Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Our dispatch center received a call from an anonymous citizen that our department helicopter (Angel 1) had crashed. The person gave a general rural county area as the location. I was on patrol and located the crash. Both occupants were still alive but the pilot (Sgt. Wilkinson) had obvious back injuries and unknown internal injuries. He had also been rendered blind by the accident. Sgt. Wikinson died of his injuries shortly afterwards. I was detailed to notify his family of the crash and of his death. The observer (Reserve Deputy Gloria Baxter) spent many months in the hospital recovering from her injuries.

Another helicopter crash (Angel 2) on October 23, 1980 took the lives of 2 more of our deputies. See Deputy Bliss Magly and Deputy Brent Jameson on ODMP for further information.

Our helicopter program continues to provide valuable and life saving service to our county (Sonoma County CA) and surrounding jurisdictions.

This was the first of 2 line of duty death notifications to family of my friends and fellow deputies that I was to make during my 31 year career with the Sheriff’s Office.

Rest in Peace my Brothers.

Captain Mike Brown
Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office (CA)

November 16, 2024

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

Officer Mike Robinson (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA

April 17, 2018

Rest in Peace, Detective Sergeant Wilkinson. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

January 22, 2012

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 32nd 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

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater

April 17, 2009

No fellow California law enforcement personnel killed in the line-of-duty, should be forgotten.

Detective Sergeant Wilkinson, may Your Soul Rest-In-Peace

Maj M. B. Parlor
USMC / LAPD

April 17, 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

December 6, 2007

GOD BE WITH YOU BROTHER.

J.CISNEROS
LOS ANGELES SCHOOL POLICE

August 2, 2005

I'm honored to be the first to leave a memorial reflection. Thank you for your service. God's peace be with you.

Michigan Resident

September 29, 2004