Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I remember reading and later seeing "The Onion Field" years ago and I have never forgotten the story. Ian, your name will be remembered. You died so young, but even so you represent goodness and duty in this world.

Anonymous

March 27, 2010

I am handicapped as a result of cerebral palst and blindnes. I am taking a class in street safety for handicapped and challenged people. I first learned about the murder of Ian Campbell after watching a documentary about it on television. And I have often wondered since then if there was anything that could have been done and whether the police department in Los Angles really knew how dangerous the perpetrators of this crime were. Although I think that more could have been done for both officers I understand that although our justice system is not perfect it is the best that we will ever have.

Laveau Truth
Private Citizen

March 15, 2010

God Bless.

Sgt. B. Burton
Ft. Wayne In.

March 11, 2010

To the family of Officer Ian Campbell:

On the 47th anniversary of your loved ones tragic and senseless death, I wish to pay honor and utmost respect to Officer Campbell. His bravery, integrity and the service he gave to the citizens of this nation will never be forgotten no matter how many years may pass. This is obvious from the numerous pages of reflections left on his memorial page. Please know that you are always in my thoughts and prayers and I pray to God that you find comfort through his memory. What a great man he must have been to have raised such a loving close knit family. To Andrea, I hope you are doing well and I am still honored and touched for you taking the time to email me to let me know how your family is doing a few years back. I will be lighting a memorial candle this weekend at my church in his memory. May Officer Campbell sleep eternally in the loving arms of God. I would like to share this poem that has given me strength when I lost my father and hope it will give you some comfort as well. God bless you all.

Remember Me

To the living, I am gone
To the sorrowful, I will never return
To the angry, I was cheated
But to the happy, I am at peace.

And to the faithful, I have never left.
I cannot speak, but I can listen.
I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.

So as you stand upon a shore,
Gazing at a beautiful sea,
Remember me.

As you look upon a flower and admire its simplicity,
Remember me.

Remember me in your hearts, your thoughts
and your memories of the times we loved,
the times we cried, the times we fought,
the times we laughed.

For if you always think of me, I will never have gone.

Brandon J. Sullivan - Retired
Detroit Police Department - Detroit, Michigan

March 9, 2010

You and your family are in my thoughts today, the 47th anniversary of your EOW. God bless you. Sleep well Marine!

Anonymous

March 9, 2010

Dear Officer Campbell, thank you for your service to mankind. You will never be forgotten.


"Those we love remain with

us, for love itself lives on.

And cherished memories

never fade because a

loved one’s gone.

Those we love can never

be more than a thought apart.

For as long as there

is memory they’ll

live on in the

heart".

Anonymous

March 9, 2010

"It is not the concern of any one race. The victims of the violence are black and white, rich and poor, young and old, famous and unknown. They are, most important of all, human beings whom other human beings loved and needed. No one - no matter where he lives or what he does - can be certain who will suffer from some senseless act of bloodshed. And yet it goes on and on and on in this country of ours." Robert F. Kennedy

Rest in peace sir.

Scott Moore

Anonymous

March 9, 2010

Officer Campbell,

Rest in peace brother.

Detective Dave Howell
Plano,Texas Police Dept-Auto Theft

March 9, 2010

Another year has passed and you are still admired and respectfully remembered in the hearts and minds of so many. My thoughts and prayers are with your loved ones and friends on this anniversary of your EOW. You will never be forgotten.

James Sheppard
Father of Sgt. Jason L. Sheppard EOW 12/7/06

March 9, 2010

You can continue to rest in peace. Your killer is still behind bars where he belongs and we don't have to go through the headache of a parole hearing for another 3 years.

You are always thought of and remembered by many.

Andrea
Grand-daughter

January 31, 2010

Well it looks like Justice wins again, I really have a hard time understanding why a Life-Sentence is always questioned. God's blessings I pray for the Campbell family. This Hero lives on in our memories.

Pat Carruth
Mother of Jeremy "Jay" Carruth EOW 2/20/03

January 28, 2010

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Officer Campbell. God bless you and all Officers killed in the line of duty.

Investigator Benjamin
Office of the Medical Examiner NY

January 28, 2010

Because of heroes like you is why I chose to become a police officer and over 29 years later I still love doing the job. Dying in the line of duty did not make you a hero but the fact that you chose to do the job that most people will not or cannot do does.

LT Robert Plaster
Hunter Police Dept

January 28, 2010

aaahh-----the warriors----maybe thats why I love the pipes so much

Anonymous

January 27, 2010

Officer Campbell, your sacrafice has not been forgotten by the LAPD. Even after all these years, I still discuss the events of your death with our officers during roll call. Even though we never met, you have kept many officers safe on the streets of LA. God bless.

