Matthew Michael Pavelka was a 26-year-old Burbank police officer who was shot and killed on November 15, 2003, while assisting another officer investigating a suspicious vehicle at the Ramada Inn on San Fernando Boulevard in Burbank, California. The vehicle’s occupants, described as gang members, opened fire with handguns; Pavelka and his partner returned fire, killing one suspect at the scene. Officer Pavelka later died of his wounds that evening and his partner, Officer Greg Campbell, was seriously wounded.

A surviving suspect, David Garcia, fled but was captured two weeks later in Tijuana and charged with Pavelka’s murder and the attempted murder of Officer Campbell. The suspects’ vehicle reportedly contained several semi-automatic rifles and methamphetamine. Garcia later pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, attempted murder and related charges and was sentenced to life without parole. Two brothers were convicted of aiding his escape and received 18-month prison terms.

A stretch of State Route 5 was designated the Burbank Police Officer Matthew Pavelka Memorial Freeway and memorial scholarship funds were established in his name. Does anyone have memories of Pavelka or information about the events that night to share?