Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Detective Harold Lee "Sonny" Rogers

Terre Haute Police Department, Indiana

End of Watch Saturday, June 16, 1984

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Reflections for Detective Harold Lee "Sonny" Rogers

Rest in peace Blue Angel. You are not forgotten.

Andy

February 12, 2004

We are very proud of my father for taking action in a very scary situation, when a man with a .44 magnum started waving a gun around in a tavern. My dad was just like one of the guys when i was growing up in high school playing basketball with me and all of my friends. He was a very strong, courageous man, not afraid of anyone... We called him the 24 hour policeman because he was always working on cases at home in the evenings as a detective, as a patrolman he responded to numerous calls when he was officially off duty.

As it usually is, the events the night he was shot in Terre Haute, In. were unfair or he would have landed the shot instead of the perpetrator.

He was succesful though in getting the man off the street for 90 years, who had allready served time for killing another man and shooting another man in addition to my dad.

While my dad was not perfect and had his faults just like all of us, he loved his family, and was loved and respected by the community....

Son

Rest in peace, not forgotten.

Inv. Michael Walker
Tallahassee Police Department

Harold or "Sonny" Rogers as I always knew him, and his wife Sue, were my dad and mom's best friends growing up in our area in Terre Haute, Indiana. I became best friends with their two oldest sons Marc and Randy. In other words, I knew Sonny about as well as anyone in my family...because to me he was just that... family! He was a deacon in our small church where my dad, Gene Jeffers, pastored. As a police officer, I really do not think the Lord ever made a better one! He was simply the best! He cared for every person he came into contact with, he was fair and compassionate, but perhaps the most positive thing about Detective Sonny Rogers was how dedicated he was to his job. I will just tell this one story as an example. I used to spend the night with Randy quite frequently through the summer back in the early 1970's, I was maybe eleven or twelve when this occurred. Sonny had been on duty until midnight as he came home while Randy and I were watching a movie on TV. About 2 hours after we had all gone to bed, the police scan radio, which was always on at Randy's house, 24/7/365..went off and there was a call for help from a fellow officer. Sonny was dressed, armed and out the door in under 2 minutes...I was stunned. He was exhausted at midnight, but there was no hesitation or delay when he left the house and sped to the place the call came from. I honestly do not remember all that happened that night, but I will never forget how he responded! Thanks for this site...it is a great thing to remember the men and women who sacrifice for us day in and day out and think nothing for themselves or their own welfare to protect and serve our citizens. Again, thank you for letting me share a wonderful memory of a wonderful friend and role model for me, Detective Sonny Rogers...affectionatly called "the 24 hour policeman" by Marcie, Randy and me!! We all love you, miss you dearly, and will see you in Eternity soon!
Steve Jeffers
May 25, 2002

Steve Jeffers

Your father is a hero. He attempted to protect the citizens inside of that bar room with total disregard for hislife. You should know that he will never be forgotten. God bless you and your family! He is in a better place with god and his own police force with all our other fallen brothers and sisters in heaven.

Anonymous

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