Lt Brian Thomas
Los Angeles Police Department

January 23, 2010

Officer Ian J. Campbell, you are gone but not forgotten. Your memory comes at different times but, mostly, when I hear the pipes or attend the Highland Games and Gatherings. We met briefly when I was young. You used to play the bagpipes at our house with my father (Dr. Bob) and some others. I wish we had been allowed to watch but we heard enough from our rooms to know you were enjoying your life.
To your surviving family, I have thoughts of you all often and I pray that you are all doing well. Maybe someday we will all have the opportunity to meet.
Until then, God Bless You All; and God Bless Ian Campbell, you left this earth too early.

Bruce Laidlaw
a family friend

October 3, 2009

I was very fortunate to have known Ian's mother and retired Sgt. Pierce Brooks during my decades long interest in this incident. I knew Karl Hettinger briefly before he died. The last conversation that I had with him ended with me telling him that he was still one of us. Ian's daughter offered me many remembrances via correspondence that I dearly cherish. Two policeman were killed that night in 1963, one simply died decades later. To protect and to serve. No doubt about it.

Lt. Mike Halasi
Brown County Sheriff's Dept., WI

August 9, 2009

I am twenty nine years old. I have cerebral palsy and clairvoyant abilities. I first learned about the murder of Ian Campbell after viewing a documentary about his case on the History Channel. Ten years later I am still affected by it. Although both he and his partner suffered from the events of that night both officers did everything that they were supposed to do.

Astraea Rossetti
Private citizen

July 24, 2009

I also have been touched by this story .He was so young and this was so senseless And to Mr. David O. Rodriquez Mr. Ian is buried buried at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park , Glendale,Ca in the Eventide section ,Lot 1078 Space 2 when you visit please give my repect also..

Dorothy DeMello

May 1, 2009

I never knew it at the time but my onion field was a street in Larkhall Scotland on the 5th of June 1983 where my colleague Det Sgt William Ross Hunt was murdered.
I am not good at expressing my views BUT the only thing that I have discovered which come close in all these years is Joseph Wambaugh's account of your experience as shown in the film the "Onion Field”. And a song I heard when I was recovering from my injury whilst on holiday in a bar in Spain. It was the song "The band played Waltzing Matilda".

The film is so accurate in so many ways as to my own experience and the similarities are frightening.

I only wish that I could have spoken with Karl as I believe we could have helped each other so much.

You answered the call and a vast section of society appreciates fully the price you and your family paid. As well as all the others directly involved. I know from experience that it does have a ripple effect though.

Sadly you were not the first and equally as sadly you will not be the last officer to pay the price of protecting the public. I hope each and every day that the justice system will protect the officers in the future as in my opinion it failed you,Karl and my coleague.

Quote from the DVD sleeve

“What happened in the onion field is true. The real crime is what happened after.”

At least you never had to suffer that.

YOU AND YOUR SACRIFICE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN AND IN PARTICULAR BY THOSE WHO REALLY MATTER.

SLEEP SAFE IAN.YOU WILL NEVER BE "ALONE".

Duncan Nicolson
Retired Ex Sgt Strathclyde Police,Scotland.

March 23, 2009

Officer Campbell, you are not forgotten. I have read the story of your, and Officer Kettinger's, incident multiple times as well as have watched the movie. I have personally visited the corner of Carlos and Gower in the vicinity of Hollywood to reflect on how your kidnap may have happened.
I learned of you through two cousins of yours long before I read about you. I feel for your mother and daughters and see that a grand-daughter must have wanted to know you. May you never be forgotten.

If anyone has information on where Officer Campbell is buried, please provide the information as I would like to pay my respects personally.

David O. Rodriguez
Citizen

March 22, 2009

You're being remembered on this day and every day. It is obvious that your story has touched many people in many different ways.

Andrea L.
would-be granddaughter

March 10, 2009

Remembering you and your sacrifice on this day. May God bless you, Officer Hettinger and your respective families.

Jack Hannah
Citizen

March 9, 2009

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 46th 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 who was murdered in the 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. Like many others, I first learned about you and your brutal and senseless murder by reading The Onion Field. In the mid-seventies, I became a correctional officer at San Quentin and my first assigment was to the West Block, which at that time was the designated honor block. I was astonished to learn that Gregory Powell was housed in that unit and was sickened when he approached me introducing himself as one of the defendants in the Onion Field case. I will never forget his almost fawning attitude reveling in what he perceived for himself as his celebrity image resulting from the book and film. I was even more astonished as a "fish" officer when I learned that he was one of three inmates in the whole insitution that did not have to be locked up for the 4:00 count due to his prison job. I still find that incredible. I left S.Q. after two years and went to law school and never saw Gregory Powell again, but I hope he is never paroled.

Rest In Peace, Ian. Your life and death has had a profound impact on many lives.

Phyllis Loya

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater

March 8, 2009

Your story has touched the hearts of many people.You were a truly brave man,Officer Campbell.It's very apparent you would have went on to do many good deeds.Go with God,and rest in peace.

Private Citizen Carmela Harris

March 8, 2009