Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Officer Swaney,
On today, the 25th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Davidson. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

December 25, 2022

25 years. Where did it go? I remember like it was yesterday. R.I.P. sor.

Michael Roberts
Former officer

December 25, 2022

It's Christmas, 2022. Unbelievably, 25 years. You are still missed...and you are still remembered.

NC Officer

December 25, 2022

Patrolman Swaney, rest in peace.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 9, 2019

21 yrs gone but the memories are still the same. Merry Christmas.

David Carleton
Retired

December 25, 2018

Hard to believe it's been 19 yrs......

David C

December 25, 2016

My faithful servant.
You were called upon to serve others.
You were asked to see, what no man should ever have to see.
To go through, what no man should ever have to go through.
But you did so with pride, honor, and integrity.

My faithful servant.
You were called upon to defend those, who could not defend themselves.
To provide justice to those, who did not respect it.
To lay down your life, if the time called for it.
Again, you did not question what was asked of you.
You did it with love, compassion, and loyalty.

My faithful servant.
In times of adversity, you prayed for strength.
In times of triumph, you praised your Lord.
You served your Country, State, and city proud.
Your service will forever be remembered by the many lives you’ve touched.

My faithful servant.
When your service on this earth is finally complete.
I will welcome you home with open arms.
I will embrace you and proclaim,
“Well done thou good and faithful servant.”

RIP my brother, the Lord has taken you home.

Sergeant Barton
Garden City Police Department

December 4, 2016

Mark I made it. I retired from CDIA in 2003 and I wish you could have been there in person. How I found myself here on your page today was a video of an officer struggling with a suspect and people in the crowd were pulling on the officer. No shots were fired and the suspect ran with the officer in foot pursuit. The public has gotten worse in the area of respect and the command staff has gotten even worse.

Retired Jr Merwin
CDIA Police

June 9, 2016

Not a Christmas goes by with out thinking about you and the times we had a CDIA.......or seeing Debra Norvill on TV and remembering the city was too cheap to put am/fm radios in the Blazers so we had to listen to her on nights...............Keep watching over us.

David Carleton
Retired US State dept contractor

December 25, 2015

Well old Brother,
it was over 20 years ago when I started working at the Airport with you. We had a lot of good times and a lot of good laughs along with old Bobby! I hope you're resting well and know you are thought of often.

J.S. Franklin
CMPD

December 24, 2015

I do not believe that the discovery of this page is by coincidence. It is a confirmation from the Lord thy God! I was speaking with my Davidson (NC) neighbor last night (Ms. Alison Goldstein) for quite some time, and it turned into a spiritual conversation of sorts. She mentioned "angels". She suddenly said, "I must tell you something, some might think I'm crazy, but I believe that Office Swaney is my angel looking down on me, protecting me". I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA ABOUT OFFICER SWANEY. She then informed me about the man she knew, and his passing in 1997. As I was searching online for some non-related Town of Davidson information, lo and behold this page comes up first! I just shook my head and said, "My Lord". May the spirit of the Lord be with Officer Swaney, and all those he impacted, those that loved him, and those he left behind. Ms. Goldstein spoke about him as if it were yesterday.

Annie Edwards

October 13, 2015

Still missing you Mark after 17 years. We think of you often and wish you were still here with us. God bless and take care of us down here bud....

Sergeant J. R. Fleming
NC State Highway Patrol

December 25, 2014

Thinking of you and your family and your Police family this Christmas Day.

David Lowery
Birmingham, Alabama Police Department

December 25, 2014

You've been gone for 16 years now and your memory lingers especially during the holidays. I think of you often and wonder what you'd be like 16 years later, still as funny as ever, I'm sure. Keep watching over us from above. You'll always be remembered brother, rest in peace.

Captain Clayton Fleming
Mooresville Police Department

December 24, 2013

I remeberd you today, you memory was never far from my mind so I made it to this site, My thoughts goes to your Family, Friends and fellow officer, What I remeber of Mark , that he was very funny had a great sense of humor, even thoughyou played a few Joks on me at the time, I am sure you looking down smiling, I hope everyone that knew you rembers you this and evey Christmas and say a prayer for you family, you are gone but never forgotten
You’re Friend
Amici, Joe

Joseph
Amici Pizzaria

December 24, 2013

Mark- You were a great friend and we shared many laughs during our brief time here together. I , too, was sitting down with the family, heard the news, and immediately worried that you were working. Then I got the call and drove to the hospital. I am so sorry .Your friendship meant a lot to me and I never got to tell you that .I just didn't think this would ever happen to Mark Swaney. Your mom sent me a Christmas card every year afterwards, all the way up to the time she joined you in heaven. There's not a Christmas that goes by that I don't think about you and remember that awful day. I want you to know how proud of you we all are and how much less of a place this is without you here with us.Take care, and God bless you. I' m sure your having a ball in heaven.See you old friend......

