces this park where so many children and families can come and fellowship, play and have a good time in Santee."

Family members of the fallen deputy were joined by the captain and other members of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, San Diego Police Department and Santee Fire Department. Several county and city officials also attended the ceremony, including County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, Santee Vice Mayor Jack Dale, Mayor-elect John Minto, Councilman Rob McNelis and Councilman-elect Stephen Houlahan.

“It is our honor to have been able to work with such an exceptional law enforcement officer,” Dale said.
“Ken was an exceptional deputy sheriff who gave the ultimate sacrifice as many of the men and women of the Sheriff’s Department have dedicated their lives day in and day out to save our lives, to protect us, to keep us safe,” Jacob said. “With this park, Ken Collier’s memory will live on, not just for Ken, but for all the men and women of law enforcement.”

A hometown hero, Collier grew up in Santee and graduated from Santana High School. He attended Grossmont College and San Diego State University, where he studied administration of justice.

Collier began his law enforcement career with the San Diego County Marshal’s Office in 1997. After the Marshal’s Office merged with the Sheriff’s Department in 2000, he became a deputy sheriff and continued his duties in the detention facilities, the detentions training unit and the court services bureau. In 2006, Collier was hired as a law enforcement deputy sheriff and joined the Santee Sheriff’s Station.

Collier, who was 39 years old when he died, loved children and often showed his patrol car to kids in his beat, Ray said.

“He cared for everybody,” Ray said.

Deputy Ken Collier Neighborhood Park, located at 9170 Via de Cristina, east of Fanita Drive and north of Prospect Avenue, is a half-acre park that features a playground structure, a half-court basketball court, outdoor exercise equipment, bike path, benches and a picnic area.

The playground equipment is made from recyclable materials. The park also has drought-tolerant landscaping, a solar-powered overhead light and underground irrigation lines to minimize evaporation and onsite retention of storm water runoff.

Local and state grants, including a more than $64,000 County Neighborhood Reinvestment Program Grant, helped offset the cost of the $1.2 million park.

Photos by Kristina Houck, Patch staff