Officer Down Memorial Page

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 30th anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Laslater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Your memory will always be honored and revered. I pray for solace for all of those who love and miss you for I know both the pain and pride are forever, Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05
January 12, 2012

Sgt Heaps and family.
We in troop 32 of the Great Salt Lake Council Boy Scouts of America,and Liberty Wells Community Council would like to honer you each holiday by posting the American Flag @ the site where you gave the altimite sacrifice of your life for the citizens of our community and our country.

Our community has been trying to build a park @ this location but have run into obsticules.
Thank you Sgt. Heaps !

Boy Scout Troop 32 of Salt Lake City
Liberty Wells Community Council
September 5, 2011

Sgt Heaps, Thank you for your service. I hope you are watching over all your brother and sisters in blue.

SSA Ellen Pierson
US ICE/PUT
March 18, 2010

Sgt. Heaps,
On today, the 27th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Salt Lake City. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
January 12, 2009

God bless you Sgt.

DFC. Daniel O'Donnell
Orange County Sheriff's Office (FL)
July 23, 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 © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC
March 31, 2008

YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AND THANK YOU SIR FOR YOUR SERVICE

VANDENBERGHE
Neighbors for a Better Manchester, NH
January 4, 2008

YOU ARE A TRUE AMERICAN HERO, GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
MAY YOUR SPIRIT WATCH OVER ALL MEN AND WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT.

DEPUTY SHERIFF AUDIE LOWE RET.
SACRAMENTO CALIFORNIA SHERIFF'S DEPT.
December 24, 2007

Brother, I just want you and your family to know that the CHP will never forget the sacrifice you made bringing those killers to justice.. Rest in Peace and God Bless All

DB
Calif Hwy Patrol..Ret.
October 2, 2007

Hi you don't know me but... umm I am a friend of Ashley's and I guess I will just say that you were brave. Don't know you at all... but ok.

Stranger
February 16, 2007

I didnt know you grandpa. you left my family so early. But Hearing all that you did to help has made me proud of you.I Love You. Rest In Peace.

Ashley
Grand Daughter
February 14, 2007

May you Rest in Peace and may Our Lord bless your loved ones.

January 12, 2007

Daddy you left me when I was young but I am not saying that it was wrong.
You loved your work and everything you stood for. You loved your family they meant the world. A wife, three boys, and one baby girl.
You have been gone now for 24 years but you will always be in my mind and in my heart.

love you always
your daughter
Jaemi

Jaemi Heaps
Daughter
October 6, 2006

I am sad to see that a good friend, and a very decent man has died.

friend from the military (Germany)
May 29, 2006

Sgt. Ron Heaps, as I stood in the lobby of the Salt Lake City Police Department last Tuesday for the first time in many years, my heart was heavy with emotions for you, your wife Anita, your children, and that night that will be with me forever. I felt your presence that night as I was at the hospital with Anita. I felt your presence at your funeral. Your strength helped so many of us through that ordeal as I know your strength and example continues to bouy so many today. Thank you. Forever & always, Annette Fierro

Police Dispatcher
Park City Police Department
February 25, 2006

So true, though you may not have been eulogized here on the pages of the O.D.M.P. you will not be reduced to a fading picture in a forgotten, dark storage room. None of our fallen commrads will ever suffer that fate. I can tell you that you have not been forgotten. Though you made the ultimate sacrifice six years before I became a Police Officer I can still remember several of our brothers in blue telling your story to me and the other rookies. I see your name which has been engraved on one of the two large granite stones in front of this Police Department. Those stones stand in a small, well groomed park which is adorned with trees, flowers and yellow ribbons for all Officer's and citizens to see and to pay tribute. On these stones are the twenty four names of our fallen brothers from the Salt lake City Police Department. An inscription on these stones reads, "This memorial is dedicated to the Officers of the Salt Lake City Police Department who have lost their lives defending the right of this community to live in peace. Each time a Police Officer has been lost in the line of duty, a portion of the community has also died. At peace with Honor." Your photograph hangs on a wall of honor in the front lobby of this Department along with twenty three others. Your story of service has been told and re-told to each new Officer since you gave your life while defending the lives of your fellow Officer's and citizen's. Your story has been told and re-told at a memorial service which is held every year. During that service we pay tribute to you and all the others as we read your names aloud for all to hear as a distant church bell rings one time for each name on those granite stones. Taps and amazing grace play in the distance and a twenty one gun salute is fired as a flag ceremony is carried out by your fellow Officer's. No, we have not felt compelled to electronically immortilize you but I can attest that that you have been immortilized here in the halls of this, YOUR Police Department where YOUR brother's and sister's in blue carry on the fight which you gave your life for. We are proud to call you one of our's and we show our pride to anyone who wants to take the time to look. Thank you for your service, thank you for your sacrifice and thank you for doing your best. Always remembered.

Detective Roger williams
S.L.C.P.D. Narcotics

Roger Williams
Salt Lake City Police Dept.
April 14, 2005

Rest in Peace Sgt Heaps. My father worked with you and I remember as a young boy hearing of your passing. Bless You.

Sgt. Chris Hoffman
West Jordan P.D.
January 29, 2005