Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Patrolman Templin,
On today, the 50th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice as a Law Enforcement Officer. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

BPA Mike Casey
United States Border Patrol(Retired)

May 19, 2024

Rest in Peace Patrolman William Reed Templin. Thank You for your brave Service and Sacrifice protecting America's Steel Roadways.

I Pray for Peace for your Family, Friends and the men and women who now serve. I also Pray that while some of your murderers escaped punishment here on this earthly realm that the hounds of hell are now or soon will be gnawing on their sorry bones. May nothing but thorn bushes and weeds grow on their graves. May their sorry souls be consumed by the lake of fire.

Amen.

Senior Special Agent B.L. Sherwood
Port Terminal Railroad Police Houston, TX

May 19, 2016

IN HONORE CASORUM
The Promise: Always honored, never forgotten.

Sgt. T. J. Jones
Greater Cleveland Transit Police Department, Ohio

July 9, 2015

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

May 19, 2015

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

May 19, 2013

Rest in peace brother thank you for your service

John Mangan

September 21, 2012

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 38th 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
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

May 19, 2012

Patrol In Peace!! Your passing was senseless!! God Bless you and yours, Sir!!

Bryndon E. Wall
Penn Central Enthusiast

May 5, 2011

35 years have gone by, NO hero goes unforgotten.

Rest easy, brother. Watch out for the rest of us.

Deputy & Firefighter
Southwest Florida

August 26, 2009

As my career's end is coming closer, I decided to check and find those who had lost their lives during the year that I was hired. While it's been a long time since your passing, I'm sure those you left behind and those whom with you served with distinction have kept you alive in their memories. Thank you for your service and for looking out for us who continue in our chosen profession. Rest in peace Patrolman Templin.

Sgt. Robert Mau Sr.
PD Joliet IL

December 16, 2008

Rest in Peace brother. You will be remembered.

I was only 13 when you were taken needlessly from this earth and your family. I do remember losing you. At that age I often told my parents I wanted to be a "COP". I remember being at a NMRA model railroad convention w/ my father and friends of my father. (I think it was Dayton,OH), we were avid model railroaders and we were watching PC trains, I remember my fathers friends talking about your death. I do remember your death bothering me and my father saying "are you sure you want to be a police officer?" I told him yes, I would like to be a "Penn Central Officer". We continued watching the trains.

Well, Long story short, when I turned 21, Penn Central no longer existed. It was Conrail. I passed the testing for Conrail, but I was not happy with where I would be stationed. I took a job w/ a Montgomery County Police Department. I worked my way up through the ranks. Eventually became Chief of Police in a SC PA community.

So here I am. 34 years later, Looking at the Fallen officer memorial web page and I find you. I was happy to see that you were being remembered and memorialized. It brought back memories of those days with my father (God rest his soul, he passed away in 2003)and his friends. I do really remember your death, and it disturbs me to this day.

Hopefully brother, you rest in peace and you are in a happy place. Your senseless execution by radicals will not be forgotten. God Bless my friend, you and your family deserve the best. I will check back. You will not be forgotten!

CHIEF DON BOEHS
CUMBERLAND TWP. PD

October 23, 2008

Today makes 34 years. RIP, Brother.

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

May 19, 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

January 24, 2008

Thirty-three years ago, on the day Patrolman Templin needlessly lost his lost his life, I was a Patrolman with PCRR PD, assigned to a truck-train yard in South Kearny, New Jersey (Newark Division). As Probationary Patrolmen, we solemnly read the notice of his death and the posted circumstances, and realized how dangerous our jobs really were.

The seventies were a very rough time for all LEOs, but I believe that the sacrifices made by brave men like Ptlm. Templin prompted our profession into improving police training and policies and preventing many such tragedies.

Rest in peace, Patrolman William Reed Templin, you did not die in vein.

Commander Mark Laderwarg
Melbourne (Fl) Police Department

March 29, 2007

Far too often railroad police officers are not noticed or not acknowledged. I am glad to see Patrolman Templin honored here. Justice may be blind, but these officers are the healthy eyes of the rails. God bless William Reed Templin, and his fellow high-iron officers for their work and countless sacrifices.

EMT M.J. Ryan
NJ EMT & Railroad Enthusiast

December 7, 2006

Though the practice continues at many colleges and universities, I will not go into the insanity of sending unarmed Police Officers into the field.

Patrolman Templin, you helped to protect one of the vital parts of our economy, a job that is all too often overlooked by the general public. You had guts to go out there without a firearm, but I know it was not your choice and who can say for sure if a gun would have saved your life that night. I admire your courage and mourn your death on this 32nd anniversary of your murder. I know you have never truly left your family's side and continue to protect, even today.

God Bless and may you be Resting in Peace, Brother.

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

May 19, 2006

Rest in Peace Sir.

May 19, 2006

We will not let you be forgotten. Rest in peace, my brother.

POMFCC

March 11, 2004

Agent Templin...although I did not know you, I think of you quite often as the precise location where you were taken from our profession is on my beat. I also instruct a course on officer safety involving railroads. Your memory is honored by each officer in every class I teach. God bless.

Special Agent Dennis Duncan
Norfolk Southern Railway Police

February 21, 2004