Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Pilot Officer George R. Carey

California Highway Patrol, California

End of Watch Wednesday, February 24, 1982

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Reflections for Pilot Officer George R. Carey

Semper Fi fellow CHPY. You won’t be forgotten. Thank you for your service and dedication to saving lived. Your family, as well as all of us, will never forget you.

State Traffic Officer 7185 Mike Becze
California Highway Patrol SLA #530

February 24, 2019

Rest In Peace Brother LEO. You are not forgotten.

Officer Mike Robinson (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA

February 24, 2018

The month prior to the crash George R. (Bob) Carey and I were flying as a crew. One evening after dark we were advised of several people who had gone hiking into the Black Canyon area earlier in the day, but had not returned home. One was a pregnant woman. So we lifted off from Daggett Airport to search for them. Black Mountain and the canyon are a few miles north of the site where the helicopter was to crash. Bob was flying and I was searching the darkness below for any sign of life. Bob had to fly well above the mountains to maintain a safe distance above the terrain so the search light was useless. Then I spotted a series of light flashes coming from the ground in the canyon. Bob spiraled down until tho searchlight became useful. With it I saw several people on the ground waiving frantically at us. Bob set the helicopter down safely in the canyon. They were the hikers we were looking for and we were able to provide them with badly needed water and comfort. I called the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department who I directed to our location. The hikers were driven out by the deputies then we lifted off and returned to Daggett. It turns out that the flashes that attracted my attention were from gunfire designed to do just that. Bob did a wonderful job piloting the helicopter that night. He had no difficulty maintaining reference to the ground and to his instruments.

California Highway Patrol Sergeant, Reti
California Highway Patrol

March 1, 2017

"When a good man is hurt, all who would be called good must suffer with him.”

Euripides

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

September 24, 2015

Rest in Peace, Officer Carey. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

October 22, 2009

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 27th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer

February 24, 2009

YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AND THANK YOU SIR FOR YOUR SERVICE

VANDENBERGHE
MANCHESTER, NH

February 19, 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

November 21, 2007

Hi Amigo,

Just checking in with you to let you know that you will never be forgotten. I'm retired and a sheriff's chaplain now. Wanted to continue serving and to pay a little back to the profession in honor of the old timers like you that taught me so much about the job. Enjoy those wings you earned.

Chaplain Jim Taylor
Fresno County Sheriff's Department

August 2, 2007

I thank you for your service and salute you for your sacrifice.

A grateful citizen.

September 27, 2004

Thank You Officer George R. Carey for your service and sacarifice. You have not been forgotten.
Now that you have left this world and earned your wings of Heaven you can watch over us from above.
Rest in Peace Brother.

Deputy Constable LC Downing
Wharton County Texas Pct 2

September 28, 2003

Bob,

It's been a long time old friend but I still remember all the great chats we had when crossing paths in Tulare. It was always a pleasure to see you drive up, both as a friend, and as an A-1 backup that could always be counted on.

I learned a lot from you about treating people with respect, not getting excited, and making the job easier by being friendly.

I taught a night class at the college the evening I'd learned of your crash. I told my students that I'd lost a good friend who died flying in a storm trying to locate what turned out to be a phony distress call. All was quiet except for one very solemn and respectful voice that softly came from the back of the room, "Mr. Carey."

A young person in that class also knew you, Bob. And it was obvious from the respectful reverance with which your name was mentioned, that you had earned this person's admiration and respect also.

Rest easy amigo and thank-you for being one of the positive influences who made my career a success.

Chief Jim Taylor
Kingsburg Police Department

Chief Jim Taylor
Kingsburg PD

September 4, 2003

I had the pleasure of working with Bob out of the Visalia CHP office. We used to be partner's on the "F" Felony shift. He was dedicated to removing the DUI's from the highways.

He used his GI money to obtain his fixed wing pilot license and then his helicopter license. The CHP sent him to Advanced Helicopter Pilot school in Long Beach to assist him in building up his required number of hours so he could become a departmental pilot, which he eventually did. Unfortunately, Bob and his observer lost their lives when their helicopter crashed on 2-24-82 (according to my record) while responding to, as I recall, a report of a downed aircraft which later proved to be unfounded. The crash occurred at a desert area. We miss you Bob.

Officer Bill Kelly
California Highway Patrol (Ret)

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