Officer Down Memorial Page

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 39th 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.

Time never dimishes respect and your memory wili always be honored and revered. I pray for solace for all those who love and miss you for I know both the pain and pride are forever.
Your brother in blue who wrote so movingly about the night of your murder is proof of how vivid the details stay with those who were involved.

Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05
January 14, 2012

George,

Today is January 10th 2012. It has been 39 yrs since that fateful cold icey night. As I sit here and read your complete case packet is brings back many memories. It is 6pm and in a few short hrs it will mark the full 39 years. If I remember right it was about 9.45pm when the robbery call came out. We were getting ready to end our shift at 10:15pm. It was really cold windy and icey. As fate would have it you unknownly drove up on the suspect Johnny Harris as he ran from the store unware of the robbery.

The clerk was already on the phone calling it in when decided to investigate why this was running away from a convince store on a cold freezing night.

In a matter of seconds Johnny Harris turned and fired two shots at you. The first missed but the second struck you in the left side of your temple. You fell to the street where a passerby found you and notified the store clerk who was still on the phone calling the police for the robbery.

The robbery call was put out but you didnt answer then in a few seconds the officer shot call came over the air.

Officers Ed Kelly and Ted Mangold were the first to reach you but it was too late. The ambulance transported you to S.E Baptist Hospital about 6 miles away form Clark and Rigsby ave. There was no advanced life support then just load and go. But we knew you were gone. You kept alive for 5 days on a respirator until that night on the 14th when your family ended your suffering.

We had some hard nose homicide detectives back then that tracked your killer Johnny Harris down. I remember the night Johnny Harris was arrested. I went by the homicde office to see the person who murdered you. Johnny Harris was a pathic site sitting there sobbing how ironic. unfortuantly we would repeat this again to soon in June of 1973 where we would find ourseleves back at S.E Baptist E.R
with Officer Russell Spanegal.

Rest in peace my friends

retired detective
San Antonio P.D
January 10, 2012

every time I pass by that location i think about officer Jacob. if my memory serves me right i believe it was raining that night

retired cpl. stanley massey
alamo community college police dept
June 23, 2011

George,

On January 10th this past Monday 2011, I went the corner of Clark st and Rigsby the exact spot where you died 38 yrs ago. The service station is still there and the homes in the area have changed little It was cold and windy and for a moment I thought could hear sirens . It was a cold wet, and icy night in 1973, when your killer John Harris decided to rob the store. Only fate would of had you drive up next to him as he ran. Not knowing he just robbed a store you stepped out of your car to talk to him. In seconds you were shot in the head and died laying next your car. Your gun was still snapped in , flash light and hat still on the seat of you running car.

With in a minute a passer by drove by and called police dispatch. There were no cells phones then and it took a few mins to find a phone. A call had already been put for the robbery assigned to you but you never answered. The second emergency tone was broadcast for an officer down. The first unit to arrive in 2 mins was a traffic officer Ed Kelly followed by officer Ted Mangold and James Harrison. Harrison was the the officer you supposed meet at the service station for coffee . Soon the streets were filled with dozens of police cars after 10 mins sirens could still be heard off in the distance as still more officers responded. Officers trying to comfront you kept asking "Where is the ambulance" over and over to the dispatcher. What seemed like an hour was really 10 mins for the ambulance to arrive. There was not advanced life support or paramedics like today . You were just loaded in and Ted Mangold escorted you to the hospital where you clung to life for four days. Even though we knew you were gone that night. Your killers were quickly tracked down by some very good homicide and robbery detectives. First the driver was caught then you. The lead homicide detecive Frank Castillon quickly obtained a confession from Johnny Harris. At the trial harris was convicted of Captial murder but the laws at the time meant life was really less than 40 yrs. We will never know why the jury didnt give Harris the death sentence. Prehaps it was the early seventies attitude towards police. All I know is that we lost a fine police officer and even a better man on January 10, 1973.

Anonymous
January 15, 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
February 25, 2008

YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AND THANK YOU SIR FOR YOUR SERVICE

VANDENBERGHE
MANCHESTER, NH
January 5, 2008

G-d Bless.

January 14, 2007

My mom just showed me the article that was in True Detective. I wish I could have met you as you sound like a great man.

I would like to know where John Harris is now...probably still in jail. Maybe I will Google him.

Please rest in peace, and say "hi" to Leroy and Louise for me.

Jason Bell
Nephew via Betty Jacobs Bell
May 29, 2006

GEORGE...
I AM SO GLAD I HEARD ABOUT THIS WEBSITE. I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY SEEN YOUR NEICE, TRACY LYNN, AND YOUR FAVORITE MOTHER IN LAW, "HEY"!!! YOU WERE IN HEAVEN WAITING FOR THEM. YOU ARE SO MISSED AND LOVED, GEORGE...YOU ARE SPOKEN OF ALL THE TIME! YOU WOULD BE SO PROUD OF SHELLY AND VINCE. THEY MISS YOU TREMENDOUSLY....THEY ARE GOOD KIDS. VINCE LOOKS SO MUCH LIKE YOU (WITHOUT THE BUDDY HOLLY"S!!) YOU KEEP WATCHING OVER THEM, OK?? AND GIVE MOM AND TRACY LYNN A KISS AND HUG FOR ME....I LOVE YOU, SHARMAINE

SHARMAINE
SISTER IN LAW
January 19, 2004