A vigil to honor fallen MBPD Officer Chad Swanson drew hundreds of residents, community leaders, Swanson's family members, and fellow officers to downtown Manhattan Beach on Friday night.

Swanson, a 13-year veteran of the Manhattan Beach police force, died early Wednesday morning when a car collided with his motorcycle on the 405 Freeway. His death came almost exactly six years after the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival shootings in Las Vegas, where he had been hailed as a hero for helping the wounded and escorting others to safety - while being wounded himself.

As the sun set on Friday, those who knew Swanson paid tribute to him at a ceremony outside the Manhattan Beach Police Station. The crowd then moved in a solemn candlelight procession down to the Manhattan Beach Pier.

MBPD Captain Andrew Enriquez told the crowd that Swanson was part of a unique group of officers, those who were hired at the minimum age of 21. "In a profession where only one percent of applicants are even hired, showing the maturity for this job at 21 is an amazing feat. He was mature beyond his years."

"You won't be forgotten. and you'll live on through stories told for generations to come," Enriquez said, adding in one of Swanson's favorite phrases: "A hundred percent."

"Chad was gravity and had the uncanny ability to pull people together," said Officer Mike Lynch. From playing video games to coordinating group vacations, "Chad would make it happen, and everyone would want to be there with him...He would brighten up the room in any situation. In a world full of negativity, Chad would never have anything bad to say about anyone."

"How do you find the words to adequately sum up such a larger than life personality of a man?" asked Officer Donovan Torres. Torres went on to define Swanson as "A true patriot who maintained a remarkable love and pride for country and community. A selfless hero who could stare danger straight in the eyes, flip it off, and run straight toward the heart of it with a righteous aggression and zeal. An All-American warrior with arms yielding so much power and strength it will sweep you right off your feet and into submission if you posed a threat, but with those same arms he will come right behind you and bind you in the tightest, most affectionate hug."

Torres continued: "There was nothing that Chad loved more this side of eternity than his beautiful wife Hailey and his three sons, Jameson, Declan, and Easton. Hailey, we promise your boys will know who Chad is - they will know their father through the countless re-tellings of his legacy and the vast collection of memories made. We will keep Chad alive for them. He left such a deep and profound impression on us all that it would be impossible to let him fade... Hailey, we always believed you were a supermom, an absolute superhero of a mother. But even superheros need sidekicks, so please allow us to come alongside you and be that for the boys - forever."

Also speaking at the service were MBPD Officer Kyle McKammon, Pastor Zac Luben of Pepperdine University, who had performed the Swansons' wedding; and the Rev. John Higgins, pastor emeritus of St. Raymond Church in Downey.

As bagpipes played, the crowd headed silently down the hill toward the Manhattan Beach Pier.

There, a Manhattan Beach fire truck held a large American flag and the pier lights were lit up in blue and white.

Meanwhile, in Sacramento, Governor Gavin Newsom released a statement honoring Swanson: “Jennifer and I join the Manhattan Beach community in grieving the painful loss of Officer Swanson, a true hero who dedicated his life to protecting and helping others. Our heartfelt condolences are with his loved ones, friends and colleagues. Officer Swanson’s legacy of bravery and selfless commitment to service will always be remembered.”

Newsom ordered the flags at the Capitol and at the Capitol Annex Swing Space to be flown at half-staff in honor of Swanson.