A memorial visit

Since most officers didn’t get the opportunity to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice at this year’s Police Week in Washington , D.C. , I wanted to share some of my experiences and thoughts from this very special time with you.

Thursday, May 12, morning – Approximately 100 motor officers were staged outside a terminal at Reagan National Airport , waiting to escort busses carrying the fallen officers’ survivors. Row after row of police motorcycles preceded the bus. The terminal walls reflected the flashing lights and echoed the low rumble of the motorcycles. Everyone, even those rushing to meet a plane, stopped and watched. This process was repeated over and over throughout the day. It’s both sad and sobering when you realize so many busses were needed because so many family members have been left behind. None of them ever thought they would be taking that ride.

Thursday noon - I couldn’t help but notice one little boy who kept touching a picture on the Memorial wall. He was there with his mom and dad, Joshua and Heather Claspill. Heather’s brother, Nicholas Sloan, had been an officer for the St. Louis Police Department. He was killed when a violently resisting suspect gained control of his weapon and shot Sloan in the chest just above his body armor. I noticed Heather staring silently at the wall. Her husband told me Sloan was only 24, and his death hit the family very hard. Somehow, though, the Memorial seemed to help.

“It means so much to my wife to see his name on the wall,” Claspill said.

Thursday afternoon - Hundreds of Police Unity Tour bike riders arrived at the National Memorial. After riding for more than three days and averaging more than 100 miles a day, blue and white clad bicyclists and their supporters overwhelmed the Memorial grounds. Supporters cheered and clapped as the riders arrived.

I had the opportunity to talk with one of the support organizers, John “Jed” Jedrejczyk, a Passaic , N. J., patrol sergeant. Asked what the ride meant to him personally, he said, “This ride is for us – the cops. There’s no rank – we’re just cops united. We ride for those who died.”

Friday, May 13, afternoon – Even though the Candlelight Ceremony wasn’t due to start for another four hours, officers were everywhere at the Memorial wall. They got quite a surprise when Shaquille O’Neal showed up. Towering over even the largest police officer, Shaq walked the grounds without fanfare for approximately an hour, visiting with officers and posing for pictures. I understand that Shaq has talked about being a deputy sheriff when he hangs up his basketball shoes. I’m sure glad he’s on our side.

Friday night – Officers and their families filled the Memorial for the Candlelight Ceremony. I couldn’t help but notice two young men sitting in the survivor section of the ceremony – both wearing shirts that read, “Execute cop killers.”

Many others wore shirts depicting a specific officer’s name and end of watch date. One woman’s shirt proudly bore the words, “My husband, my hero.”

As thousands of candles were lit, I thought about the four officers with whom I had personally worked and whose names are now engraved on the wall. Each of their deaths was so unnecessary and tragic. Knowing the degree of grief these deaths caused, I was deeply sobered by the realization that there are more than 16,000 names on the Memorial wall and each of those names represents a grieving family and department.

Saturday, May 14, morning – Law Ride. It seemed that every motor officer in the country managed to get to Washington , D.C. Hundreds of motor officers rode in a procession from the Robert Kennedy Stadium to the Memorial wall. The gleaming bikes, the shined boots, the pressed uniforms – I’ve never been a motor officer but I was proud of every one of them.

Saturday night – On the set of America’s Most Wanted, I had the honor of meeting a very special person, Yvonne Sawyers, the widow of Sterling Heights , Mich. , Police Officer Mark Sawyers. She had come to say thank the show for aiding the capture of her husband’s killer. Mark had been ambushed by a subject who wanted a handgun to use for bank robberies. America’s Most Wanted profiled his killer, Timothy Berner, three times in eight weeks, leading to a tip from Florida . When surrounded, Berner shot himself in the head using the stolen handgun. Yvonne told me the show had given her hope during the time Berner had been on the run.

“Being on the show, I knew all of America was watching and when I was told they had him, it just meant so much to me and my family,” she said.

As I talked with Yvonne, I was struck by both her youth and her strength. I also found myself selfishly thinking how grateful I was that my wife and children never had to go through that terrible experience.

Sunday, May 15, morning - Thousands of officers in their dress uniforms descended upon the U.S. Capitol grounds. I am always amazed at both the differences and similarities that are present during this ceremony. There are so many colors and styles of uniforms, sizes and ages of cops, but they are all there for a single purpose – to show respect for those who have given their lives. Being in Washington, D.C., will make any American feel proud, but standing in front of the capitol, listening to President Bush honor our profession – it just doesn’t get any better than that.

Monday, May 16, morning – On the plane back, I sat next to the aunt of a fallen officer. She and 22 family members had made the trek from California to Washington , D.C. , for the Memorial ceremonies. She told me that she had not previously realized just how special police officers were or how much it meant to be a cop. I thought about her words and thought how very right she is: Cops are special.

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