Park to be Dedicated to Yucaipa Detective Killed in Final Dorner Shootout and His Grandmother

A park overlooking Lake Arrowhead will be dedicated Saturday to sheriff's Detective Jeremiah MacKay, who was fatally injured in the final shootout with rogue ex-cop Christopher Dorner east of Angelus Oaks, and MacKay's grandmother.

MacKay, a Redlands resident who was based in Yucaipa, grew up in the mountains and attended Rim of the World High, his sister said told Redlands-Loma Linda Patch at a vigil for her brother in February.

Dedication of the two-acre park is scheduled at 3 p.m. Saturday July 13, according to a spokesman for San Bernardino County 2nd District Supervisor Janice Rutherford.

"This is an opportunity for residents to visit their new park and to take part in dedicating this great new facility in memory of longtime Lake Arrowhead resident and supporter Audrey MacKay and her grandson, Deputy Jeremiah MacKay," Rutherford said in a statement.

Audrey MacKay was the first chair of the County Service Area 70 D-1 Dam Commission, which was formed in August 1974 to maintain the dam at Papoose Lake, according to Rutherford's staff.

MacKay Park is on a plateau off Highway 173 above Papoose Lake, on two acres owned by County Service Area 70 D-1, Rutherford's staff said.

The park features a toddlers' playground, picnic area, shelter, walking paths and a deck offering views of Lake Arrowhead and the surrounding area.

"Since purchasing this property approximately 15 years ago, the goal has been to provide a public park for the Lake Arrowhead community," San Bernardino County Department of Special Districts Director Jeff Rigney said. "Hopefully this is just the beginning, and with the help of other agencies, we can expand this into a multi-use community park."