Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Well Sean,

It has been 8 years since this tragic chain of events. The feeling of loss and pain are still just as hard and deep, as the night I stood at the scene. They say time heals all, Well that is not true, We just recover from it a little faster.

You are not forgotten. Keep watch over us.

Kevin Wright

Sergeant Kevin Wright
Orland Hills/ markham

September 20, 2005

Hey, Sean. Just stopping by. You were on my mind. It will be eight years in September. Where does the time go? April 30th will be my 12th year on the street. It would've been 10 years for you. I still miss my good buddy. Man, the laughs we would've had all these years. Wish I could've done something to change what happened and this would be just a bad dream but it was God's will and I accept that. It was a bitter, bitter pill to swallow. I'm just trying to make it to retirement if the good Lord is willing. Rest in peace, my brother.

Patrolman Samuel Harris #528
Markham (IL) Police Department

April 17, 2005

ONE MOMENT

In the whisper of the wind,
I felt God embrace me.
As the voice of a loved one,
I heard God speak to me
Looking in a mirror
I saw God smile at me.
One moment and I knew
That God and I were one.

February 26, 2005

~~~~~The Broken Chain~~~~~

We little knew that morning that God was going to call your name.~~In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same.~~It broke our hearts to lose you, you did not go alone; for part of us went with you, the day God called you home.~~You left us peaceful memories, your love is still our guide; and though we cannot see you, you are always at our side.~~Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same; but as God calls us one by one, the Chain will link again.

January 25, 2005

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

Rest in peace.

December 28, 2004

Well Sean we have just passed the 7 yr mark. On the 20th of September I thought about you all day. You are missed but never forgotten.
Just the other day Sam was over by my house, and we remembered several "Sean stories."
Sean continue to watch over us, keep us safe.
Rest well my friend.

Kevin

Sgt Kevin Wright
Orland Hills

September 22, 2004

Sean, I'm sitting here seven years after you left us, and remembering. Rest in peace, my friend, my brother. We won't let you be forgotten.

PJN

September 20, 2004

sean i never had the pleasure of meeting you,i hear good things about you from det eric keyes..harvey police dept.that you were "the real police"..may god bless you and your family...and keep watch over your brothers & sisters in blue...god speed.

skip roberson

August 17, 2004

Hello Sean,

Although I never had the pleasure of meeting you, after reading the other officers reflections, I felt moved to leave my own.

You've made your own imprint on life Sean. Usually we don't know why something has occurred and we won't until there's enough distance to take a backward glance. Sean the reason you were born was to leave your own mark on your individual/personal world that cannot be removed. At the end of our journey we always arrive where we started. Sean your life will live on thru the seeds you planted here on earth that is lived thru family, friends, and fellow officers alike. Now you're looking out for them daily on the other side thru that golden mirror called heaven.

I Wish I had met you Sean, but I feel like I know you thru Sam Harris!

To Ms. Laura (Your Mother): The long sigh of your soul was your surrender and acceptance of losing your son. I'm sure it brought many quiet tears and prayer. The reflections written by your son's fellow officers speaks of your bravery. I want to say, Ms. Laura "It's all right, for it's simply part of Sean's journey". (GOD BLESS YOU)

TO SAM: I know how hard your struggle was in losing your best friend. At times you probably felt like a pressure cooker - unable to allow the steam to escape. For acceptance Sam, brings with it so much relief and release.

Your heart beats to a different vibration now of the reality of losing Sean and allowing/enabling you to take your next steps in life as Sean would want you to as a good fellow police officer.

TO SEAN'S FELLOW POLICE OFFICERS: You all were blessed having known Sean. Each day offers it's own gift and all of you gave Sean the gift of your time. From your writings about Sean he nurtured your imaginations.

I'm sure, as I said to another fellow co-worker(Sam), Sean would want you to make the absolute best of what God made you to be and that is good Police Officers.