Jeff
friend

February 6, 2013

I responded that night to the call as a CMPD Officer. I always worked Christmas so the guys and gals with children could be off. I and another officer were setting up on I-77 and Sunset that evening commenting on how quiet it was for a Christmas. Then we heard all the commotion on the radio. We both headed that way and were some of the first on scene. As a young officer I made my way through the crowd and to Mark. The EMT's were on scene and as I knelt down by your side I knew from the EMT that look no fellow officer wants to get. I never knew you before that night but I routinely responded to the north end for calls. Every Christmas I take a moment to remember you. That night, the most holy of all nights where such incidents should never happen happened. I too have never spoke or written anything until now, 15 years after the event. I have always kept it in my mind and never forgot. I also remember your partner that night who was also shot. God Bless and I am reminded by scripture in the bible that says, "Blessed are the peacekeepers." Truly a man or woman who would lay down their life for those they don't know will be rewarded by God above. I am no longer with CMPD. I left a year later to go with the NCSBI where I remain today. My heart goes out to the family for a son they can no longer be with. God Bless and know Mark did not die without ever being remembered by a fellow officer who never knew him until December, 25, 1997! I will remember this until I take my last breath on this earth.

A fellow Officer~
Former CMPD Charlie 1

December 25, 2012

I drove through Davidson today~ I have driven through it dozens upon dozens of times since you left us ~ always with thoughts of you filling my mind and wonderful memories filling my heart. I have walked Main Street with my daughter in the North Mecklenburg Christmas Parade and watched her dance on the stage at Mooresville Senior High School where your band picture (yes that goofy picture of you) still hangs in the hallway just outside the auditorium. During those times some part of me still expects to see you there. But when in Davidson I have always stayed on Main Street or Griffith St~ never have I gone anywhere near that place where your life was stolen from you and from all of us who knew you and loved you. To know you was to love you. And we all love you still. I know that because today in Davidson I turned down a different street after leaving an appointment~ I was simply thinking maybe this way will get me back to the office faster~ it is Friday… I would like to go home on time this afternoon~ See my kids~ Hang out with my husband…I looked around at the new cute little houses, the people out and about and then suddenly it all changed…My mind froze…my heart stopped…I was there…driving through the part of Davidson I had never allowed myself more than a passing glance at…I felt panic…I felt pain…I felt scared…I was where it happened December 25, 1997 and it felt like not a day had passed since that night…I was back at CMPD…grabbing the police radio in my office….turning it to Charlie 4…hearing the Davidson officers checking out at the scene …writing them all down on my hand with a pen while praying to hear C421…you…answer up that you were there…mad as Hell but there…ready to take care of it all…and you never did…
I wanted to write this reflection down to let you know that so many people still think of you every day…they don’t have to write a reflection on this page. It took me almost 15 years to do so myself…You are remember in so many ways…by everyone whose life you touched…I have showed my children your pictures and taken them to visit your grave. They know what a special person you were and what a dear friends I lost. You live on today in the stories I tell them about you. Their favorite one is how you would do the best impersonation of Grover from Sesame Street….”Near…..FAR”…..I swear I will never do it justice…but I try.
So here’s to all my memories of you Mark~ and all my love my friend….whether you are “near or FAR”….I hope one day to be near you again in Heaven.

A faithful friend~
Former CMPD

June 1, 2012

Thinking of you and all of your loved ones during this holiday season. I know they think of you every day and will continue to do so. Keep watch over all of them. You will never be forgotten.

Bob Gordon
Father of Fallen Chicago Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

December 26, 2011

Really miss you man. Good cop and a great friend. Seems like yesterday you graduated rookie school and we were reflecting on the training. Then those cool years of working together and backing each other up. Great times, never forgotten, and neither are you.

Patrol Officer Stan Moore
Davidson College Campus Police

October 22, 2011

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 12th 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 murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer and NC native Larry Lasater

December 30, 2009

I'll soon be attending a wake for your name sake "Swaney" the K9. They say animals don't go to Heaven, but maybe God will make an exception in this case and you guys can go on patrol together. Christmas has never been the same.

Hank

March 10, 2009

Hello Mark, I'm thinking of you and your family during the holiday season. I think of you often just more during the holiday's because it brings back the thoughts of the night you left us. Continue to watch over us and I'll see you again soon. I miss you brother, take care of us down here............

MASTER TROOPER J.R. FLEMING
NC STATE HIGHWAY PATROL

December 23, 2008

i miss you sooo much. There is not a day that goes by that you are not in my thoughts.

April 1, 2008

Mark,
I can't believe it has been ten years. I think of you every day, and I usually have a smile on my face thinking of all the fun and crazy things we did. I miss you..

A Friend

January 2, 2008