Costa Mesa cop killed in solo crash was veteran detective

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A Costa Mesa police officer killed late Tuesday when his car crashed into a concrete piling has been identified as one of the department’s detectives and a 32-year veteran, police said.

Mike Delgadillo was killed after a crash near Newport Boulevard and Bristol Street about 10:15 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

He was off-duty at the time, and no other cars appear to have been involved.

The officer was taken to Western Medical Center in Santa Ana, where he died, police said.

Delgadillo was most recently assigned to the unit that investigates crimes against people.

He began his career in the department in 1981 and quickly moved to a specialty unit assigned to South Coast Plaza, according to the department.

He also acted as a mentor as a field training officer in 1987. Delgadillo also previously worked as a canine officer with his service dog Nero from 1988 to 1994.

Delgadillo was recently involved in the investigation of a double homicide in which a community actor is accused of killing two friends in an elaborate plot to frame one for the slaying of the other.

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--Lauren Williams