An automotive services provider based in Lewisville, Texas, recently donated a vehicle to the family of fallen Dallas Police Department Officer Jacob Arellano in memory of his service and sacrifice.
Arellano, 25, was killed in a head-on crash after colliding with a drunk wrong-way driver while going to work in October 2022.
Members of auto company Caliber Collision and GEICO decided to honor Arellano and support his surviving family members by gifting them a fully refurbished 2017 Nissan Rogue during a ceremony held in tribute to the officer’s dedication and service to the community. The back of the SUV was also filled with toys for Arellano’s young son, Nolan.
Todd Dillender, Caliber Collision’s chief operating officer, expressed the company’s commitment to support those who serve and protect the country at home and aboard. “We are especially devoted to our men and women in the military and our first responders,” he said. “We are here today to honor Jacob and his dedication and service to protect our community by providing his family with reliable transportation.”
According to Dillender, the donation was one of hundreds made through the National Auto Body Council Recycled Rides program and Caliber’s Restoring You program.
Caliber Collision parts manager Mitch Moore noted he was “just honored to be part of giving back to this family for the tragedy that they went through.”
“We made the connection, and Caliber stepped up, and their organization is just amazing,” Dallas Police Sergeant Steven Shivers added.
Shivers works with the Dallas chapter of the Brotherhood for the Fallen, which also attended the ceremony. “It’s very rewarding for all of us to honor Jacob’s memory with a gift from the private sector,” he said.
During the ceremony, Arellano’s twin brother, Joshua, who is also a Dallas police officer, spoke about his brother’s legacy. “There’s not a day that goes by that we do not think of my brother Jacob, from his big smile to his big kind heart. We miss him every day. To my brother who I know is looking down on us right now, know that your name and legacy will never be forgotten,” he said.
Arellano’s fiancée, Alyssa Rosales, and the couple’s toddler, Nolan, were also in attendance at the ceremony. “Jacob meant the world to Nolan and I, and I still can’t believe that he’s gone,” she said.
The suspect in the crash, Mayra Rebollar, is awaiting trial. She is accused of driving under the influence of twice the legal limit of alcohol.
Officer Joshua Arellano is now spending much of his time on DWI patrols to prevent another family from experiencing what his family is going through.
Alyssa’s mother, Elizabeth Rosales, urged the community to honor Officer Arellano’s life by not drinking and driving.
