Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

“And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.” [Isaiah 6:8 ESV]

Chaplain Steven R. Closs, D.Div, MSBS, NCCA
Ordained/Licensed Independent Christian Clergy
Ministering to Law Enforcement Nationwide
Merrimack, NH 03054

Captain Steven R. Closs (Ret.)
Nashua NH Police Department

February 28, 2021

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)

August 26, 2020

Rest in peace Officer Tedesco.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

August 26, 2019

Im so sorry about your loss it such event thats hard to.believe it ever happen.. but remember they dont die we go back.as who we were. His experience was cut short here. But he will never die. You will.see him.in paradise. God bless these men..

DONALD SARIAN
CITIZEN.

August 20, 2018

God bless you brother, rest peacefully. The parole board is just as guilty as the scum that took your life. Hope he burns in hell.

RET P.O David.Biondi
NYPD

September 17, 2017

All these years and I remember that day like it was yesterday. A great loss of a great guy.

Frank Tedesco
NYPD Ret/cousin

August 15, 2017

The family of Gary Tedesco is doing an archive project and wishes for contributions from the community and Gary's friends.

The archive will include video, audio and written accounts of his life. Feel free to get in touch if you'd like to participate.

Thanks for your support.

Gary Harvey
Nephew

March 21, 2015

Although I was just a child when Sgt. Voto and officer Tedesco were murdered, I find myself thinking of them often. May God bless the families of these two brave officers. They will NEVER be forgotten. Trantino, you punk, rot in hell.

Corporal Ron Lucas
Passaic County Sheriff's Department

August 26, 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 50th 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.

Thanks to your family and friends for sharing their devotion to you through their reflections. I pray for solace for all those that love and remember you for I know both the pain and pride are forever.

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

April 14, 2013

Having grown up in the Garfield Lodi area and knowing both officersI have always felt a great loss. My one wish was that if they ever released Trantino they wouls have dropped him off on Rt.#46 in Lodi on Aug. 26 2001 at the same hour the murders of Voto and Tedesco and he would not be walking the streets today.

May you heros rest in peace and God bless the familys.

Civilian
None

June 15, 2012

I'd like to start by making a correction to the bio of Gary. He did not have a gun. He was still a rookie and therefore unarmed. And his partners name was Peter Voto, not Gary Voto.
Now my personal reflection...
I am the nephew of Gary and named after him. He died long before I was born. I spent my life adjusting to an environment of having my mother, aunt and grandmother in the headlines every time a parole hearing came up. It seemed every few years our lives would be stirred up and we'd be poked and prodded by reporters and politicians eager to exploit our story. My earliest memory is of a being at a 'no parole' rally that my mother spoke at surrounded by tv cameras and hundreds of people. I may have been 6 years old.
I didn't know what this all really meant as a young boy.
In my teens I began to understand. Hearing the results of parole hearings were like new years eve for us... It was a time where we could sigh and know that the person who shattered my family wasn't going to be walking the streets, at least for now.
I don't think many people on the outside understand what it's like to live life like this. Moving on in life is a challenge when life is chaptered by the worst thing that ever happened to you being rehashed and plastered all over the news every few years.
In my early twenties a popular evening news program decided to do a story on the perpetrator focusing on the fact that he had been the longest serving inmate in NJ history. The program was very one-sided and only featured the perpetrators side of the story. It worried us when it was aired. Not long after that he was released from prison after nearly 40 years of fighting to serve justice and honor the memory of the 2 officers.
My grandmother lived into her nineties. She lived the last 7 years of her life knowing that the person who shattered her heart and her family was free. She would tell me how she couldn't believe that he got away with it. I remember her well. I remember how innocent of a person she was and how innocent my family was. They were just a middle class family trying to make a good life. Now 49 years later, this tragedy still echoes in my family. It never really went away.

Every year in spring deep purple Irises bloom in our yard. They were originally planted by my uncle when he was a boy. Although I didn't know my uncle personally, I think his spirit lives on and says hi in subtle way.

I'd like to thank everyone who has taken a moment to share their reflection about my uncle. We appreciate you dearly.

Gary
Officer Tedesco's nephew

May 28, 2012

I am in tears reading these reflections. I was very young when our Lord took you back home. However, I never forgot what happened to you. My Father, Uncles and Cousins were all Civil Servants in New Jersey and New York. I remember them speaking in sorrow about this day. I am living in North Georgia now and our neighbors in Chattanooga TN. lost a servant the other day. The news spoke of this wonderful site and the first thing I did was look you up. Said a prayer for your family and friends. So glad the demon that did this to you is back in jail where he belongs. Blessings to all. Patty

Patty Schoen-Jones
Citizen

April 4, 2011

Gary,
I read in the newspaper that your Mom had passed away. If I recall, she had to be well in her 90's.I am glad that she is with you now. For you Mrs. Tedesco, the agony and pain is finally over, there is a special place for you in heaven.

