Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

RIP Officer Gadja. Always remembered.

Deputy Sheriff Los Angeles
County Sheriff

January 2, 2024

RIP and RIH Officer Steven Gajda. Thank you for your service. NEVER FORGOTTEN!!!

Detective
Inglewood Police Department

November 4, 2023

God bless your brave family! Thank you for the ultimate sacrifice

Lt Larry Meters
NYPD

January 1, 2023

Officer Gajda,
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 Los Angeles. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

January 1, 2023

Good morning Steven G Gajda lol saying this name of a one of kind human being that left his mark in this world

Lorie Cerda
Sister friend

April 23, 2022

My dearest son,

It’s been 24 years since you’ve left us. I have a huge hole in my heart son. But I really appreciate your constant visits. Especially at Brittany‘s wedding. I was so proud how she included you in her ceremony. Mark was the person who married them. And when he asked who gives this woman to this man Sabrina took your jacket stood next to Brittany and she says, her father and I do.

Brittany mentioned you many times throughout the night. And as I said many people there, including all of your officer friends that joined us. It was wonderful that Eric and his beautiful wife Kelly was there also. They live very close to us.

A lot as happened since you’ve been gone. There are so many family members who have passed on. And now, believe it or not, You have a total of 13 nieces and nephews. Oh no wait a minute you only have 11, two of those kids were yours.

Brittany and her amazing husband are planning on starting a family right away. There’s been a lot going on in my life which I won’t get into, but I pray that I will be here to hold your grandchild and my great grandchild in my arms. We all love you so much STEVE. And I just want you to know that every single. One of your nieces and nephews know everything there is to know about you. I believe you know your niece Oakley, Mark and Heather‘s child, because four hours after she was born, she joined you in heaven. I know you’re holding onto her sweetheart.

One of your very old friends from Hollenbeck is in the hospital fighting for his life. I’m praying for him that he makes it through his open heart surgery tomorrow. Every time I been around him all he does is talk about you and they all days.

Well son going to sign off for now. My love for you grows more and more each day. As does the love I have for my other children and grandchildren. God has truly blessed me and I’m so grateful. I will write to you again soon kind of fill you in and prepare you for what’s going on in my life.

Until the Day God calls me home, I will continue to live my life thanking the good Lord for all my blessings. And anytime God is ready to call me home I am certainly ready to be back with my son again. There is no love like a mothers love.

Eternally and forever,
Your mother, Christine Hester

Christine Hester
LAPD - Mother

January 16, 2022

January 9, 24 Years Honey Bear since the day we laid you to rest and each year now only brings me closer to the day I see you again when the Lord calls me home. Thank you for the LOVE and PROTECTION you gave which always gave me confidence and strength and continues to give me the confidence and strength to do this earthly life without you by my side....a STANDARD to remember to live by. No matter what Steven, GOD is and always will be in control.

As you use to say "I LOVE YOU ALL THE WORLD!"

Forever Your Princess
Wife

January 8, 2022

Steven Gajda, Its been 22 yrs since you have passed. You treated my daughter Raylene like she was your own. Raylene is now 28yrs old. She talks abt you all the time. I will always remember how you treated her and my family. Thank you very much. We will be going to your grave site soon to show our respects. R.I.P. my friend.

Henry Maldonado
Friend

June 22, 2020

Officer Gajda,
To You, your Family and Loved One please forgive my previous post getting the anniversary of your EOW wrong. And thank you again for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Los Angeles

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

January 2, 2020

Officer Gajda,
On today, the 21st anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Los Angeles. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

January 1, 2020

Tomorrow is another birthday we will face without you to celebrate! It’s almost twenty two years since we lost you. You left behind so many memories. You touch so many life’s. God Bless you son. Looking forward to the day I will see you again. Love you and miss you so much.

Mom
Christine Hester

October 29, 2019

Rest in peace Officer Gajda.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

February 25, 2019

RIP. You are always remembered.

