The city of Kent dedicated and formally named a new futsal (5-on-5 soccer) field Diego’s Field at West Fenwick Park in honor of Kent Police Officer Diego Moreno, who died in the line of duty in 2018.
Mayor Dana Ralph, Police Chief Rafael Padilla and other city and police personnel joined family and friends of Moreno at the park on July 22, the third anniversary of his death. Ralph had promised in 2018 to create a meaningful way to honor Moreno and to capture his legacy.
“This field is going to bring a positive, long-term impact to this community,” Ralph said at the dedication. “Every day there are going to be kids up here and probably adults that are going to be out here and having a good time. I know for sure that Diego would be so proud of this. He would be right here in the middle of these pickup games.”
The city this spring completed a $3.16 million renovation of the park, 3808 S. Reith Road. The improvements included a new artificial turf futsal field on the northwest end of the park.
“He (Moreno) was the best of us,” Padilla said to kick off the dedication. “He represented things that we need in law enforcement today more than we’ve ever needed. We need the officers that are out there who make genuine connections with our community. That’s what Diego was to us and that’s what we stand by today and we have to continue to live up to in his honor.”
Moreno, of Auburn, died just five days after turning 35. His survivors include his wife, two young children, his mother, his brother and two sisters. He worked eight years as a Kent Police officer.
He was killed in the line of duty on July 22, 2018, at the intersection of Kent Des Moines Road and West Meeker Street when he was struck by a fellow officer’s vehicle during a pursuit that began after shots were fired at a nearby bar parking lot.
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