Police Officer Calvin C. Thacker, Jr.

My name is Byron Sage and Cal was that one person who literally changed my life forever.. I was a tough kid who had lost his dad when I was 12 years old. I started running with a very touch crowd from our neighborhood on the east side of town off Benicia Road. I was around 13 or 14 when I came into contact with Officer Cal Thacker, Vallejo PD. He was looking into some vandalism or some relatively minor offense, when he saw our group in the area. He got out of his patrol car and I remember the professionalism and decency of officer Thacker when he got me to one side and advised me that I had a serious decision to make as far as my future was concerned. That moment changed to trajectory of my future. I ended up going into the service and did two tours in Vietnam. When I came home in late 1969, I was told by my mom that Cal had been gunned down not far from our home in Vallejo.
I ended up going into law enforcement myself and am nearing my 50th anniversary in the field, including nearly 30 years in the FBI and the remainder as a Texas Peace Officer near Austin, TX. That day when Officer Thacker too k the time to invenst a little time and caring for a street kid from Vallejo had a major impact on me and I will always be greatful to this wonderful man and public servant that somehow knew that I was worth the effort. God bless and keep you Cal. I look forward to thanking you in person some day and to let you know just what a huge difference you made in my young life and beyond.

Byron Sage, FBI Retired, Detective,
Williamson County Sheriff's Office, Georgetown, TX

March 31, 2020