Officer Down Memorial Page

On Thursday, June 5, 1969 around 10:00 or 11:00 pm, I was ten years old looking out the east living room window of our home in Santa Ana, California. I saw a Police Officer exit his car and approach two silhouettes standing on the west sidewalk. As I was looking out the window, my Grandmother approached asking, “What are you looking at?”

I turned to face her as she now stood to the right of me. As we were both looking out the east facing window, I told her that a Police Officer was outside on the sidewalk talking to someone. She immediately grabbed me and pulled me close to her body. She tried to shield my eyes when I heard two gunshots that impacted my life forever.

A large plum tree was partially blocking my view as I pushed away from my grandmother’s grasp. I saw the Officer take several steps backwards and fall on his back. He was lying in the street within the south bound lane of Raitt Street. I could hear his cries, “Help me, someone please help me”.

I turned from the window and ran through the kitchen, out the backdoor. My Grandmother was desperately yelling at me to stay inside the house. I immediately joined my Father and told him what I observed. He told me to be quite!

As we were crouched down by a flower planter, he told me to remain there. He slowly and methodically approached the Officer as my Dad was searching in all directions. He turned to me and again told me to remain there with his fingers pointing at me but my instincts took over. I was not going to hide and I defied his orders and approached the “Down Officer”.

As I stood next to my Dad, he spoke with the Officer asking him if he was shot. All the Officer could do was blink his eyes, once for “Yes” and twice for “No”. As I bent down to the left of the Officer, there was no further conversation. I looked into his eyes and saw they were blank and empty. His eyes were watery and glassy and he looked at peace.

My Dad ran to the Officers patrol car and used the Officers car radio requesting help. My Dad informed them that an “Officer was Down at Third and Raitt”. Within minutes all Hell broke loose and I will never forget the many Officers responding to the scene. I could hear sirens from afar and tires screeching as they approached the intersection.

As the arriving Officers arrived, they rushed to His aide and we were pushed aside. I saw the panic and fear in their faces and but it was not so, they were angry and upset that one of their own his shot. I saw the Officers pickup their fallen comrade and place him in the backseat of a patrol car. Within seconds, two or three Officers left the scene at a high rate of speed with the Fallen Officer.

As I saw the police car drive away there was a few seconds of silence. I saw the tears streaming from their eyes and a few Officers hugging one another. This memory I will never forget and because of this tragedy, it planted a seed that impacted my life by wanting to become a Police Officer at an early age.

I was honored by their response and the team effort to take care of their own. To Chief Allen, Officers Dick Beyl and Pat Bonner, your respect for my Father made an impact on me that has been instilled forever and has inspired my career.

To Officer Nelson K. Sasscer, because of you, I had a successful career having retired from of Law Enforcement with thirty-one years in a Sworn capacity and an additional four years in a Non-Sworn capacity.

We never spoke but because of your heroic actions on June 5th, 1969, you inspired me and your death will not go in vain. Forty-three years ago, YOU set my life in motion and I will always Treasure and Honor Your Name. I have always respected my Law Enforcement career and Honored the Badge that we wear.

In closing, to Officer Nelson SASSCER, My Brother In Arms, I will never forget you and thank you for your short service in the field of law enforcement representing the Santa Ana Police Department.

Respectfully,

Louie Martinez III, Investigator
Orange County District Attorney's Office
Investigation Bureau, Medical Fraud Unit
(My career continues!)

Investigator Louie Martinez III
Orange County District Attorney
January 27, 2012

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