Deputy Sheriff Los Angeles
County Sheriff

January 1, 2019

Another year has come and gone my son. I'm another year older but none the wiser because even after 21 years I still haven't figured out how to stop the pain and emptiness since you left us. Last night many gathered once again to pay their respect to a fallen brother. Son, you are loved by so many people. We have been holding these candlelight prayer vigils in your memory for many year now. Austin used to ask for a show of hands of how many of the officers were on duty that night. In the beginning there were so many hands raised and now there are only a few left. Last night there were only six or seven there who knew you. When I got up to speak I made mention of this and how it didn't matter. I brought up the fact that your sisters in law and all your nieces and nephews didn't know you either. But they KNOW of you and what a special person you will always be. We had a couple of visiting gang units from other Divisions come last night. These men and women look so young, but then again so where you. Austin mentioned last night that even though your last birthday, October 30, 2018 would have been your 50th you will forever remain that strong, brave, tenacious 29 year old we all know and love. I pointed out to him that in only eight short years you will have been gone from us as long as you lived. Maybe these are only things that a Mother would think about. As you know, this has been a very difficult year for me. I had that horrible accident that rendered me disabled for over five months now. The officers at Hollenbeck, lead by Captain Labrada and the PBA held a fund raiser for me. I was completely in the dark about this and was extremely emotional when the check was presented to me. I told your brother Brian that I felt so loved! But then I actually began to think about how God has blessed me. In the past 21 years I have developed many long time friendships. People who I have come to think of as family. Then I think of the price I had to pay for those relationships. It was far too high in spite of everything. Son even though you're gone I feel you in my heart constantly. You're right next to me in the car when I drive. Any decisions I make I'm usually following a premonition from you. Not once have I ever tried to portray our mother-son relationship as being perfect. But there is only one perfect person, and that is God. The rest of us are humans who sin and make mistakes. God loves us so much he gave His only son for us so we may be forgiven and live an eternal life. I'm trying hard to live God's way. I'm doing whatever I can to assure my place in heaven so we can be together again some day. Until then son, rest in peace. I love you more and more each passing day!

Eternally Yours, Mom

January 1, 2019

I met Steve the new years Eve at Finova Capital Los Angeles, He came to the office to see his wife. He was a gentleman and very respectful. That evening the news reported shooting and I heard his name in the report. I was devastated and cried.
I was in shock. He came by our office many times that year and his wife and him were so cute together, they made me smile.
God bless his family and all who worked with him . It is still on our minds all these years

Adrienne Rodriguez co worker of wife
Adrienne Rodriguez Friend

November 15, 2018

50 .....coming up on 21 its been too long not having you around ...but the memories will always keep you in our hearts there isnt a day that doesnt go by that your not there you will always be here in spirit wirh us much love too family and friends who adored you including me brother Steve love you forever ......

Lorie Cerda and Steven Brendan
Sis from another mother

September 24, 2018

Steve,
Rest In Peace. I’m glad I knew you and grateful for those memories. You were always a good man. Blessings to your family and friends.

-s.o.
Friend

May 30, 2018

Rest In Peace Sir thank you for your service to the community. May God bless your family and friends

Monica Gonzalez
(Recruit) LASD

May 15, 2018

I first met Steve in March of 1992 when I arrived to Hollenbeck Division after completing probation. After working with him in patrol, we later worked CRASH together. Steve was a great cop and a very funny guy; he made work a lot of fun. He lived life to the fullest and I am grateful for having had the privilege of knowing him and working with him.

I recently attended the 20th Anniversary Memorial at Hollenbeck Station. It was a very emotional ceremony and brought back a lot of memories. It was a pleasure seeing family and friends honoring and remembering Steve.

I am the team captain for the Hollenbeck Baker to Vegas running team. This year, the team is dedicating the race to Steve in honor of his courage, dedication to duty and the ultimate sacrifice he made. This will be my 25th and final race and I will be thinking of Steve every step of the way. God Bless you Steve.

Detective Adrian Parga
LAPD, HOLLENBECK DIVISION

January 12, 2018

Rest In Peace Brother in Blue. You are honored and remembered on the 20th anniversary of your EOW. Thank you and your family for your sacrifice and service.

Officer Mike Robinson (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA

January 1, 2018

I can't believe it's coming up on 20 years since we lost you brother. Thanks for watching over us.

Police Officer III
LAPD

December 2, 2017

I still wear my "memorial bracelet" (I'm on my second one) with your name on it. I think of you all time, I think of all the fun times we had together living in Alhambra.

See you on the other side Brother.

I miss you & Love you.

Cesar Leal

Police Officer C. Leal
LAPD Classmate

November 27, 2017

Happy Birthday Son!

There is never a day that goes by that I don't think of you. I miss you with all my heart. You were the child who first gave me the title "Mother" and I cherish that title. I cherish that title as much as I cherish my sons.

Your brothers have beautiful families and you have seven nieces and one nephew. None of them ever had the pleasure of meeting their Uncle Steve. But they all know exactly who you are and what a Hero you are.

Love you son, Happy Birthday. Until we are together again.

Mom
Mother

October 30, 2017

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

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

September 21, 2017

Rest In Peace Brother, you are not forgotten

Officer Mike Robinson, (Ret)
City of Upland, CA

August 25, 2017