I. Ohio crimefighter and Street Survival hero needs our help!
One of the cornerstone’s of the Off Duty section of the Calibre Press “Street Survival” seminar is the inspiring story of Officer Tony Luketic. Now assigned to the fugitive unit of the Ohio State Parole Authority, Tony was a municipal police officer near Cleveland, OH when he was involved in the off duty shooting that nearly ended his life.
On November 30th, 1995 Tony and his mom Kathryn were in line at the Society National Bank in Cleveland, OH to make a brief transaction. Tony, a true “5%-er” who was never unarmed, had left home without his pistol (for the first and last time) because the bank was less than two minutes from his house. Ollie Tate, already a convicted bank robber in both Ohio and Georgia, entered the bank intending to rob it.
Since he was unarmed, Tony decided to “be a good witness” until Tate threaten to shoot one of the tellers. Luketic identified himself as a cop, intervened in the robbery and a struggle ensued. Tony was shot once in the leg but managed to knock the gun out of Tate’s hand. Kathryn, age 51 at the time, tried to pick up the gun but the barrel was so hot that it burned her hand and Tate managed to rip it out of her hand, shooting Tony’s mom in the stomach.
Luketic, who had attended his first “Street Survival” seminar in 1993, saw the felon take a second aim at this mother so he reached out to grab for the gun a second time. Tate managed to shove the gun into Tony’s left arm and fire, leaving Tony totally disabled, his arm held on only by his sweatshirt and leather coat. Ollie Tate stood over Officer Luketic, put the gun to his head, and pulled the trigger. The five-shot revolver was empty. Tate took the bag of stolen money and the “Cleveland PD K-9 Unit” hat off Tony’s head, and exited the bank, leaving Tony and his mom to die.
Both mother and son faced long recoveries and many struggles, including the refusal of Tony’s police department to pay him worker’s compensation benefits because he was “off duty” during the incident, but they are both now recovered. (The Ohio Supreme Court later ruled that the department indeed owed Tony worker’s comp benefits) Tony faced a three month depression, years of surgery and physical therapy, and recovered only partial use of his left arm. Katherine cannot discuss the incident without tears.
Now a parole officer for the state of Ohio, it’s ironic that Tony’s assailant, Ollie Tate, who was convicted on a plea bargain agreed to by Tony only to spare his mother the trauma of a trial, becomes eligible for parole in February of this year.
Tony Luketic has allowed Calibre Press to tell his story countless times, both in the seminar and in print. He has made several guest appearances at Ohio-area seminars (Tony will be joining us at the Cleveland, OH “Street Survival” seminar during National Police Memorial Week, May 16 and 17) and continues to inspire police officers to learn from his mistakes and to also Keep Fighting No Matter What! Now it’s our turn to help out Tony.
Ollie Tate, who at the time of his arrest was already a career felon and violent offender, was convicted of Attempted Murder and Aggravated Robbery and remanded to the custody of the State of Ohio. This is a man who failed at the cold-blooded execution of a man he knew to be a police officer only because he had run out of ammunition. Tate is now up for parole. If paroled, he may be assigned to the very region where Tony Luketic works as a parole officer. “The stress would be enormous, especially if I have to see him” Tony recently told me. Tony, a married father of two, has one hope: that the Ohio State Parole Board does not grant Ollie Tate parole. Law enforcement personnel everywhere can help by writing a letter asking that Ollie Tate’s parole be denied. Send letters to:
Ohio Parole Board
1050 Freeway Drive North
Suite 300
Columbus, OH 43229
RE: Ollie Tate A321120
Please share this information with as many people as possible. Officer Tony Luketic is a law enforcement hero who deserves the respect and assistance of his brother and sister officers. You can read more about Tony’s inspiring story and the lessons learned in the Street Survival Newsline #752
II. Murdered officer’s wife asks for support
A letter from the wife of fallen officer Richard Scott Rogiers....
My name is Laurie Marsh. Many of you heard from me about 3 years ago and were able to help keep a cop killer in prison. Unfortunately, I must ask for your assistance again.
My first husband was Police Officer Richard Scott Rogiers, of the Balcones Heights Police Department in San Antonio, Texas. He was gunned down in the line of duty. His killer is now up for parole for the second time after serving only 18 years of his life sentence. The following is a brief account of the events of that night.
In the very early morning hours of March 11, 1989 Officer Rogiers was shot twice in the head after making a “routine” traffic stop. He succumbed from his wounds nearly 24 hours later. During the trial, the chief medical examiner pointed out that the first shot was a stunning, but non-fatal blow to the side of the head, which would have caused him to fall to his knees, defenseless, but still alive. While he was down on his hands and knees, he was shot again at point-blank range, execution style to the back of the head. Officer Rogiers never had the chance to take out his service weapon.
Officer Rogiers left behind a wife (myself) and a 2 1/2 year old son. His son is now 20 years old, has graduated from high school and is attending college at Texas State University and doing very well. I remarried 16 years ago. My current husband and I and my son are adamant about keeping this man in prison.
The prisoner is Robert Sanchez, TDCJ #00531913, SID#02701316. He was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life in prison. He is up for parole in March of this year.
Protest letters/petitions should be sent in by the end of January, no later than the end of February to the following address:
Texas Department of Criminal Justice Victim Services/Parole Board
8712 Shoal Creek Blvd., Suite 265
P.O. Box 13401
Austin, Texas 78711-3401
Letters can also be emailed to: victim.svc@tdcj.state.tx.us
If there is anything you can do to help keep this man in prison, I would greatly appreciate it. You can contact me by email or by phone at 830-538-2380. I have a petition and signature sheet that I can send if you wish.