[UPDATE – EGPD]
[Cris Alarcon, Shingle Springs CA]
Statement from the Lenehan Family:
“Our family is deeply heartbroken and devastated by the tragic loss of our husband, father, son and brother. Ty is survived by his wife, Jessica, two children Austin and Sydney, his parents and three siblings. Ty was a bright light of personality in our family. His life outside of being a committed officer to the Elk Grove community was dedicated to serving his family and his church community. Ty performed innumerable acts of charity and kindness and blessed many lives with his personality, love and humility.”
“While we are deeply saddened as we mourn the loss of such a great person, we have been lifted by the support from the Elk Grove Police Department, the Sacramento Police Department, the Governor, and our Sacramento community. We appreciate the many condolences, the outpouring of love, and the support from the community at large. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the first responders and hospital staff who immediately attended to Ty’s injuries.
Gold Country Baptist in Shingle Springs
Friday morning, January 21st, Ty Lenehan sadly and suddenly went to be with the Lord in the line of duty. A newer believer and member of our church , Ty was the officer of the Elk Grove Police Department in the fatal motorcycle collision on highway 99. Pray that God would comfort his wife Jessica and their two kids aged 15 and 13. This hits me hard as I have two kids the same age as his kids, and I am just two years older than Ty. Pray for our church family as we minister to this family in these days ahead, and for God’s comfort and grace.
Many of us knew Ty in our church family through his faithful service and involvement in various small groups and ministries of our church. He was known for his big heart for the Lord and for his family, and of course, for his larger than life smile. He was also one of our greeters on Sunday morning and his grin at the front door of our church is already deeply missed. I had the blessing of being in a small group of men with him that met every other Tuesday, and several men were even closer with Ty in other groups and prayer gatherings the last 2 years. Ty served with our security team and with the outreach team where he was a joyful evangelist, wanting to share his faith.
He wanted people to know his Lord as their Savior more than anything. He was ready to meet his God, and based on God’s Word, he’s in heaven, not based on being a good person (as he knew he wasn’t good enough), but by the good news of the gospel that saves us and changes believers from their sin (Romans 3:10-12, 10:9-10, Ephesians 2:1-10). This is the hope he had and we have as we share his faith in Christ. He wanted unsaved friends or family to know his and their only hope for heaven is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone and what He did on the cross for them.
This is what he wrote as part of his membership process in joining our church in 2020.
Nine months ago our brother shared some of his life story and testimony with our men’s group. Listen below for our brother in his own words about God’s grace in his life
Here is an interview that CBS13 News did with some of Ty’s GCBC friends (Sean Downey, Phil Layton, Eli Callnon, and Jason Hill) who loved him, and who have been impacted by Ty’s friendship and love for Christ.
CLICK HERE for a link to the longer text version of the extended interview and an article by the same outlet entitled “Big smile, Big God, Captain America”
Gold Country Baptist Church will hold a memorial for Lenehan soon that will be open to the public.