The Tunnel to Towers Foundation announced today that it will pay, in-full, the mortgages on the homes of two CA police officers who were shot and killed on June 14.
Corporal Michael Paredes and Officer Joseph Santana were both husbands and fathers, raised in the city of El Monte and had deep ties to the community they served.
Cpl. Paredes, 42, started as a full-time officer with the El Monte Police Department in 2000, was married to his high school sweetheart and has a daughter and son.
Officer Santana started his law enforcement career with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department before joining the El Monte police department in 2021. He was married and has a daughter and twin boys.
Tunnel to Towers’ Fallen First Responder Home Program pays-off the mortgages for the families of law enforcement officers and firefighters who are killed in the line of duty with young children.
“We come together as a nation to honor the service and sacrifice of Officer Santana and Corporal Paredes. These two men were answering a call for help when they were gunned down by a criminal out on parole, a criminal who should have been in custody but was set loose to terrorize this city. This senseless and tragic loss has torn apart two families and the entire El Monte community and it could have been avoided,” said Frank Siller Chairman and CEO of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. “The Tunnel to Towers Foundation will honor the memory of these heroes by ensuring that the families they left behind will always have a place to call home and will never have to worry about making another mortgage payment.”
Tunnel to Towers is dedicated to honoring the sacrifice of FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller, who laid down his life to save others on September 11, 2001. For more than 20 years the Foundation has supported our nation’s first responders, veterans, and their families by providing these heroes and the families they leave behind with mortgage-free homes.
27 Comments. Leave new
Today the day after Father’s Day, while watching F&F, I decided to do what I’ve been wanting to do for a while.
I’m making a monthly donation for our fallen heroes. God bless your families who have given their son, husband and daddy. In the call of duty they ran to help and in doing so gave their lives. May God give you peace in knowing he is taking care of you all.
I have been meaning to do this before now, but watching Fox and Friends tell this story about these two officers, our heroes, so I stopped what I was doing and I’m signing up. God bless you all for what you are doing and God bless these to officer’s, there families and friends 🙏
I pray for the families, the friends, their fellow brother and sisters in blue and I am so thankful for your organization. Hearing the pain in Officer Santan’s voice just made me break down at the thoughts of the pain they are all going through. Thank you for helping them. These men were heroes.
I am new to your organization, I have been procrastinating in sending my donation, but today I remembered to go online to get your address so I can begin mailing in my donation (don’t like using credit cards). To my surprise, on your website I read your report about Officers’ Paredes & Santana. Thank you for helping out the families of the two El Monte police officers who were slain. I recently went over to the El Monte police station and made a donation directly to the police union. Thank you and God Bless your organization for all you do.
So grateful you are helping the two families of these heros.
May God continue to bless your wonderful organization. I am a 74 year old retired police officer. I just wish that your organization had been in existence when three of my fellow officers were slain in the line of duty. I have enrolled in the $11.00 per month program.
This organization is more a ministry than anything, and we are always amazed at the marvelous things they do. God bless the families of these 2 courageous officers. Thank you, Frank Siller!
This is incredible and I am so unbelievably grateful for an organization such as this. Thank you so much for watching out for all of us. Forever grateful.
That’s just amazing, simply a gods blessing. May god bless everyone involved in this campaign and funding.
BRAVO!
Your foundation is doing God’s work and providing more than prayers to the families left behind.
Thank you for all you do. If everyone just helped a little bit this world could be a better place. God Bless You?💞🙏🙏🙏🙏
God bless this organization. This is great to hear that the wives of these two heroes will not have the stress and fear of having to lose those homes.
Thank You so much for doing this. My name is Gabriel Santana, I am a retired Police Detective from the El Monte Police. I have no relation to Joseph Santana other then we worked at the same police Department. Michael Parades was my friend and a very good man. The way he is seen in all of the photos(Huge smile) is the way he was in life. The department has not lost anyone like this since the 1970’s. So this traumatic incident has hit us very hard.
I wish there was a west coast chapter so i could physically be involved. It is nice to know that there are still good people out there. I will pray for Firefighter Stephen Siller, Mike, Joseph and all first responders
Thank You Again.
Gabe
What a wonderful thing to do for these two families affected by this tragedy. Kudos to Tunnel to Towers.
Simply the best.
I am so proud to support this charity. The work they do for military and first responders is amazing! Please add them to your list of charities you donate to. They only ask for $11.00 per month but if you can give more.
So much love and respect for this Amazing Foundation !! Many prayers for these families 💝🙏
Thank you very much for taking care of the families of these two heroes. Our community has a very heavy heart, but news like this helps lift the weight.
God bless the families and your organization.
The Crowley Family
El Monte, California
Thank you so much! We will forever be in your debt.
💙❤
Amazing and honorable acts of generosity to care for the families of these fallen heroes. Thank you T2T!!
As with almost all police officers and 1st responders these brave men were dedicated to their families and community. My hear breaks for their wives and children, and friends, and thank God for Tunnel to Towers Foundation and all those who work at, and donate to the foundation to keep it going. Serving others is indeed serving God.
I pray that God gives these two families peace, love and guidance throughout the rest of their days.
God Bless You
Thank you for all you do to these slain officers and firefighters and veterans. It means a lot to their families so thank you.
Our community loss two great officers in the city on that dreadful day. We will never forget Corporal Paredes and Officer Santana. Thank you T2T Foundation for helping these two families with the great loss of their husbands, dads to these children. Prayers for strength, healing and comfort going forward. Lorraine from the city of El Monte, CA
Thank you Tunnel to Towers for your support of these 2 heroes from my home town El Monte, California and for your previous support of our L.A.County Fire Department member killed in the line of duty. I’m happy to support your foundation!
When I saw that T2T was paying these heroes mortgages, I knew I had to do something. You’ll get my monthly donation and I’ll continue to keep all these families in my prayers. Thank you, Frank, for taking your personal tragedy and doing something good for others.