For you officers take leap after leap in the dark (so-to-speak) when going on a call. Your calls are like Art: you take a risk with your lives everyday ---- one small or bold stroke and unforunately a real risk that can change your life permanently. Art evolves.....So Does Life! (Thank You For Protecting us Civilians)

PASSION

June 24, 2004

Well Sean,

For some reason I was thinking of you today, well for about the last 5/6 weeks. I always think about you and the "calls, raids" we would go on. I always thought you were a top cop, a upcomer in the PD. Since you have passed so many things have changed. Many. But I know you are in heaven working a beat. Bugging saying Markham 389 B- Boooooy> just to aggravate him. And the times we would rile Sam up and turn him lose on an unsuspecting public.

Sean, We all miss you watch out for us, keep us safe.
Until we see each other again, you are not FORGOTTEN.

Kevin Wright ( former Sgt Markham PD)

Kevin Wright (Former Sgt Markham PD)
Orland Hills PD Patrol Division

October 30, 2003

It's been 6 long years since my childhood friend, Officer Sean Laura, was taken away from all of us. I still miss him so much. It's amazing how people meet. I met an officer, Sam, on AOL and we bonded immediately, having such a great friend to share memories with. I just want everyone to know that I love Sean with all my heart. He was like a brother to me and I will forever have his memory in my heart. My condolences and prayers go out to the Laura family and his mother was like a mother to me. I'll never forget you Sean...NEVER!!

Dwayne A. Kellogg, Sr.

October 19, 2003

Oct. 10, 2003

Just dropping some lines for my fallen friend. Sean, I miss you, man. There's only a handful of us left at the department who still give a damn. I just trained a 21-year-old kid fresh out of the academy. I made sure he knew who you were. I drove him to your mother's house to meet her. He's a good one, Sean. I don't know what your assignment is up there in heaven but if you catch a break, peek down at us and give us a heads-up if you see something we don't. I bet the Throne of God is beyond breathtaking. I'm struggling down here but I'm walking through the flames, well, crawling, but I'm still pressing towards the mark.

"For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all of your ways." - Psalms 91:11

I hope you're one of them, Buddy.

It is sad reading the never-ending list of fallen officers and the sadness their deaths inflicts upon those who were closest to them. If my number is called before I retire, I want everyone to know I died doing what I absolutely loved. Tears may be shed but I hope they will know in their hearts, "That boy loved being the police." They said that about you, Buddy. God has rescued me from some bad situations that made my heart nearly jump out of my throat but you know me, Sean, wherever the eye of the hurricane is, that's where you'll find me. We are a special breed of man. We run into what others run away from.

Rest in peace, Buddy. I'm still carrying the torch. You will not be forgotten. I won't allow it.

Patrol Officer Samuel Harris #528
Markham (IL) Police Department

October 10, 2003

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

Peace Officers Memorial Foundation of Cook County Illinois

September 1, 2003

It's hard to believe nearly three years have gone by since my buddy Sean was killed. Time has helped me accept the reality of what happened that night of September 20, 1997 but I don't know if I'll ever get over it. Not a day goes by when he doesn't cross my mind. I miss my friend. I hate that the officers at my department who were hired after his death never had the privilege of meeting Sean. This year would've marked his fifth year as a police officer. Sean, Tim Tyler (now an Illinois State Trooper) and myself were the Three Amigos. We were supposed to grow old together, sharing laughter and police stories. I guess it just wasn't meant to be. Sean, if you hear me, keep watching my back out there. I still miss you, Buddy.

Patrol Officer Samuel Harris
Markham (IL) Police Department

TIME HAS PASSED AND IT SEEMS THAT I SHOULD CONTINUE WITH MY LIFE, BUT I CAN'T. EVERYDAY IS A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT I LOST A PARTNER AND A SPECIAL FRIEND. MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE MS. PATRICIA ANN LAURA LOST HER ONLY CHILD SEAN P. LAURA. MY PRAYS GO TO HER. I SEE THE HURT ON HER FACE ALL THE TIME. EVEN THOUGH SHE IS A VERY STRONG WOMAN, AND HELD MANY OF OFFICER'S LAURA'S FRIENDS AT SEAN'S FUNERAL. I WISH THAT GOD COULD GIVE HER PEACE OR HER SON BACK. MAY GOD FOREVER BLESS THE LAURA FAMILY. WE ALL MISS SEAN.

