Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

45 years ago tonight—both a Sunday night. I don’t think a day has gone by that I don’t think of this. I first met Tony when he was dating my cousin, Margaret. I know she wanted to be called Marge, but I had grown up calling her Margaret and always have. I don’t remember whose house we were in when I met Tony, but I remember them asking me to go for a ride with them. Tony was such a cutie—and a real sweetheart. I don’t even know where we went—probably to the store; but I do remember all three of us in the front seat of the car. I think Margaret or I even had our feet up on the dashboard. Teenagers!
I was engaged to a rookie Roselle police officer the night of the kidnapping. He was on the force about 90 days at that point. I rode with him to the station for his 11-7 shift. He used to let me keep his car during the week because he could hitch a ride to work. I got about a block away from the station when I realized his keys were in the ignition. I went back and caught up with him as he was going to his squad car. He told me, “they just kidnapped a cop in Hillside.” I asked if it was Tony, but he didn’t answer. He had met Tony nine months earlier at my aunt and uncle’s New Year’s Eve party. I don’t know if he didn’t make the connection or didn’t hear me. Maybe Tony’s name had not been broadcast yet—even to the police.
Based on the expressway exit ramps at that time and where those 3 schmucks took Tony, I think they almost certainly drove through Roselle. I’ve often wondered what would have happened if my fiancé had stopped their car that night. But there wasn’t even a good description of the car or full license number at that point.
A long 10 ½ months until Tony was found. At the wake, it took about 45 minutes for all the police officers present to pause and salute in front of the casket. The next day was the largest funeral I have ever attended. Directly behind the funeral home was a cemetery. Stepping outside, I saw every driveway throughout the cemetery completely lined with squad cars from every Illinois city, Illinois Bureau of Investigation, others states, the FBI, and I think even Interpol. All had their lights flashing. What a sight! The procession to the cemetery was so long, it had to follow a very indirect route. Along the way, the sidewalks were lined with people to honor Tony.
I’ve driven by the house where they killed him. It looks like an ordinary house in the suburbs. I think it’s the original house; it looks like it fits in perfectly with all the others on the street. The last time I went, I wondered if the family living there now has any idea of the tragedy that occurred in their basement.

Jeanne LaDouceur
Cousin by marriage

October 1, 2017

I was 12 yrs old when Officer Raymond was abducted and murdered. I remember the news andthe manhunt trying to find him. 10 years later I became a police officer. Yesterday I was in Hillside in a new career since my police days and had to conduct some business off of Raymond Drive. I thought of Officer Raymond and shared his story with a girl I was speaking with. As I told his story I got goosebumps. After leaving there I had to drive down Manheim to the Eisenhower. I could not recall which ramp he was on at the time he was abducted but it did not matter. His presence still lingers there. I hope his wife and children know he has never been forgotten. It is 45 years later and there are those of us who still remember....forever in our hearts.

Liz former PO
None

July 21, 2017

Patrolman Raymond's story was read in Richton Park Police Department's roll call on 1-27-17 to honor him.

Sgt. James Galvan
RPPD (IL)

January 27, 2017

I read your story today. There are no words that I can express that would accurately describe my deepest and profound sorrow. my father was a police officer for 30 years. I remember the sleepless nights I experience when my dad was not home yet.
I can not begin to imagine the family's grief. I am so sorry for what you and your family experience.
my prays and thoughts are with you.

Corey E. Burke - parole officer (RET)
NY State Division of Parole

October 1, 2016

I remember that day like it was yesterday. I was a cadet/dispatcher in Hanover Park. We had 32 different police agencies vying for air-time on a crammed police radio system. Officer Raymond called out his stop but much of his radio transmission was drowned out by one of the "Super-stations" on the frequency, either DMH or UIC. The Hillside dispatcher tried repeatedly to get Officer Raymond back on the radio but there was no response. My watch ended at midnight that night and by that time, it was clear what had happened.

Kevin Driscoll Sr (Retired Sergeant)
Police Dispatcher in Hanover Park at the time

September 1, 2016

Tony was my dad's partner....I was 9 when he was taken....I remember going to his father's bakery & playing with his kids....it has taken me a while to find this but am glad I did...Mr Raymond is missed ....I know my dad misses him too

Carol Schmidt
Partner's daughter

July 9, 2016

I remember the day you were taken. It still haunts me. Little did I know that I would become a Police Officer for the Village of Hillside. I looked at your badge at the beginning of every shift and couldn't helpbut feel a ssadness for your loss and the loss felt by your family.

