POLICE
MEMORIAL
A cry for help in
the night, the anonymous wail of sirens in the distance, blue and red lights
reflecting off of buildings, help is on its way.
The police officer
who steps out of that patrol car is already trying to figure out just what
is going on, and what needs to be done. Sometimes it's as simple
as helping a senior citizen change a flat tire. Other times it's
investigating the horrible and tragic end to someone's life. It's
all in a days work.
As a police
officer you are subjected to constant scrutiny by the public, the same
public who calls you when they are scared, hurt, or need help. As
a police officer you put that all behind you as you "Protect and Serve",
ready to lay down your life so that another may live. As a police
officer, you answer the calls, no matter what lies ahead for you. As a police officer, you often look terror in the eye. As a police officer you lay your life on the line.
As a person, you kiss your spouse and children good bye as you go off to
work.
These pages are for the men and
women of Law Enforcment who have given their lives to PROTECT AND SERVE.
PATROLMAN WILLIAM TONEY
BEECH GROVE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IN
Patrolman Toney was shot and killed during a foot pursuit of a car theft suspect. Another officer had spotted a suspicious van and attempted to stop it. The drive of the van fled with the officer in pursuit. Patrolman Toney joined the pursuit and chased the van until it crashed in a residential neighborhood. The driver of the vehicle fled on foot with Patrolman Toney in pursuit. During the foot chase the suspect turned and fired several shots, one of which struck Patrolman Toney in the throat above his vest. He was able to return fire once but did not hit the suspect. Patrolman Toney was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The suspect was arrested in a nearby house several hours later after a search involving over 100 officers from several agencies. He was charged with murder, car theft, resisting law enforcement, and several other charges.
The incident occurred one day before Patrolman Toney's 32nd birthday. He had been with the agency for two years and is survived by his wife and two daughters, ages 18 months and 4 years.
DEPUTY ALLEN MYERS
EDGERFIELD COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, SC
Deputy Myers was killed when his cruiser was struck head-on by a drunk driver. Deputy Myers was transporting a juvenile to a youth detention facility in another county when the other vehicle crossed the center line and struck the cruiser. The cruiser flipped several times and landed in an adjoining orchard. Both Deputy Myers and the juvenile were wearing seatbelts, however, Deputy Myers died at the scene. The juvenile was treated and released from a local hospital.
Deputy Myers had been in law enforcement for three years and had been with the agency for one year. He is survived by his wife and 11-month-old son.
POLICE OFFICER ROBERT MATA
LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT, CA
Officer Mata was killed in a single vehicle accident while he responded to backup another officer who was investigating a stolen vehicle. During the response the driver of the cruiser lost control and it struck utility pole on the driver's side of the car. Officer Mata's partner was injured in the accident and was freed by responding officers. Rescue crews had to use the jaws of life to remove Officer Mata from the cruiser. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Officer Mata is survived by his wife, a recent graduate of the police academy, and his two young children.
OEFJE'S MEMORIAL
My partner
A Part Of America Died
Somebody killed a policeman
today,
and a part of America died.
A piece of our country he swore
to protect,
will be buried with him at
his side.
The suspect who shot him will
stand up in court,
with counsel demanding his
rights.
While a young widowed mother
must work for her kids,
and spend many long, lonely
nights.
The beat that he walked was
a battlefield too,
just as if he'd gone off to
war.
Though the flag of our country
won't fly at half mast,
to his name they will add a
gold star.
Yes, somebody killed a police
officer today,
in your home town or in mine.
While we slept in comfort behind
our locked doors,
a cop put his life on the line.
Now his ghost walks a beat
on a dark city street,
and he stands at each new rookies
side.
He answered the call, of himself
gave his all,
And a Part of America Died.
Creation of Police Officers
When the Lord was creating police officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said "You're doing a lot of fiddleing around on this one."
And the Lord said "Have you read the specs on this order?" A peace officer has to be able to rin five miles throught alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter hoomes the health inspector wouldn't touch and not wrinkle his uniform. "he has to be able to sit in an undercomver car all day on a stakeout, cover a himicide scene that night, canvass the neiborhood for witnesses and testify in court the next day. he has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals. And he has to have sic pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands...no way."
"It's not the hands that are causin me problems," said the Lord, "it's the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have."
"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded. one pair that sees throught a bulge in a pocket before he askes, "May I see what's in there, dir" (When he aleady knows and wishes he'd taken that accounting job.) "Another pair here in the side of his head for his partners' safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, 'You'll be all right ma'am.' when he knows it isn't so."
"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve, "rest and work on this tomorrow."
"I can't," said the Lord, "I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk in to a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck."
The angel circled the model of the peace officer very slowly, "Can it think?" she asked..
"You bet." said the Lord. "It can tell you the elements of a hundred crimes; recite the Miranda warning in it's sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five learned judges to debate the legality of the stop... and still it keeps its sense of humor. This officer also has phenominal personal contol. He can deal with crime scenes painted in hell, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim's family, and then read in the daily paper how law inforcement isn't sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects."
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the peace officer. "There's a leak." she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model."
"That's not a leak," said the Lord, "it's a tear."
"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.
"It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, for justice."
"Your a genius." said the angel.
The Lord looked somber. "I didn't put it there." He said.
UNKNOWN
The Final Inspection
The policeman stood and faced
his God,
which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shinning,
just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, policeman,
how shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the
other cheek?.
To my church have you been
true?"
The policeman squared his shoulders
and said, "No lord. I
guess I ain't,
because those who carry badges
can't always be a saint."
"I've had to work most Sundays
and at times my talk was rough...
And sometimes I've been violent,
'cause the streets are awful
tough."
"But I never took a penny
that wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime
when the bills got just too
steep."
"And I never passed a cry for
help,
Though at times I shook with
fear.
And sometimes, God forgive
me,
I wept unmanly tears."
"I know I don't deserve a place
among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
except to calm their fear."
"If you've a place for me here,
Lord,
it needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too
much,
but if you don't I'll understand."
There was a silence all around
the throne,
where saints had often trod,
as the policeman waited quietly
for the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now policeman,
you've borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heavens
streets,
you've done your time in hell."
Submitted by Katherine
A. Thompson
Former Kansas State Trooper
Dispatcher.
My Department
K-9
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