Lodi Resident
Friend

December 14, 2009

Remebering your sacrafice on this anniversary of your death.

Police Officer
Metropolitan Police Washington D.C.

August 27, 2007

Your bravery, courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten and may you always rest in peace as we will always remember you.

Cpl/1 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police

August 26, 2007

I WAS IN LODI TODAY TO DO A JOB ON TERHUNE AVENUE, AND THOUGHT OF YOU AND YOUR PARTNER, AND THE SACRIFICE YOU MADE FOR US 43 YEARS AGO.
YOUR KILLER WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON, HOWEVER, HE WAS INVOLVED IN A DOMESTIC DISPUTE, CAUSING PHYSICAL INJURIES TO HIS GIRLFRIEND. HE OF COURSE TRIED TO WHITTLE HIS WAY OUT OF IT BY CLAIMING HE WAS THE VICTIM. HE'S SOME PIECE OF CHANGE. HE IS BACK IN JAIL, THE LAST I HEARD.

OFFICER TEDESCO, AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, I THINK OF YOU OFTEN. YOUR WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN.

JIM SWEENEY CIVILIAN NEW JERSEY
A FRIEND TO ALL PEACE OFFICERS

February 9, 2007

My Brothers in Law, I read your story tonight, and find it to be a shame that your murderer was let go in 2001 by the NJ state supreme court, what a travesty. I guess 37 years served was suffice for the murders of two Lawmen. I suppose your ultimate sacrifice meant very little to the liberal courts, but please know, that to us, you were, and always will be Hero's. Justice was NOT served here, but one day the remanding punk that did this to you will be dealt with. Rest easy Officer Tedesco, and SGT. Voto your watch on earth is over.

SGT. John L. Gulledge Retired
Escambia CO FL SO

November 12, 2006

Somehow I feel tied to you since your family and mine suffered the injustice of the justice system. I think of your family often and prayer for them. You are truely a hero.
God Bless.
Kathleen (Birch)Gomez
daughter of Billy Birch whose end of watch was Sept. 4,1966.

Kathleen (Birch)Gomez
daughter of a fallen officer

September 11, 2006

Never met you Gary, though I will someday. Was a friend of your family those many years ago and had been thinking of you and how much they loved you. This love never ends and I am certain you occupy their thoughts every minute of their day today as it did 43 years ago. God Bless You, my brother.

Chuck H.
Family Friend

August 23, 2006

Although your young life and career was cut short, you made the ultimate sacrafice. God Bless you and Rest In Peace.

Ofc. Eric Chiang
San Francisco Police Department - Bayview District

April 15, 2006

Our thoughts and prayers go out to This Officer, as well as the Family, Friends, Department and Community.

This is a loss that will never be forgotten. Hours have turned into days, days turned into weeks, weeks into months and months into years but, the difference that these officers have made will last forever.

We lost Our Deputy Morris Taylor on September 14, 2002. When he joined Officer Gary Tedesco and the other Angels in Blue.

God Bless Our Law Enforcement Officers and Those Who Love Them.

Jack & Tracy Van Dolah
Former LEO/U.S.M.C. & Wife in Sutherlin, Oregon

June 16, 2005

As a Rutgers student and a police officer I am disgusted that the University would allow your murderer to speak on its campus, defending it as "free speach", protected by the First Amendment, the same thing you died protecting. Rest in peace, brother.

Officer
West Orange PD

February 1, 2005

I was truly ashamed this yesterday morning to read that your killer was a guest speaker during a criminal justice seminar at my former college. This man should still be cowering in the corner of a 10 X 12 hole in the wall, but like the many other cop killers and people who defend them they will never know the true meaning of the sacrifice you made and pain your family must deal with everyday

RIP Brother -- a brother from the other side of the river

Police Officer
NYPD

January 24, 2005

I salute you for your service and honor you for your sacrifice.

A hero never dies...

Rest in peace, hero.

December 29, 2004

37 years in jail does not replace the loss of a fellow Officer. I'm sure his Family would agree. Good job NYPD on the other apprehension. NJ Courts did us no justice. May God bless all of us in Blue.

Detective
Newark NJ PD

October 16, 2004