Officer Down Memorial Page

To Whom It May or May Not Concern,

My name is George Craig, I went to school with Gus at the University of Tulsa and he was my suit/room mate. Meaning I was in the same Suit as he, his room mate was Dan Terabrela, bad spelling. The traffic stop that killed Gus was set in motion long before he engaged the lights on his patrol car.. I stood in his funeral with his family and watched his wife/widow Christie, sad to say I was there when they met and I was there, standing before him at the funeral home asking him to forgive me for getting him into this business, I was one of his references for Tulsa PD I already knew this job I was with HPD.. I do no not get on line often, however I saw this blog on a search I made. None of you here knew "Gus". I did, you can ask his sister, she punched me in the mouth at is wake for getting him into this line of work. It is without question that he was an exceptional man, a great person, my friend, I have thought about the moment of his death more than than can be measured, With Respects

Senior Police Officer GW.Craig Jr.
HPD/Room Mate in College
September 25, 2011

I was just a little girl, living in Tulsa at the time of Officer Spano's death.
I remember hearing about his shooting on the news, and I prayed for him until he died from his injuries.
I swore I would never forget his name, because his sacrifice is what inspired me to dedicate my life to public service.
Thank you, Officer Spano. You'll never be forgotten.

Anonymous
January 17, 2011

Your heroism and service is honored today as we approach the sixteenth 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 who was murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer. He was shot twice when ambushed on April 23rd when he was on a foot pursuit of two bank robbers, 12 years after you were killed.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered.

Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater
April 5, 2009

RIP...your tour of duty here on Earth is done but you will never be forgotten by all your loved ones.

Doris
September 14, 2008

Gus was a great friend of mine.I was only in the 8th grade when Gus got shot.I'am best friends with Gus's brother inlaw. I knew Gus for along time he was a Big Brother to all of us he would come to are football games and were his TU football jerze. I remember the day Gus grad. police acadamy. He was the next 007. Gus I dont even want to descuse the night it happened. It's still a night mare. Brother it's been 15 years I still love you man your still remembered every day of my life.Because of you today I'am a Chief of Police of a town of pop.1200 people. P.S I'am still Best friends with Justin. Your never forgotten.

Chief Kendall Morgan
Shady Point P.D/ Best Friend
May 29, 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
January 10, 2008

We miss you cousin Costa. I did not really know you, but I heard you were a great police officer. You are greatly missed by your family and friends. I hope that we can one day meet. Rest in peace.

Kristen Spanos
cousin
November 25, 2007

I was a University of Tulsa offensive lineman from 1993 to 1998. My first year at TU Gus's brother was a graduate assistant. I remember when he came to practice with a suit on, he was coming from his brothers trial. Since I was a young kid I wanted to be a police officer. Gus's family and death on the job drove me to become a Tulsa Police Officer. In 1993 I graduated from the Tulsa Poice academy. I worked in the north side of Tulsa where Gus had worked and I always remembered his sacrifice. After six years of service with the Tulsa Police Department I joined the Drug Enforcement Agency. To this day I have not forgotten Gus, his family and his sacrifice to law enforcement.

Robert A. Bella
Special Agent Drug Enforcement Agency
July 23, 2006

I rode with a deputy on the morning Gus was shot and one of the first places we stopped on his patrol was at the scene, which was still being worked. Gus died a day later.

It's a legacy of Gus that rides with Tulsa officers today as many patrol cars now have cameras in them. his widow was a driving force behind that and through that he lives, watching over his fellow officers.

Rich Lohman
Foremr Detention Officer, Tulsa County Sheriff's Office
June 8, 2006

I was in college when Off. Spanos was killed and I remember the support the majority of the citizens showed for him and his family. I think about him often now that I am in law enforcement. God bless you Off. Spanos, you are remembered, even by people who did not personally know you.

Officer Brian Mock
Wichita Police Department
November 2, 2005

Gus will always be remembered for so many great traits which are difficult to describe with words. Everybody who knew you even for a short time knows what I am talking about. Gus and myself completed the Tulsa Police Academy together. Gus always had a unique ability to make people laugh or see a positive side, even in stressful situations during our 6 months of training. Gus constantly displayed a great attitude about everything. It was very apparent his teamwork skills gained from all those years of playing football carried over into the daily task of working with fellow Officer's to make our community safe.
Within a year of our first assignment Gus desired to spend more time at home with his wife. He was working a swing shift, and I was on graveyards. We traded shifts as this allowed him to spend every evening with his wife before shift began at 11:30pm. This was the shift he was working the night of his last watch. We will never forget.

RG Dixon

Lt. RG Dixon
Oklahoma City Police Department
August 1, 2005

I have worked the same beat that Gus was killed in for most of the eight years that I have been on the Department.

On my first shift, a senior officer took me to the location that it occurred as a way to pay respect to Gus for his sacrifice.

I now return the favor and take every officer that I train, or any citizen that rides with me to the same location as a way to pay our respects.

Although I never met Gus, I can say that to this day he is still talked about and missed.

Officer Sean Larkin
Tulsa Police
July 6, 2005

At the beginning of every shift I supervise, myself and the other officers on shift dedicate the day to the memory of a fallen officer. Today, April 23, 2003 we dedicated the shift to the memory of Officer Gus Spanos who died on this date 10 years ago.

When one law enforcement officer falls, we all stumble for a while, but we will carry on.

Officer Spanos' sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Sgt. Paul Bissonnette
Royal Canadian Mounted Police - Surrey, BC

One of the bad things about being married to a nurse is you get the bad news first. My wife ran the ICU that Gus was in and kept me posted. She is always amazed by the number of Law Enforcement Officers that arrive at the hospital when a brother officer is hurt. No one truly understands the brotherhood unless they have been on the job. Gus was a fine young dedicated officer with dreams and goals cut down in his prime. You are greatly missed and a true hero that will always be remembered.

Assistant Chief Carl Wortham
Sand Springs Police Dept. Okla

Even though I did not know officer Spanos, I heard his story and I know that not only the Tulsa Police Department lost a fine outstanding officer but so did the Nation.

My greatest sympathies and condolences to the Family and friends of officer Gus Spanos

Anonymous