Figueroa Green, an Eastmark neighborhood park located near Signal Butte and Ray, was dedicated Saturday, January 11, 2014 in the memory of a Phoenix Police Officer Shane Cory Figueroa, who was killed in the line of duty Oct. 25, 2008. More than 100 family, friends and fellow officers from Phoenix and Mesa came out for the moving ceremony and moment of silence to honor Officer Figueroa and his family.

Mesa has a long tradition of dedicating streets to fallen officers. Early in the planning and development stages of Eastmark, Vice Mayor Alex Finter asked the DMB team if they would be willing to name a street for the young officer. In addition to the street name, DMB decided to also dedicate one of the community’s largest neighborhood parks and named the park Figueroa Green.

Officer Shane Figueroa was a Mesa native and Mesa High School graduate. Growing up, he had the desire to follow in his father’s footsteps by joining the Phoenix Police Department, where he served for three years. His family lives in Mesa and his brother Austin currently serves as an officer for Mesa PD.

The dedication ceremony included a number of dignitaries including Mesa Vice Mayor Alex Finter, Councilman Scott Somers, Phoenix Police Chief Daniel Garcia, as well as Cory Figueroa, Shane’s father, and others. While these men spoke of the sacrifice and legacy of Officer Figueroa, children attending the event played quietly on the massive play orb in the park. Speakers noted that these children at play represented the legacy of the young officer.

Thank you to the Figueroa family for inviting so many to join you in honoring Officer Shane Figueroa. Figueroa Green Park, and the monument there in his memory, will stand as a living tribute to a young man’s contributions serving our community.