MARYSVILLE, CA (MPG) - At the Sept. 2 meeting of the Marysville City Council, new Public Works Director Jeramy Chapdelaine said a proposal was submitted for memorial benches in honor of Officer Osmar Rodarte, who lost his life in the line of duty on March 26. 

The memorial bench project was submitted by Willaim Curry, a member of Trail Life Troop CA-19, which is a Christian youth group for boys.

Curry said, “When Officer Rodarte died, I was deeply impacted by the sacrifice he made.” Trail Life requires a community service project, and Curry decided to honor Rodarte with three memorial benches—two at Marysville Police Department and one at Veterans Park. 

Yuba County Office of Education is building one bench, and the other two will be built by Sutter Union High School. Marysville Kiwanis is handling donations, and members of Trail Life will handle the installation.

The bench design is from a company in Utah, Smith Steelworks, which agreed to sell Curry one-time limed use of the design. He selected the cobalt blue color for the park bench and black for the police station benches to match their uniforms. 

The inscription on the back of the benches will read, “In memory of Officer Osmar Rodarte. Marysville Police Department. End of watch March 26, 2025. A hero is never forgotten.”

Mayor Chris Branscum said, “What a great undertaking.” The council voted unanimously to approve the project, followed by a round of applause from the council and those in attendance—including Officer Rodarte’s family.  

The next meeting of the Marysville City Council is scheduled for Sept. 16.