Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest In Peace Officer William Slappey

Charles Dossett

July 20, 2021

Officer Slappey,
On today, the 50th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community but for our Country as well when you served with the USMC-especially in Vietnam. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Semper Fi Devil Dog!
A fellow LEO;former Marine

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

March 11, 2020

Rest In Peace Brother LEO. Thank you Hero and your family for your courage, sacrifice and service. Always remembered.

Officer Mike Robinson (Ret.)
Upland Police Dept. CA

March 11, 2020

My Grandfather i never met.

Mark Griffin
First grandson of his youngest son Mark Slappey

February 5, 2020

Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. Thank you for your bravery and sacrifice serving DPD.

Anonymous
DPD

September 5, 2018

"A policeman's first obligation is to be responsible to the needs of the community he serves...The problem is that the atmosphere does not yet exist in which an honest police officer can act without fear of ridicule or reprisal from fellow officers. We create an atmosphere in which the honest officer fears the dishonest officer, and not the other way around." Gone but not forgotten.

Cordell Collier
Best Friend

March 8, 2018

My dad was also wounded responding to this officer in trouble call. That he was in the hospital and could not go to his friends funeral haunted him until he died a couple of years ago. Dad said they needed 7 or 8 fully loaded shotguns to get the door off the hinges and after that it was absolute chaos. He took me by the location and told me the whole story for the first time in 1987 when I came home from basic training. RIP

M. McEwen

August 15, 2017

Officer Slappey,
Sir, as a fellow former Marine;LEO I would just like to say on today, the 46th anniversary of your death thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community-but for our Country as well when you served with the USMC in Vietnam. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Semper Fi Devil Dog!
A fellow former Marine;LEO

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

March 12, 2016

I served with William Slappey in the 5th Marines and in Vietnam in the 3rd Div. Wonderful fellow marine.

Sgt -E5 Rudolf D Munro
USMC / Friend

December 5, 2015

Dear Brother

I often wonder, HOW our lives would be different if you were here to help shape the minds of our young people. Our lives could only be filled with all the love and wisdom that GOD bestowed upon u as a young man. We would only be blessed to still be able to share a laugh, a smile, a talk or even a walk. I am still basking in the memory of your light. 44 yrs.have passed and we still love and miss you today as we have so many yesterdays.

Love your sis
jeannette

jeannette barnes
sister

February 23, 2014

I was six when this happened. He was always against drugs. I will always remember my brother. He use to handcuff me to the chair leave out the house and when he came back in, I was crying and he was laughing. He will always be remembered and missed.

DeJuan C. Slappey
Little Brother

March 5, 2013

I was only about 4 when you went way, but I've heard throught my life time many great stories about, and how great of a man, husband a person, I could imagine you being a great brother to missed you on my life tell mom I said hi

sister
baby sister, Pamela

October 30, 2012

after viet-nam we were stationed at quantico, va. and we travelled to detroit many weekends together just to be at home with our families. i always drove his 1966 grand prix to detroit. i miss him even until this day.

sgt. william a. greene
wayne co. sheriff dept. retired

May 10, 2012

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 42nd 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.

Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

March 11, 2012

You will never be forgotten! Your family miss you desperately.

Virginia Slappey
Wife

January 1, 2012

Thank you for your courage and ultimate sacrifice. You will FOREVER be a hero and will NEVER be forgotten!

Sergeant, Retired
Fayetteville, AR PD

March 11, 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 11, 2010

he will always be missed even tough i was only 3 years old at the time i've heard so many great things about him from all of my other relative's }RIP C.S of Detroit

Anonymous

August 26, 2008

YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AND THANK YOU SIR FOR YOUR SERVICE

VANDENBERGHE
MANCHESTER, NH

April 7, 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 © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

November 13, 2007

On the anniversary of your death 35 years ago, know that your service to the Detroit Police Department will never be forgotten...

Police Officer Gilda C. Mason
Detroit Police Department

March 11, 2005