Officer Down Memorial Page

Hero's may fall but shall never be forgotten. RIP Sir

James Kotke
Civilian / Former Officer
WSF Park Police (Wi.)
January 31, 2012

Rest in Peace, Sergeant Young. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169
January 22, 2012

You and your family are in our thoughts. May you rest in eternal peace.

Deputy- Retired
ACSO
November 14, 2011

My dad worked at Ingleside at the time. When I was a kid he would take me there. I remember always seeing the shattered glass SFPD posted on the wall and warning the public why they had to use safety glass, and the bullet marks in the door of the station left from that day. Many years later I became a cop. It seems like a long time ago but I've never forgotten the name Sgt John V Young.

Anonymous
November 26, 2010

You and Your Family have been in my prayers and thoughts for decades. Your Best Freind Sergeant Robert Whiting, my Grandfather NEVER for a day forgot about you in his prayers as well. You never will be forgotten. Blessings Jack and Family...xoxo

Sergeant Siobhan McAuliffe
San Francisco Police Department
June 17, 2010

Though I never knew him, he was part of my Law Enforcement family and I will mourn this deep loss the rest of my life. My heart aches with all the losses we have suffered, and continue to suffer, through the years. God is our only peace in such incidents & our only real comfort comes from Him. May His strength, comfort & peace continue to be the sustaining force in the lives of all who knew this beloved officer; and may it somehow help to know that he is not forgotten.

Vicki Hare, Telecommunicator
Salisbury NC PD
September 9, 2009

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 38th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was murdered on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya

Anonymous
August 29, 2009

Sgt.,

Your death is not in vain sir, despite todays decision! Thank you for your service and you will always be remembered.. Please continue to watch down on us!

POIII D. McCarthy
Gaithersburg, MD. Police Dept.
July 6, 2009

All these years! I was a young officer when you were taken away. Prayers for your family. Maybe justice will finally be served. Rest in eternal peace John.

Peter J. Bracci
Lt. Univ Police (retired)
State Of NY

Lieutenant (retired)
New York State University Police
November 22, 2008

"The Badge"
He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.
He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.
Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.
He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.
His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.
He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.
And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.
But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.
Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.
Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.
So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.
In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.
Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.
Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC
September 20, 2007

Sgt. Young, thank you for your service. You will not be forgotten.

Rest in peace.

Michelle - wife of Retired LEO
September 4, 2007

Dear Sgt. Young,

Finally after all these years those responsible have been brought to justice. Basically in my opinion the Black Liberation Army was a black version of the Ku Klux Klan, they are no different.
Coincedently the same week that your killers were charged, police and federal agents in Mississipi charged a white supremacist for a murder that occurred during the civil rights movement of the 1960's. May both of these arrests show that bigotry and hate crimes will not be tolerated, and that people who do such things will be pursued unmercifully until they are dead or in custody.

Rest in Peace Sir.

Michael Roberts
April 17, 2007

I grew up hearing about you. I was a kid when you were murdered. They got the suspects... Again. Justice is coming. Your story has been in the papers lately. You have not been forgotten. Rest in peace forever Sarg.

Corporal Tim Zuniga
UC Berkeley Police Department/Native San Franciscian
February 25, 2007

R.I.P. Sergeant Young you will never be forgotten.

Deputy Sheriff
EPSO
January 27, 2007

We offer our heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of Sergeant Young and we honor his distinguished service to the cause of justice and peace. Sadly, our nation has lost one of its finest citizens, a community has lost a friend and protector, and a family has lost an example of character and courage who they will love and respect forever. Today, because of the sacrifice Sergeant Young has made, the house of freedom is stronger, sturdier, and more secure.

To the family and friends of Sergeant Young, I want to say that a lot of people pray for you, and my hope is that their prayers will give you the strength necessary to move on. Just as you were always with him when he walked the beat or patrolled the streets, know that he will always be with you - wherever you may be. In the days to follow, may you be strengthened by the fact that Sergeant Young is a man distinguished by exceptional courage and will always be admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. You, your family and your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

SA T. Doyle
FBI New York
January 25, 2007

Finally those responsible will be prosecuted. Good work by all the past and present officers and prosecutors that have never forgotten your sacrifice and never gave up.

Brother in Blue
Illinois (retired)
January 25, 2007

Hopefully, justice will prevail for you sarge. Its great to see that even after so many years, you are not forgotten and your case left unsolved on some back shelf. You deserve it. Here's hoping for many convictions!!

DT
Everett, WA

January 25, 2007

SARGE,
JUST WHEN THOSE GUYS WERE RESTING EASY, THINKING THEY GOT AWAY WITH IT, YOUR BROTHERS NEVER RESTED. FOR 36 YEARS THEY WORKED ON THIS CASE, NEVER LETTING UP. IT PAID OFF! THEY GOT 'EM. NOW THEY WILL FACE JUSTICE.
HERE'S THE KICKER. THIS DIRTBAGS LAWYER CALLED THE ARRESTS A "PROSECUTION BASED ON VENGEANCE AND HATE FROM THE 60's. THERE'S A LAW ENFORCEMENT ATTITUDE THAT THEY HATE THESE PEOPLE, THE PANTHERS. NOW THEY'RE GOING AFTER OLD MEN". CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS? WHAT DOES IT MATTER HOW OLD THEY ARE? WHAT DOES IT MATTER THAT THIS MURDER OCCURED 36 YEARS AGO. THEY MURDERED A POLICE OFFICER, AND NO MATTER HOW LONG AGO, THEY MUST PAY. NOW THEY WILL.

THANK YOU TO ALL THAT WORKED ON THIS CASE. JOB WELL DONE!

SERGEANT YOUNG, NEVER FORGOTTEN.

JIM SWEENEY CIVILIAN NEW JERSEY
A FRIEND TO ALL PEACE OFFICERS
January 24, 2007

Rest easy, they finally caught those who murdered you, you & your sacrifice isn't forgotten.

January 24, 2007

You are not forgotten. Rest in peace Sir.

TROOPER
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE- TROOP B
January 24, 2007

They're now in custody sir and justice will be served in your name and in the name of the numerous others who lost their lives at the hands of these cowards. God Bless and rest in peace always!

Cpl/1 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police
January 24, 2007

You were not forgotten. Todays headlines read: SAN FRANCISCO - Eight men were arrested Tuesday in the 1971 slaying of a police officer that authorities say was part of a black power group's five-year campaign to kill law enforcement officers in San Francisco and New York.
Rest in peace brother.

Officer N L Ford
Norfolk Va Police
January 23, 2007

The ones who took you away from your loved ones, will now be charged with the crime.

CReilly
January 23, 2007

They got them! May justice now be served. Thank you for everything you did and watching over your brothers and sisters in blue.

January 23, 2007

I read in the paper that police have charged someone in your murder. I can only hope justice will prevail and they will pay for their violent acts against you and several other officers. Even though many yrs have passed, it is good to know that your fellow officers are still trying to solve your murder. As the saying goes, gone but not forgotten.

wife of a LEO
January 23, 2007