Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Dear Owen,
My name is Rich Beam. You served your duty and made us proud. You worked with my Father, Sgt. Charley Beam who is now resting with you. I wish the family my best and hope you are all doing well. It is to my understaning the Owen and my father were good friends. I find it comforting that my Father is in good company. I will honor both of their memories and the memories of all Fallen Heroes by doing my job the best way I can.
God Bless
Rich Beam

Officer Rich Beam
MdTA Police & Son of a friend

November 5, 2006

think you for making baltimore city a safe place .

high school student

December 31, 2005

My Brothers and Sisters, we have all sworn to perform our duties, impartially and without hesitation or fear. Our present duty, and though it be painful, is to pay a just and deserving tribute of honor to a Brother who has embarked upon that lone journey which leads through the valley of the great shadow into the sunlight of perpetual day and lasting tranquility.
These feeble but heart-felt words can do little more than remind us of the duty which we owe to our departed friend and colleague.
As he was ever faithful to us in the full performance of his task and the protection of those who slept, so let us be, my Brothers, faithful to him, ever zealous to protect and cherish the memory of his good deeds, forgetting his imperfections, and emblazoning his accomplishments.
As time runs on, in sun and shade, may we bear with us ever-pleasant memories of a hallowed friendship, a kindly feeling, and a deep respect for all our Brother stood for. As an indication of our regard and affection, let us pause and, in silent meditation, typify what mere words cannot express.
Let us pray:
Almighty God, be with us on this occasion. Strengthen us in a firm resolve to do right, to serve well, to be faithful to our tasks, to our community, and to our Brothers. Make us appreciative of the opportunities to do good and to lend a helping hand. Inspire us with a new devotion to fulfill the duties, which are entrusted to our keeping. May those who mourn be comforted in this sad hour, and may they be strengthened by the knowledge of Thy presence and Thy omnipotence.
May we be constantly reminded in the hours of the night, as well as in the brightness of the day, of Thy everlasting love and kindness, and may Thou guide us through this uncharted valley and bring us at last to the shore of the eternal stream, our ranks unbroken, to dwell with Thee forever more. We ask this humbly through Thy redeeming grace and power. Amen.

Ret. Officer William Hackley
Baltimore Police

December 16, 2005

~Christmas In Heaven~
I've had Christmas in heaven;
A glorious, wonderful day!
I stood with saints of the ages,
Who found Christ the Truth and the Way.
I sang with the heavenly choir;
Just think! I, who longed so to sing!
And oh, what celestial music
We brought to our Savior and King!
We sang the glad songs of redemption,
How Jesus to Bethlehem came
And how they had called His name Jesus,
That all might be saved through His name.
We sang once again with the angels,
The song that they sang the blest morn,
When shepherds first heard the glad story
That Jesus, the Savior, was born.

O, Darling, I wish you had been here;
No Christmas on earth could compare
With all the rapture and glory
We witnessed in Heaven so fair.
You know how I always loved Christmas;
It seemed such a wonderful day
With all of my loved ones around me;
The children so happy and gay.

Yes, now I can see why I loved it;
And oh, what a joy it will be
When you and my loved ones are with me
To share in the glories I see.
So, Dear Ones on earth, here's my greeting;
Look up till the day dawn appears
And oh, what a Christmas awaits us,
Beyond all our partings and tears!

Ret. Officer William Hackley
Baltimore Police

December 7, 2005

We ask Thy blessings and eternal rest to all our brothers and sisters
Who have sacrificed their very lives in the performance of
their duties. Give their loved ones the peace and
Strength to bear the anguish of their loss. Remove all
resentment from their hearts, knowing that eternal
peace and rest will abide their departed loved ones
forever. This we beg, Thy name forever and ever,
Amen.

Ret. Officer William Hackley
Baltimore Police

November 21, 2005

I recently received this website and while browsing, I went through everyone who died in the line of duty. I worked in the Homicide unit for 9 years and handled a lot of these senseless deaths. I worked in Homicide with my good friend Owen Sweeney when we were both Sergeants. I also worked with Owen in the Northeast district when we were patrolmen. We were promoted to Sergeant together in 1978. I remember the days leading up to that promotion, Owen was in the Burglary unit and I was in Homicide. We kidded about where we would be assigned and when promoted Owen went to Homicide and I went to patrol, go figure. I can honestly say I have never met or worked with a finer police officer. He was a credit to the department and gave many years of dedicated service. I have so many fond memories of Owen and I will always cherish them. I miss you "Big O" and may you rest in peace.

