Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

May God and St. Michael watch over you and Officer Wilcox in Heaven. You are not forgotten.

Patrolman Kenneth Collins
South Amherst Police Department

January 31, 2024

RIP sir.

Retired First Sergeant Thomas Webb
New York State Police - Troop "D"

August 11, 2023

May God continue to watch over you in Heaven, Officer Wilcox. You are not forgotten.

Patrolman Kenneth Collins
South Amherst Police Department

January 31, 2023

Rest in peace always knowing that your service and sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten by your law enforcement brethren.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

January 31, 2021

Rest in peace Officer Decker.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

May 12, 2020

I responded to the scene the day you and Officer Wilcox were murdered by that coward. I think of you often.
Rest in peace Officer

Fellow police officer

December 21, 2019

I concur with others - bureacracy should have been listed as cause of death. Too many politicians are worried about their careers instead of public safety so they tie the hands of the men and women who are there to protect us. EVERY police officer should have the right to carry on and off duty, after all you are a cop 24/7, thank you and everyone else whose job it is to keep us safe.

Police Officer
Veteran of the United States Military

May 9, 2012

Mark made the ultimate sacrifice and will be forever remembered by both the officers of the VA Police, and all of the veterans of war. RIP brother.

Cpt. Jim Theall (ret)
VA Police WLA

August 23, 2011

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 25th 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.

Phyllis Loya
mom of fallen officer Larry Lasater

January 31, 2011

On Monday January 31, 2011 will mark the 25 year that Off.Decker(Vice President FOP OHIO Decker/Wilcox Memorial Lodge #175) and Off. Wilcox (both veterans)were on duty and was shot and Killed by a veteran seeking treatment at the Brecksville, Ohio Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Ctr.
These Brave and Dedicated Police Officers paid the ultimate price while Protecting and Serving Veterans, Employees and Visitors who enter the Medical Ctr.
Condolences to their families. May they Rest in Peace,God bless them.

Steven M. Hnatiak(Lt. Ret)VAPD
Past Pres. FOP OHIO LODGE#175

January 30, 2011

Officer Decker,
On today, the 24th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you to you and your partner for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous

January 31, 2010

24 years, how is this possible that so much time has gone by ? I was a friend of Leo & a dear friend of my Mark. I was a VA employee who was working the night my friends were murdered in cold blood.
I miss my dear Mark so much.
PS... that photo is a copy of the original that I took about a moth before the shootings. Mark didn't like to have his picture taken but I got him at a silly moment during shift change.

Kathy
VA friend

January 27, 2010

Hero's are never forgotten! Continue to rest in peace brother.

Police Officer - Paul Bodenhamer
Dept of Veterans Affairs

April 10, 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

Officer Decker, thank you for your service and dedication. You have not been forgotten. Rest in peace.

Michelle - wife of Retired LEO

March 21, 2008

Such a tragic loss. Why heros have to die like this, is a shame. :( Today Officer Mark Decker, you are not forgotten, for today, you are remembered! :) I only hope to meet all you heros in heaven one day. It would be grand! :)

kristine wilton
cousin of Christopher Nicholson/Smithsburg Md. EOW-12/19/2007

February 15, 2008

YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AND THANK YOU SIR FOR YOUR SERVICE

Pat Van Den Berghe
Neighbors for a Better Manchester, NH

January 22, 2008

oficers Wilcox and Decker will always be remembered.

Michael Giannetti
VA Police, Boston, mass

February 3, 2007

YOU ARE NOT FORGOTTEN.

Former Police Officer
Dept. of Veterans Affairs (Wash DC)

January 31, 2007

Officer Decker, today marks the 21st anniversary of your murder. You gave your life in service to the people of the United States and most especially to our beloved Veterans. I wonder if, had you been armed that day, you might have survived. We’ll never know for sure, but your sacrifice helped to wake up the bureaucrats to the need for EVERY POLICE OFFICER to be armed. It’s still a long road with a lot of administrators living in a fantasy world, but thankfully, the VA Police are now properly equipped.

Thank you, not for your sacrifice, but for your service to others. God Bless and may you continue to Rest in Peace, Brother.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Dept.

January 31, 2007

Rest in peace sir. You will never be forgotten.

Officer Ryan McNeil
Medicine Lodge, KS Police Department

November 9, 2006

To Officer Decker,

You and your partner were killed by bureacracy, in 2000, my uncle tried to get me to apply as a va police officer in Asheville, North Carolina. I did not apply because they at the time were not allowed to carry firearms, that however changed in 2002, and not a moment too soon, because just this year a man walked in and shot himself in the head. Also in 2000 the va police in Salisbury, North Carolina shot a man who had shot a doctor in the heart (miraculosly the doctor survived). They had just been issued their weapons two months earlier. I hope all the bureacrats read this and wake up.

Rest in Peace Sir.

August 4, 2006

John 11:35

D. Clark
Veterans Affairs

April 12, 2006

May you rest in peace.

State Constable J.L. Green
S.C. State Constables

February 6, 2006

REST IN PEACE, BROTHER

POlice Officer Donny A. Smith #4040
Veterans Affairs Police Richmond, VA

March 4, 2005