Officer Down Memorial Page

My Uncle Woody was a great man, He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He, and my father enlisted in 1939,and were at Pearl Harbor just before it was bombed by the Japanese. Woodrow went on to the Pacific theatre of of war. He was a navigator on a B 17 flying fortress. Uncle Wood was shot down three times. The last was the worst over Guadacanal. He was on a life raft for nine days, and rescued by the Philipinos,and given coconut milk to keep him alive. Woodrow was later taken to a vet. hospital by the seabeas where he remained in shock for six months. Truely an American Hero!

Walter Todd Portzline
Nephew
December 26, 2011

"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
January 17, 2008

Rest in peace as we will always remember you.

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

You are remembered today and thank you Sir for your service

VanDenBerghe
NH
October 20, 2007

Officer Portzline,
It has taken over 33 years, but you are finally being honored. I would like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of Pennsylvania.

R.I.P.
Anonymous

Anonymous
March 21, 2007