Veteran LAFD Battalion Chief Who Died On The Job Honored With 'Celebration Of Life'

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — A veteran Los Angeles Fire Department battalion chief who died unexpectedly while on duty in downtown Los Angeles will be honored Monday with a "celebration of life" ceremony.

Jerome Boyd, 55, a 30-year-old LAFD veteran, died on April 28 amid a medical emergency, department spokesman Peter Sanders said. Boyd had been assigned to the Public Safety Section in the Fire Prevention Bureau.

The 11:30 a.m. ceremony – for family, friends and colleagues – will be held at The Novo by Microsoft at L.A. Live, 800 W. Olympic Blvd., Sanders said. Vehicles from LAFD and other agencies will be parked outside on Chick Hearn Court.

"Firefighters put their lives on the line for our safety every day," L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. "And when we lose one of these brave first responders, everyone in our city feels the pain of that loss.

The mayor said his thoughts and prayers are with Boyd's family, friends and colleagues and added: "I join all Angelenos in mourning his passing today and honoring his 30 years of dedicated service to our city."