I recently asked a few of my friends to furnish me with comments they’d like to pass along to Police1 Members on this solemn anniversary. Here’s some of what they said.
“As much as we strive to keep the walls bare officers inevitably fall in the line of duty doing deeds they know to be very dangerous. In the Bible John 15:13 it is written: ‘There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ On this anniversary of the death of those four brave Oakland officers who live on in glory, I would like to say unashamedly on behalf of all brothers and sisters of the badge, ‘John, Mark, Daniel and Ervin... we remember your life, we remember your bravery, we remember your sacrifice, and we love you right back’.”
— ‘Lt. Dan’ Marcou, Police1 Columnist
“Too much has already been written about career criminal Lovelle Mixon and not enough about the four Oakland officers who died by his hand three years ago. Here’s what people need to remember about those four fallen heroes. Mark Dunakin survived a serious motorcycle accident just one year earlier — yet recovered to ride again. John Hege’s organs were donated the day he died. Erv Romans was a Medal of Valor recipient — ten years earlier. Dan Sakai, a UC Berkeley grad, taught English in Japan prior to becoming a cop. As Vivian Eney Cross said, ‘It is not how these officers died that made them heroes — it is how they lived.”
— Dave Grossi, Police1 Columnist
“Three years ago today, a profound tragedy struck the law enforcement family. Oakland California is one of the events where anyone affected can tell you exactly where they were and what they were doing when they learned of the loss. I was preparing for my first day back in patrol after a three year assignment to the police academy. To say this incident gave me pause is an understatement. Although I did not know these men personally, Sergeants Mark Dunakin, Ervin Romans, Daniel Sakai, and Officer John Hege will forever hold a place in my heart. The sacrifice they made, and the sacrifice their families continue to make, will never be forgotten.”
— Ken Hardesty, Police1 Columnist
“Mark Dunakin, John Hege, Ervan Romans, and Daniel Sakai — four warriors forever etched in our hearts and memories. These warriors were professional lawmen, working the streets of what can be a dangerous town, even when faced with mounting resistance from groups of anti-police radicals that have tormented the Oakland Police Department. These warriors hit the streets every day willing to keep the citizens of their city safe from criminal enterprise. They did this at the expense of their own lives. That day, my heart was with Oakland PD and the families of these American heroes.
— Sgt. Glenn French, Police1 Columnist
“We’ve seen a growing trend for multiple officers to be killed and wounded in a single event. Often, these incidents are either an ‘unprovoked attack’ ambush in which the first two Oakland officers were killed on the traffic stop, or a ‘premeditated’ ambush sprung by the suspect when Oakland PD SWAT responded to his home, resulting in the deaths of two more officers. We may not be able to prevent the initial deaths in an ambush attack, but strong leaders on the street can take charge of the response and stop additional officers from stumbling into the kill zone.
— Dick Fairburn, Police1 Columnist
Please post your thoughts in the comments area below, and, as always, please stay safe.
