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Slain Riverside Officer Remembered as Devoted Father, Marine

Michael Crain, 34, was the Riverside police officer allegedly ambushed by Christopher Jordan Dorner while on routine patrol last week, Riverside's police chief revealed Sunday.

Michael Crain, 34, was the Riverside police officer allegedly ambushed by Christopher Jordan Dorner while on routine patrol last week, Riverside’s police chief revealed Sunday.

Crain was an Inland Empire native with “a big heart” and loved spending time with wife Regina and their children Ian, 10, and Kaitlyn, 4. Crain left “an unforgettable impression” on everyone he met, according to Riverside police Lt. Guy Toussaint.

“He loved attending dance recitals with his daughter and coaching his son’s baseball team,” Toussaint said. “He also loved his classic 1970 Chevy Nova, which he spent his spare time restoring.”

Crain, a former active Marine and war veteran, was publicly identified Sunday for the first time by the department. His name had been withheld due to concerns about the danger presented by Dorner, whose location remains a mystery.

He was slain Thursday when the disgruntled former policeman allegedly ambushed two Riverside officers in their squad car at a traffic light next to the Riverside (91) Freeway. The second patrol officer was reportedly recovering with serious injuries and stable life signs, but his name was not released.

Crain was born in Anaheim but was raised in the Riverside area and graduated from Redlands High School in 1996, a Riverside police biography released Sunday stated.

Crain was the eldest of three children in his family and attended Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa after high school for about a year before joining the Marines. Crain served two tours in Kuwait as a rifleman in the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines, Toussaint said in his statement.

Crain was a squad leader and was promoted to the rank of sergeant during his service. He was stationed in Camp Pendleton in Oceanside where Crain taught military operations on urban terrain, Toussaint said.

Following his honorable discharge from the Marine Corps, Crain joined the Riverside Police Department and was sworn in on Aug. 24, 2001. During his 11 years of service Crain was a member of the department’s SWAT team and usually worked as a patrol officer.

—City News Service

JustUs February 10, 2013 at 11:21 pm
I feel sorry for this guy and his family. My heart goes out to them.
They can all thank LAPD for creating this monster named Rambro.
Arthur Spooner February 10, 2013 at 11:47 pm
God Bless his family. So sad
concerned citizen February 11, 2013 at 12:03 am
This monster was created long before the LAPD. His mother should have aborted him.
JustUs February 11, 2013 at 01:15 am
You're wrong.
Dorner passed all the LAPD tests, background screenings, psych evals and lie boxes. Back when he hired on he was USDA prime. After working for LAPD for 4 years he's a basketcase. You know how the old saying goes "You break it. You own it". LAPD created this monster named Rambro.
85points February 11, 2013 at 01:20 pm
@ Just us,You're wrong. This guy has had a chip on his shoulder for a long time. Just ask former school mates, girl friends ect. Psych tests don't always catch a problem, nothing is 100%. He obviously has had issues for a long time, he just held them in better than most..............
JustUs February 11, 2013 at 01:43 pm
85point, Dorner passed all the LAPD tests and was hired. The screenings, backgrounds, lie boxes, and psych evals. LAPD broke him and therefore owned him. So I'm not wrong. I am 100% right. If Dorner had issues "for a long time" then LAPD should have known about it. But they hired him anyway, didn't they. So YOU'RE WRONG and I'm not.
Based on your logic, how many other nuts are there on the LAPD force? There must be thousands of them.
David Shisler February 11, 2013 at 08:44 pm
My condolence to the family, he appears to be the type of guy you would like as a friend. Very commendable his service to our nation and residents of Riverside.
DeMarie Rossi February 12, 2013 at 03:42 am
Thank you Officer Crain for your service to our country and community - my heartfelt condolences to your family and fellow officers. There are no words I can ever express to heal the hurt. I am so very sorry - God be with you all as you travel through this dark time.
Ed Sorrels February 12, 2013 at 03:52 am
Rest your pack brother and stand at ease. Tomorrow will be an easier day.
Semper Fi ! And for the family, Prayers ! But remember this he has gone to be where the Hero's reign supreme and He is not alone for he is with his Brothers. God Bless all that serve this country whether here or in far away land's !
Connie Lingus February 12, 2013 at 11:45 am
Very Sad. Thinking bad thoughts about dorner, very bad thoughts. Dark and painful. Hope he gets all that's coming to him, both here and in hell.
Martha L. Bridges February 12, 2013 at 12:11 pm
Amazing contrast in the comments posted here...
Thanks to those of you who expressed sincere condolences and offered support for Officer Crain's family in their time of need. It speaks well of you and your values. For those of you focused on hate,comdemnation and revenge, who choose to pretend you know so very much about Dorner when you don't, and are egotistical enough to tell readers that you are 100% right, perhaps you should examine your motives and your "know it all" attitudes. No one is 100% right all the time. We are all imperfect in some way.
Komfort February 12, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Martha is right. Nobody should claim they are 100% right, especially when there is so much evidence to the contrary.
http://obamareleaseyourrecords.blogspot.com/2013/02/judge-sanders-no-proof-obama-birth-certificate-legit.html?m=1
JustUs February 12, 2013 at 12:28 pm
Komfort, there is so much overwhelming evidence that Obama's BC, ss number and selective service registration card are phony as a $3 bill that it's not even funny. The ss card number comes back to a specific individual who lived in Connecticut years ago. You don't have to be Sherlock Holmes to smell a big old steaming pile there. But the libs are in denial just as the Germans were in denial back in 1940. They wil continue to carry Obama's water for him until he finally destroys the entire nation. And even then they'll blame it on Bush.
Martha hates it when someone else speaks the truth about something that she happens to promote on the other side of the equation. Instead of 'truth' she plas the "hate, condemnation and revenge' card which, of course, is far from the truth. But it's easy to lodge false attacks when that's the only card you got left. She won't debate the issue, but only attack the messenger like so many others on these boards. Enjoy your day, Komfort.
Constant Comment February 12, 2013 at 06:09 pm
@Marfa, who are you to "hate & condemn" anyone that does not agree with you? Try to stick to writing about the article instead of writing about another poster that you are obviously jealous of. This is not kindergarten and you are not Patch monitor. }~\
JustUs February 12, 2013 at 06:23 pm
Constant, I am very disappointed that Martha opts not debate the issues on this board while she takes the time to criticize other posters. That does not really honor the spirit of debate that should thrive on these boards. Afterall, we are here to share ideas and viewpoints. It is sad that Martha has taken this approach. I feel sorry for her.
The Teller of Truth February 12, 2013 at 06:37 pm
Are you kidding me? She's ALWAYS been this way! This is nothing new.
USMC February 13, 2013 at 06:19 pm
oorahhh! RIP brother

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