Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Remembering June 7, 1980, The Cripple Creek shooting.

EOW: Officer Don Reed - 2 gunshot wounds
Wounded: R.O Glenn Overly - 3 gunshot wounds
Wounded: R.O. Dwight Henninger- 1 gunshot wound:
Two bar patrons each wounded once by gunshot

Paul D. McInerny, Sergeant (Retired)
Garden Grove Police Department

June 7, 2024

You are remembered everyday my friend!

Ed Konieczny
Fellow Officer GGPD

November 7, 2021

SAN QUENTIN —Condemned inmate John George Brown, 71, was found unresponsive in his San Quentin State Prison cell on July 7, 2019, he was pronounced dead at 6:47 p.m.
Brown was sentenced to death in Orange County on June 11, 1982, for the June 7, 1980, murder of Garden Grove Police Department Officer Donald F. Reed. Reed, 27 years old, was fatally shot when Brown opened fire on him and two other police officers who had tried to serve him a felony arrest warrant. Brown was convicted of first-degree murder, assault with intent to murder, and assault with a deadly weapon on a police officer.

Citizen
N/A

July 9, 2019

The killer of Officer Reed (John George Brown) died on California's death row last Sunday.

To Officer Donald Reed, thank you for protecting our country and my prayers be with your friends and family. I hope that this can give them some peace.

Anonymous

July 9, 2019

Rest In peace Brother LEO. Thank you and your family for your sacrifice and service.

Officer Mike Robinson (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA

June 7, 2018

Don Reed is one of 5 officers from Garden Grove PD (The Fallen Five) who was killed in the line of duty. This happened just two months before I went into the police academy which made my wife extremely nervous. Ofc Reed will never be forgotten by the GGPD, and what it means to "serve and protect" your community.

Michael Verrengia - Sr. Reserve officer
Garden Grove (CA) PD

June 7, 2017

Time may have passed but you are not forgotten. I believe as long as someone remembers you or speaks your name, you are still with us.
Thank you for your heroism.
GOD Bless

Detention Officer A.Zambito
Texas

June 8, 2015

I remember the night Donnie was killed. His brother Ran Novell & I (we were married) were sound asleep when around 11:30 on that Saturday nite we were awakened by the phone ringing. I don't remember if it was his mom Rita, or the GGPD calling. We were told that Donnie had been shot. He was back on duty the first nite after his vacation & was not wearing his bullet proof vest because he had put on a few pounds. It was probably the most horrible time in our lives. I still remember his young body laying on the cold marble at the mortuary, he had only been gone for a few hours. The funeral procession was 5 miles long with PD's from all over southern California. He was such a great kid & left 2 boys & his wife. I will never forget that nite or the horror of it all. His mom and dad were forever changed. Writing this brings it all back...wish it could have been different.

Joyce Novell
Sister-in law

June 10, 2014

I was a good friend of Officer Reed while serving with him on the Garden Grove Police Department it was a very sad day in my life when this incident occured and I lost a friend. I have often thought about him over the last 34 years and what a fine Officer he was and how much I learned from him. One of the saddest days I can remember was when I served as a pallbearer and Don was laid to rest.

Officer Richard Lockhart (Retired)
Garden Grove Police Fellow Officer

June 7, 2014

I worked with Don many years ago on the Monterey Park Police Department. I think of him often - especially his joy at putting on magic shows. In a couple of weeks I will be a keynote speaker at the San Diego County Peace Officer Memorial and I will speak of my fallen colleague. We will never forget.

Agent Chris Van Gorder (Retired)
Monterey Park Police Department

April 21, 2014

Rest in peace my friend. You made all of us at GGPD better at what we did and you were and are missed. I remember night shift's we spent together, working different ends of the city, but manageing, somehow, to meet up at least once for coffee and "war stories". It was my Honor to stand at attention at head of your casket during you church service and I will never forget how heavy my heart felt. It's almost been 32 years, but sometimes it feels like yesterday. Save a place for me in God's briefing room and be at peace my brother!

Supervising Fraud Inv. Rick Carter
Riverside County/former GGPD brother

April 10, 2012

I met Don Reed at Fullertron College in the early 70's. He told me he was a cadet and had plans of of a career in law enforcement. I told him I was going through the selection process to be a reserve officer in Placentia, where I grew up. A few years later I was working as a reserve officer, and Don was working as a full time Garden Grove Police Officer. Although I didn't know him for a long time, and just knew him from classes we attended together, I enjoyed talking with him, but I will always remember the semester of boxing, where I was paired up with Don as sparing partners. I've never been known as a street fighter or brawler, and I found it very difficult to actually hit Don. I'm sure he knew, and I can still remember him saying to me, "Come on Nelson, HIT ME!!!!" It wasen't easy, but I did. He was such a marvelous person, really "cool", and dedicated. I knew he grew up Garden Grove, so I use to rib him by calling his City Garbage Grove. He had a wonderful sence of humer, and it didn't offend him, he would laugh a little, but was very proud of his City, Garden Grove, and wasen't shy about letting others know that!!! For reasons I don't know, The citizens of Garden Grove and the entire Garden Grove Police Department, got "short changed" by what happened to him that night. I do know this, when my life is complete, I will know through my creator, why. "Don, like so, so many people, I will always think of you from time to time, You're a GREAT guy, and I thank you for being a bud of mine, even though it for such a brief time.

Nelson

Nelson McCollister
Fullerton College classmate

November 27, 2011

Don, I've been thinking about you a lot this week on the anniversary of your death. 30 years is a long time, but for those of us who were at the shooting scene that night it seems like yesterday. We've all gotten old, but your memory is still young. Rest in peace.

Ron Fleischer
Former Garden Grove PD Sergeant

June 13, 2010

Rest in Peace, Officer Reed. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

October 23, 2009

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 29th 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 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.

Phyllis Loya

Anonymous

June 8, 2009

"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

August 28, 2007

R.I.P. Officer Reed, you will never be forgotten. Your family and friends are in my prayers.

Deputy M.Reed
EPSO (Colorado)

March 13, 2007

Rest in peace, Don. Rest easy, knowing that your dad and mom have made the journey to honor your memory every year. Your family loves you.

Paul D. McInerny
Garden Grove Police Department

November 14, 2006

While still in High School, in Garden Grove, I was able to go on a ride-a-long with Officer Reed. Because of those times and experiences I also decided to get involved in Law enforcement. I think about you often and the sacrifice that you made on that night.

Brad Scherer
Bailiff, Eighth Judicial District Court

March 27, 2004