Extreme Makeover: Home Edition Update

Working day and night for the last week, the pace of construction hastened today, as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition volunteers rushed to complete Officer Kristina Ripatti’s new home.

The newly erected, wheelchair-accessible structure will be unveiled tomorrow, Oct. 18, when Officer Ripatti returns home, with husband, LAPD Officer Tim Pearce, and their daughter, Jordan, from a weeklong vacation in Cabo San Lucas.

South Bay Community members rallied around the construction crew—fetching cold beverages and offering words of encouragement—as the deadline neared. Hundreds of volunteers, including Officer Ripatti’s partner, Southwest Area Officer Joe Meyer, teemed the property racing to surprise the 33-year-old officer.

Four months ago, an armed robber gunned down Officer Ripatti. Her partner returned fire and killed the assailant on the scene. The "Ripatti Family" episode is tentatively scheduled to air Sunday, Nov. 26.

Photographs of the building effort are available on our Flcker feature.