Officer Down Memorial Page

During this time, the large still vacant lands between the Mokelumme and Stanislaus rivers was very dangerous. Local newspapers are full of accounts of lone travelers found dead at their campsite. Some of the desperadoes were Hispanic (Californios, Mexicans, South Americans--Hispanics of all nations were often called Sonorans). The work of law enforcement has always been difficult but in the years immediately after statehood it was perhaps more so. The state was just organizing and all law enforcement was local with its effectiveness largely determined by the Sheriff and if he was lucky, paid constables. These men often worked alone. Their work took tremendous courage caused partly by the knowledge that there was no backup; a man got into a firefight and he was alone. Reading about what these men did should be required.

former police and correction officer
N Wildwood PD/NJ State Corrections
April 26, 2012

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