COLUSA, CA (MPG) – Plans for the Colusa County Law Enforcement Memorial continue to move forward, with organizers confirming a revised courthouse location and providing updated ‘ on fundraising, design and administration during a Jan. 13 presentation to the Colusa County Board of Supervisors.
Supervisor Merced Corona, who chairs the memorial committee, said the project is intended to honor five Colusa County law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty and to establish a permanent site for remembrance and future ceremonies.
“This comes down to whether we want to make the commitment as a county and as a board to honor those five officers and to have a place where they will not be forgotten,” Corona told supervisors.
The memorial was first proposed in 2024, but Corona said the committee delayed moving forward until several unresolved issues were addressed. Since the project was last discussed publicly in October, those issues have included monument placement and financial oversight.
Originally envisioned for the front of the historic Colusa County Courthouse, the memorial will now be located on the west side of the building near the existing flagpole. The change was made following concerns about preserving the courthouse’s historic appearance.
“We were very sensitive to not doing anything that would take away from the courthouse,” Corona said. “That is why we agreed to move the location to the west side near the flagpole.”
The revised site is expected to include a roughly 20’ by 20’ area, with the potential addition of benches and walkways depending on available funding. Corona emphasized that the memorial will be modest in scale and designed to complement its surroundings.
“The picture you’ve seen is not to scale,” he said. “The tallest part of the memorial will be about five feet. It is not going to be a massive structure that takes over the courthouse.”
The memorial will feature engraved panels bearing the names, agencies and badges of the five fallen officers, representing three local law enforcement agencies. Corona said the design will also include space for future additions, ensuring the site remains relevant for generations.
“This memorial will give us a place to honor any future officers, God forbid we lose anyone else, and to memorialize their names so they are never forgotten,” he said.
The project is being funded entirely through private donations, with no county funds involved. The committee has set a fundraising goal of $100,000, though Corona said early estimates place construction costs closer to $60,000.
“This project is funded entirely by private donations,” Corona said. “There are no county funds involved, and that was made very clear from the beginning.”
Rather than forming its own nonprofit organization, the committee has partnered with the North Valley Community Foundation, which will manage donations, provide financial reporting and issue donor receipts. The foundation will retain a 5 percent administrative fee for its services.
Construction will begin once sufficient funds are raised. While the committee hopes to dedicate the memorial during a future National Police Week, Corona said the timeline remains flexible.
“If it takes us a year or two to raise the money, that is fine,” he said. “The goal is to do this right, not to rush it.”
Tax deductible donations may be made by check payable to the Colusa County Law Enforcement Memorial and mailed to P.O. Box 782, Arbuckle, CA 95912, or to the North Valley Community Foundation at 1811 Concord Ave., Suite 220, Chico, CA 95928. Online donations are also accepted through the North Valley Community Foundation website https://nvcf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=9906