Wanda L. Stillwell, Patrol Officer (reti
Hillside Police Department

December 3, 2015

I did not know Officer Raymond but was working the night he was abducted for a neighboring department and was part of the search for him. I attended his services and remember him every year. Thank you for your service and sacrifice.

Sergeant Craig Grude, ret.
Bensenville PD

May 15, 2015

Tony is always in my prayers.

Joe Maio
Brother-in-law

May 8, 2015

The day Tony was kidnapped we spent the day at his new home in Hillside, helping him move in. He was on the 3:00pm - 11:00pm shift. He never slept a night in his new home with his wife and two small boys. It is one of the worst personal experiences I've witnessed in my life. Tony was one of the gentlest people I have every known and very religious. My husband, who was also a police officer in Hillside and his best friend was inconsolable. To this day it pains me to think about how he suffered before he died and sometimes difficult to understand that if this was God's reward for Tony to go to Heavan, why he had to go through such a terrible death to get there. I will never forget him.

Judi Wendt
Friend

May 6, 2015

I was a policeman on the River Forest Department and was working the street that night Tony got abducted. The trio had ditched the stolen vehicle they used in the robbery. Tony pulled down the second vehicle which was registered to one of them. If I remember right, the news of the robbery had not been known yet. Tony called in the license plate on the radio. The Hillside dispatcher did not receive a complete transmission from him. There were maybe 17 towns that shared the same radio frequency. His signal was interrupted. The Forest Park PD happened to dispatch an armed robbery call right at that time and only a partial transmission from Tony (the last time he was ever heard) was received. River Forest had the only tape recording of the radio transmissions. We attempted to decipher Tony's transmission but could only make out a fraction of the license plate info. The tape was sent to a lab that tried to use some special technology to hear his transmission, to no avail.
I along with many police officers, not only from the western suburbs, but from all over the Chicago area searched for that vehicle using the partial plate info. We ran down the many tips that came in. Many brothers in blue came with me to Hillside in the weeks following. We searched for that vehicle and Officer Ramond. Every possible lead was followed. We prayed for him along with the Ramondi family,. We clung onto all hope, to the end, but as we all know now the ending became tragic.

Unfortunately it was sometime after, that to ease the congestion on the radio, the police departments were divided into smaller groups assigned to various other frequencies.

HHB Lieutenant, Retired
River Forest PD

February 13, 2015

Anthony is never forgotten.I know of him,never knew him.God bless and rest in peace

P.O Blair
CPD

February 9, 2015

Anthony, not a June 13th ever passes that I don't think of you and our childhood. I miss both.

Friend
Old friend

July 17, 2014

Officer Raymond,

I remember staring at your badge on display at the Hillside Police department. I remember hearing the stories about what had happened to you when I was growing up. As a child I could Not fathom your experience or how that impacted your family.

Never the less, I became a police officer and every May I think about you. Every May when I participate in Honor Guard at the Candle light vigil in Washington DC, I take a Minute to think about the moment when I was a child, looking up at your badge; thinking to myself " what a hero". And of course, every year, I go to your name and say a few words. Keep an eye on us from up above and protect those still serving.

Patrolman
Z. Pugh Glendale Heights PD

May 5, 2014

I KNEW TONY AS A TEENAGER, AS AN ADULT, AND AS A FRIEND. I WAS SHOCKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. IT SADDEN ME EVEN MORE BECAUSE IN 1960 MY BROTHER WAS STABBED AND KILLED IN ELMHURST. SO IT WAS REALLY CLOSE TO HOME.
HE WAS SOMEONE TO LOOK UP TO AND ADMIRE. HE WAS A HERO WHO PUT HIS LIFE ON THE LINE EACH AND EVERY TIME HE PUT HIS UNIFORM ON.
I ALSO REMEMBER SIGNING PETITIONS AT RAMONDI BAKERY EVERY TIME THEY TRIED TO GET THESE SCUM BAGS OUT.

YOU ARE NEVER FORGOTTEN NOR WILL YOU EVER BE.
TO YOUR WIFE, CHILDREN,SIBLINGS AND PARENTS I OFFER MY DEEP CONDOLENCES.

THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING TONY IN THIS TRIBUTE.

JO ANN PIPER
FRIEND

March 23, 2014

I was 7 years old when Tony was killed. He has always remained in my memory. My father was a policeman in Berkeley for a short time, which is how I got to know Tony, as he started out working in Berkeley. He was my favorite of all the great policemen I got to know. I'll never forget one night getting separated from my mom at the Hillside mall. I was so scared. I started walking home and came across a Hillside police car. To my amazement it was Tony. He told me everything would be OK now and that I was safe. He took me home. I just remember thinking how cool this man was. I still remember riding in his squad car, like it was yesterday. That night is one of my most memorable childhood moments, and I am so thankful for Tony. Hearing what happened to him from my dad back then was such a horrible thing for such a great man. Thanks Tony. I think about you often.

Peter Powers
Family friend

October 29, 2013

I wish the best for the family and pray this can be finally put behind you and you are left only with the great memories of a wonderful man. Tony and Mike, I miss you guys, feel free to stop by when you are back in the neighborhood.

Captain Glen Busch
Hillside Fire Department/childhoodFriends

June 22, 2013

It's over now. All of the men that so brutally took your life are gone. 41 years of fighting to keep them in prison is done. You are thought of often, remembered fondly and loved each and every day. Rest peacefully with the angels, Uncle Anthony. We will continue to celebrate you and the short, but wonderful life you lived. More importantly, we will love you, always.

Katie
Niece

June 22, 2013

Tony was on of my favorite high school vocational automotive students. When I would kid him, he had a special way of saying "come on". After all these years, I still remember Tony.

Paul Rickert
Teacher of Tony's PWHS

June 10, 2013

This tragedy still haunts me. I was 8 years old and my family lived on Ashbel Ave a block away from the Raymond Howard street home. I remember the two boys, less than 5 years old. I recall thinking they were the luckiest kids in the world to have their dad pull up in the Hillside Police car. Officer Raymond let us sit in the squad car and play with the lights. What a fine example of a lawman for the youth of Hillside. Thank you Anthony Raymond

Citizen Kelly
Neighbor

May 12, 2013

I started my career with Franklin Park, IL PD just months before your murder. I reall searching for you with many other officers in the Chicago suburbs for weeks; Coal City, Joliet... I think of you from time-to-time and remember that dark stretch of Mannheim Road where your abandoned squad was found. Anthony, you will never be forgotten by your brothers and sisters in blue. God rest your soul.

Patrolman B.F.
Franklin Park PD (1972-1984)

May 2, 2013

To fully appreciate the heroes of the present, we must recognize our heroes of the past. Your heroism and service is honored today, the 41rst anniversary year of your death. I am priviliged to leave a tribute to you. 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.

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

Your death must have caused your family such sorrow, only exacerbated by the circumstances. I am thankful your body was found because the time you were missing had to be so tortuous to them. I am also graateful that your killers were prosecuted and convicted;

Phyllis Lasater Loya
mom of fallen Pittsburg (CA) officer Larry Lasater

April 26, 2013

DEAR OFFICER RAYMOND,
TWO DOWN ONE TO GO. THE GARBAGE THAT TOOK YOUR LIFE WILL BE SITTING ANOTHER FIVE YEARS IN PRISON.
I KNOW YOU WERE WITH US IN SPRINGFIELD AND IT SHOWED. WE'LL ALL BE THERE EACH TIME HE COMES UP FOR RELEASE! GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

P.O KUCHARSKI # 11902
012TH DISTRICT CPD

February 13, 2013

I was 5 years old when Ofc. Raymond was abducted and I remember it like it was yesterday. One of the locations that was searched was the farm we lived on and my dad became Chief Deputy Sheriff of Grundy County, IL in the period between the abduction and the search reaching our farm in the spring of 1973. I still remember all of the police officers at our farm and watching the search on TV while it was happening outside. I've followed the case ever since and signed the petition to block parole today at the Naperville Police Department. As long as I live, your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Donald Phillips
Safety Coordinator, City of Naperville

November 27, 2012

Thank you for your service and for helping to make America a safer place.

Deputy Brian Jones
Boulder County Sheriff's Office, CO

November 15, 2012