WHEREAS, James Mitchell “Mitch” Waller was born on September 12, 1959, in Dallas, Texas, to James Russell Waller, Jr. and Elizabeth Ann Waller. In 1965, Mitch Waller and his family moved to Huntington Beach, California, where Mitch began his education; and

WHEREAS, Mitch Waller joined the Boy Scouts of America as a Cub Scout in his early school years and continued to participate in the organization as a Boy Scout through high school, earning the prestigious rank of Eagle Scout; and

WHEREAS, Mitch Waller graduated from Edison High School in 1977. He continued his education at the University of California, San Diego and graduated in 1983 with a bachelor of arts degree in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology and a minor in Economics; and

WHEREAS, Mitch Waller attended the Criminal Justice Training Center at Golden West College, after which he began his career in law enforcement with the City of Westminster Police Department in 1984; and

WHEREAS, Mitch Waller married Sally Gouveia in 1994, settled in Mission Viejo, and started his family; and

WHEREAS, While continuing his duties with the City of Westminster Police Department, Mitch Waller attended Chapman University School of Law in 1995. He completed his juris doctor degree and passed the California Bar in 1999. In 2003, he was selected to attend the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy in Quantico, Virginia; and

WHEREAS, As a community leader, Mitch Waller rose through the ranks to become Chief of Police for the Westminster Police Department. He served the law enforcement and safety communities for 27 years; and

WHEREAS, Mitch Waller remained committed to the Westminster community and worked to develop positive staff relations, communications, and infrastructure. Under his direction, the new Westminster Police Department building was completed in 2011, on time and under budget—an accomplishment of which he was very proud; and

WHEREAS, Mitch Waller accepted an appointment to the office of the Westminster City Manager in 2011, and he retired in 2012. Throughout his exceptional career, Mitch had an impact on many lives; and

WHEREAS, In his neighborhood in the community of Mission Viejo, Mitch Waller was known for generosity with both his time and talents. He was very active in his daughter Kiana’s softball teams, supporting them with everything from coaching assistance to first aid. For his son, Chase, Mitch assisted with his training for the high school cross-country and track teams, always there to offer his encouragement and support; and

WHEREAS, The exemplary life of Mitch Waller ended tragically in an accident on the morning of Friday, June 28, 2013, at 53 years of age, while he was cycling with his good friend, Kevin Beach, in the bike lane on State Highway Route 133, heading toward Laguna Beach—a favorite destination; and

WHEREAS, The loss to the Waller family, his friends, and his colleagues is immeasurable. Mitch Waller was an adviser, a problem solver, and a hero to all; now, therefore, be it