Roll of Honor
Incident
Police Officer Nicholas Vella was killed in a police helicopter crash at about 6:30 pm.
He and another officer were responding to provide aerial support to the Newport Beach Police Department at the scene of a fight call. The helicopter lost altitude and crashed into Newport Bay, near 18th Street. Officer Vella and his partner were both pulled from the helicopter and transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Officer Vella had served with the Huntington Beach Police Department for 14 years and had previously served with the Laguna Beach Police Department for two years.
Survivors
He is survived by his wife and daughter.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-CA-DB577DA0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Police Officer Vella gave the Huntington Beach Police Department 16 years.
Thank you for your service to the Huntington Beach community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Police Officer Vella.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Police Officer Nicholas Vella is one of 10,088 officers lost to accidents in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 31% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In CA, 719 of 1,837 officers were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 39.1% of this state's fallen. That is 8.1 percentage points above the national rate of 31%.
At Huntington Beach Police Department, 2 of 3 officers on record were lost to accidents in the line of duty — 66.7% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Accident compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Nicholas Vella's cause is highlighted.
How Nicholas Vella Compares
When Accident Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Accident deaths across the full memorial record. Nicholas Vella is highlighted in Feb.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
2 officers from Huntington Beach Police Department are honored on badge.nw.