Timothy Tylor
Illinois State Police

It has been nearly a year and a half since Sean Laura was killed in the line
of duty on Sept. 20, 1997. The arrest and murder conviction of the person who
evaded arrest by Sean and subsequently set in motion the terrible sequence of
events that lead to Sean's death was a hollow victory for me. The offender was
sentenced to 40 years but even if he had gotten the death penalty, it would
not have reconciled the grief and the great sense of loss that remains lodged
in my heart like a sword imbedded in concrete. I was on my way to back up Sean
that fateful night and I was too late. It is a police officer's worst
nightmare, arriving at the scene of an officer-needs-assistance call and
seeing that officer, that uniform with his star mounted prominently on his
chest, lying still and lifeless in the street. I futilely shouted his name at
him, figuring if he was going to respond to anybody, he would respond to his
friend. But that's not the way I want to remember my friend. My lasting memory
of him was an hour before the incident. I was on a call and, without having
being summoned, I looked up and there was Sean, stepping out of his patrol car
with a big grin on his face. He normally worked first shift (midnight to 8
a.m.) but he'd switched days with another officer and was working 3rd shift (4
p.m. to midnight) on this day. Once I'd cleared the call, like we had done on
hundreds of occasions, Sean and I stood there, hurled friendly insults at each
other, laughed and before we re-entered our vehicles, we shook hands as only
we could shake hands. Firm and vice-like, trying desperately to squeeze the
other's hand until one of us yanked away. He was a big young guy (25, 6-0,
220) compared to me (5-9, 160), the "old" guy at 32, so this was always an
uphill battle for me. But, of course, neither of us ever gave in. Pride
wouldn't allow us to give the other the satisfaction. Then we told each other,
"Later, man." I had no idea at the time that would be my last moment with my
friend. I thank God everyday for giving me that moment. We had parted as we
had met, with a smile and a handshake.

My department lost an officer. I lost so much more, my good, good friend. I
could trust my life and the life of my family with Sean and I would have
gladly laid down my life for him and his family. In my mind, the greatest
honor that could ever be bestowed upon a police officer is to be regarded his
or her peers as a "good cop". Commendations, promotions and titles are nice
but if you're not considered a "good cop" by the men and women who work with
you, those items carry no more honor than they would if they were obtained as
a prize from a box of Cracker Jacks. Sean was a "good cop". His final act as a
police officer proved that. Sean could've decided that self-preservation meant
more to him than the sworn oath he took as a law enforcement officer and
ignored the car he chased or pretended he didn't see it and not put himself in
a position to lose his life. But Sean did his job, a job he loved. To be
effective in this job, you have to love it. It broke my heart to lose him but
at the same time, I've never been more proud of him. Rest in peace, my friend.
I'll never forget.

Patrol Officer Samuel Harris
Markham Police Department, IL

In September of 1998 the subject that was responsible for the death of Officer Laura was brought to trial. After many hours of intense investigation and preparation for trial. As the trial proceeded it ripped open the healed wounds we had as a department. It seemed like it had just happened. As the department  members and family members sat in court waiting for the verdict a great deal of reflecting went on . As the verdict was read by the judge a sense of closure was felt. Although we will never forget Sean. With the finding of guilty against the offender was read not a single eye was dry. This entire incident has been a extremely emotional; experience. One that I hope no one will ever have to endure

Sgt. Kevin Wright
Markham Police Department, IL

Oh, these stories just tear my heart out! I just wish they weren't true.
It has been 5 years now and I know that pain must still be so deep, but it's a good thing to keep his memory alive. I feel for his Mom. I can't
imagine losing your only child. My heart goes out to all of you and may you seek the Lord for his comfort and strength and peace! God Bless!!

Lynn Kole
Washington State