Sergeant Dick Ellwood
BCPD Ret. (Homicide)

October 30, 2005

Owen - I recall so vividly that dreadful day you made the ultimate sacrifice. I now reflect on the wonderful days we spent in Homicide, such a close knit unit, a well-oiled machine, of which you played such an integral part. It was a pleasure and an honor working with you for so many years. You are truly missed by all. Your picture still hangs in my home in your memory. Sleep in peace, Owen.

Forever in my heart - Kim

Kim Heaney (Cordwell)
BCPD - Homicide Unit

September 15, 2005

Tomorrow will mark the 8 year anniversary of your death. I will never forget that day, i heard it over the radio while i was on break. I feared it was my dad when they said the one that was shot was a supervisor. I later found out it was you. You meant so much to our family. Thankyou for all the help you gave to my brother. I don't know where he would be if it weren't for you. Watch over us. I know you are with me everyday when i leave for work. I can't believe I have finally made it. Right now I am on field training and loving every minute of it. I am even working for the same district that you did. We miss you Lt. Sweeney.

Officer Brown
Baltimore City Police

May 6, 2005

Sir,

I remember the day you passed away very well. I attended the same college your wife worked at and was there the day she was taken away to be with you. I never would have guessed that I too would fall to the same fate as she. Thank you for your years of service with BCPD and please continue to keep watch over all of us.

Mrs. Sweeney,

I think about you often. You are such an inspiration to me and someone I am honored to be able to look up to because of your strength and courage. Thank you for everything.

Jennifer Aaron
Wife of Ofc. Duke G. Aaron, III (EOW 07/20/04)

January 7, 2005

I met Lt. Sweeney one time, and was impressed with him. That one time, he was working on Christmas Eve so that officers under his command could spend time with their families. He and my father worked together in the Northeast District for many years, and my father spoke well of him.

Officer/Deputy Eric B. Beyer
Duncannon Police, Mt. Holly Springs Police, Franklin County Sheriff's

October 26, 2004

we will always miss you

officer william painter
bcpd

August 5, 2004

Thank you for your years of service to your community. Please continue to watch over us.

Anonymous
Montgomery County MD Police

May 7, 2004

i was one of many officers who responded to your call for help that day. it is hard to believe it has been almost 7 years. you are mised and your sacrifice will never be forgotten...............

anonymous
baltimore city police

April 16, 2004

In the family we called Owen, Genie.  This poem is titled "Genie" and was written by my husband the day after my brother's funeral.

"Genie"

He wore the blue uniform just like so many others,

He wore it with pride and stood straight and strong,

He did his job with grace and style,

And all the while with that familiar smile.

He was there that day to help his fellow officers out,

That was just his trait,

He possessed no malice or hate toward the man inside,

Just kindness to get him to cooperate.

What happened next those of us know,

Maybe it was fate or just plain hate,

Everything changed in a second,

Lives and futures both a like,

Is that what life is all about?

Genie left a legacy behind that know no bounds,

To him we are so proud,

He truly stood tall in the Blue Crowd.

We miss and love you and until we meet again,

Maureen & Andy Anderson
sister & brother-in-law

Say a prayer for Owen Sweeney
For the dead cannot reply,
Nor ask why the fate they met
Could not have passed them by

He might have chose another road
That had less turns and grade,
An easier path, a level track
But Service was the choice he made

Who can say if the choice was wrong,
As we lay him ‘neath the sod,
For as the final notes are played
He sits in the hand of God.

Say a prayer for Owen Sweeney

Mjaor Jeffrey Rosen
Baltimore Police Dept.

About a year ago Baltimore lost one of its finest. Lt. Owen Sweeny was killed on 07 May 98. He
helped my brother a lot. I wrote this poem and dedicated it to him.

I lay here wondering why

you are not here

you died honoring your town

and now your town is honoring you

We watched the medic speed away

and we just can't help saying,

It could of been me being taken away

The word is out

The headlines read

"A COP IS DEAD"

it shouldn't be

The flags are low

The blue lines are forming

and the bagpipes are drowning

out tears of sorrow.


As the days are passing

The pain is easing

And we will never forget

The way you were living.

Written by:

Kayhla Brown

"Let us remember

its not how they died

but the way they

lived:"

Dedicated to Owen Sweeny

killed in the line of duty 07 May 98

NE Baltimore City Police Department

Kayhla Brown
Baltimore, MD