Officer Down Memorial Page

Rest in Peace, Patrolman Hayden. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169
April 27, 2012

Just remembering and telling my son of officer Irv Hayden, who is a distant cousin of mine. think of him often, and remember listening on the radio and watching him on t.v. watch out for the other guy.

relative
cousin Loretta (kirby) Spencer
December 19, 2011

Just remembering and telling my son of officer Irv Hayden, who is a distant cousin of mine. think of him often, and remember listening on the radio and watching him on t.v. watch out for the other guy.

relative
cousin Loretta (kirby) Spencer
December 19, 2011

Four decades have passed since you were called away from duty. You have not been forgotten

Bob Gordon
Father of Chicago Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04
October 10, 2011

To Patrolman Irving Hayden and his loved ones:

On this the thirty-ninth anniversary of your tragic death, please know that your memory is honored and revered today. Rest in Peace, Irving. I am praying for solace for your family today and each day of their journey as survivors.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the distinquished service Irving gave to his community and the citizens of Illinois, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on October 10, 1971.

Phyllis Loya

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater
October 10, 2010

As a youngster my mother would play WGN radio and I recall your reports. In a few days it marks 40 years since your passing. Thank you for your service and ultimate sacrifice along with civilian pilot, David Demarest, who also died in the crash.

Detective Thomas Downes
Chicago
October 7, 2010

it'll be 40 yrs & we miss you

Margaret Hayden Szwarc
daughter
January 18, 2010

You will never be forgotten by those who love you.

Anonymous
January 7, 2009

A Briton attached to the Chicago office of BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corp) from 1969 to 1971 I once flew with Irv Hayden in the WGN helicopter. My recollection was of a very gentle man, courteous to the extreme and exptremely professional.

Until I was browsing the WGN archives I had no idea he'd died so tragically and with respect for a man whose life touched mine for a couple of hours in person and over the radio for a couple of years, I am grateful to be able to record these notes.

Philip Howells
WGN visitor
March 25, 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
December 30, 2007

My thoughts are with all of your loved ones on this 36th anniversary of your EOW. You have not been forgiven as true heroes never die. Continue to keep watch over all of your loved ones and those still on patrol in the City watching over the Thin Blue Line. You will never be forgotten.

Bob Gordon
Father of CPD Officer: Michael P> GOrdon, EOW: 8/8/04
October 9, 2007

On the eve of the anniversary of your death we remember you and thank you Sir for your service.

Pat Van Den Berghe, Manchester, NH
Neighbors for a Better Manchester, NH
October 9, 2007

Someone left a rememberance for Len Baldy which reminded me of Irv Hayden. I too remember as a kid, my dad would have this little transistor radio on in the bathroom as he was shaving and getting ready for work at IL BELL downtown. The thing was ridiculous by today's standards. But I remember he would always have GN on and you could hear Len and Irv giving out the traffic reports over the bubble canopied Bell helicopter, struggling to hear what they were saying over the chopper noise. I also remember being heartbroken when I heard about the crashes. It was so Chicago to me at the time and even now, it seems like only yesterday I was listening to them. RIP

citizen
March 14, 2007

miss you dad, at this time of year especially. you have not been forgotten

daughter, peggy hayden szwarc
January 4, 2007

We remember the public service "Flying Officer" Irv Hayden provided on several local AM radio stations while growing up and honor his memory and all the other Chicago officers during some very tough years in the late 60's and early 70's.

concerned citizen
February 1, 2005