The Harrisburg Patriot
The littlest things can bring back memories of departed loved ones, such as the teeth her granddaughter recently lost, Karen Wise said.
“Michael used to pull his sister’s teeth, and that’s a funny thing,” Wise said of her son, Michael Wise II, a Reading police officer killed on June 4, 2004, by another officer during a shoot-out with a suspect.
“Every day there’s a reminder of what we lost,” she said. “He’s just so missed.”
The fallen officer is survived by his family in Lebanon County-- his parents, Karen and Mike Wise; wife, Denise; and daughter, Kendall, who was recently visited by the tooth fairy.
Karen Wise said she never wants others to forget her son and the sacrifices that he and other officers made for their communities. So, she and her husband are doing what they can to help make an upcoming benefit hockey game in memory of fallen officers as successful as possible.
The game is being organized by K.O.P.S., or Keep Our Pipers Silent, a network of bagpipers who play at officers’ funerals statewide. This is the third year in which the pipers are going an extra step to raise money for the officers’ children.
Bagpiper Pat O’Rourke, a Derry Twp. police lieutenant who organized the game, said local, regional and state police officers will be joined by those from New York City, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, as well as U.S. Marshals, for the game at the Giant Center in Hershey on Dec. 6.
Current Hershey Bears players will be guest coaches and referees, and proceeds from ticket sales will go toward the education fund for the children of fallen officers.
There are more children than ever to help -- 2008 was one of the deadliest years for Pennsylvania police officers, O’Rourke said.
Seven officers, including Northern York County Regional Police Officer David Tome, have died in the line of duty this year -- the same number that died in 2004, which held the record in recent years, according to a Web site called The Officer Down Memorial Page at www.odmp.org/.
Tome, 31, was killed by a motorist who struck him along Route 15 in Franklin Twp., York County, last month; and Philadelphia Sgt. Timothy Simpson was killed Monday when his cruiser collided with a car being chased by another officer. Simpson was responding to a report of a robbery in progress.
“This is the most we’ve ever had. That’s why we’re hoping for a big year,” O’Rourke said. “It’s important for us because, if these kids are gonna have a future, they have to have an education.”
Karen and Mike Wise have been posting fliers and selling tickets to the upcoming hockey game, as well as collecting donations.
“It makes you feel good that everybody’s coming together to help these kids whose fathers paid the ultimate price,” Mike Wise said.
As much fun as the couple have at the annual event, the Wises agreed there are somber moments, such as when O’Rourke and the other pipers play “Amazing Grace.”
It’s “like being whacked with a baseball bat,” Karen Wise said.
“Especially losing a child, you never realize how it gets you and permeates your soul,” she said. “We can’t ever forget, or let others forget, what these officers gave for their communities.”
MEMORIAL FUNDS
MICHAEL H. WISE
Donations are put back into community programs, such as DARE, and the annual motorcycle ride in Michael Wise’s honor
Contributions to the fund can be sent to P.O. Box 167, Myerstown, PA 17067.
More information: go to www.wisememorial.com
DAVID TOME
Tome’s family requested that memorial contributions be sent to: Dorothy Kling Endowment Fund, c/o The Northern York County Regional Police Department, 1445 E. Canal Road, Dover, PA 17315.
They also can be made to Christ’s American Baptist Church, 730 Menges Mill Road, Spring Grove, PA 17362.
MEMORIAL HOCKEY GAME
Ceremonies for the Cops for K.O.P.S. benefit hockey game start at 12: 30 p.m. Dec. 6 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Tickets are $10 each, but admission is free for children 3 and under. For tickets and information, contact Derry Twp. police Lt. Pat O’Rourke at 534-2202.
Money raised goes to help the children of fallen officers.
To donate, make a check payable to the Derry Township Police Officers Association and send to: Township of Derry Police Department, 620 Clearwater Road, Hershey, PA 17033.
Copyright 2008 The Patriot News Co.