Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Dave, I had the opportunity and pleasure to work with you during most of the year’s that I was assigned at Lakewood Sheriff Station. Many of your friends and co-workers described your laughter and your diligent work ethics, and that too is how I remember you. You were always there backing me or another unit up during traffic stops. And after we completed our business you always had something cheerful to say, and always reflected a positive attitude.

Dave, your assignment here on this earth is now completed, you’ve gone 10-98 and entered through the pearly gates of heaven’s scenes. I know that your watching over all of your Law Enforcement Family as well as your own Loved Ones. May you rest in peace my Brother and God Bless your family and help them through their bereavement.


Ed Garcia- Lakewood Sheriff Station 84-94

Ed Garcia
LASD/LKD 84-94

"It's not how this man died that made him a hero, it's how he lived his life." ~Officer Down Memorial~
Thank you for making the Ultimate Sacrifice. You will never be forgotten. My heart reaches out to the family and friends od Deputy Powell. Gods speed Sir.

Andi -Criminal Justice Student

Sir, I want you and your fellow deputies to know I read the story of your heroic death to my troops in roll call. Your actions were truly those of a self-less hero! The other reflections tell the story that you were a true and dilligent officer who took his love for life to work with him everyday. I am so sorry for your family and your co-workers! My prayer is that they will find a way to deal with the loss, cherish your memory and be brave in the days ahead.

Anonymous

My deepest condolences to the family and friends of Deputy Powell. My prayers are with you all during your time of grief.

Captain Robert Van Pelt
Harris County Sheriff's Departmentceh

May your soul find peace brother.

Dan Dalley EOW 06-04-01

Officer John T. Coughran
Fruita Police Department

Dear Family,

I wanted to express my condolences to you in the death of your husband, father, grandfather, Son. I, too, lost a son in the same way David Powell died. A bullet entered his left arm and hit right above the vest ( which is squared under the armpit.) Such a sad thing when the very thing you think will save their life, is inadequately protected under the armpit. I know they have to move, but they have to live too.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Kim Toms
Mother of Officer Bill C. Bean
Sacramento Police Department
EOW 2-9-99

Kim Toms
Mother of Sacto PD officer killed

TO THE POWELL FAMILY: MY WIFE AND I, ALONG WITH THE MONO COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT PRAY FOR YOU DURING THESE HARD AND DIFFICULY TIMES. I HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF WORKING WITH DAVE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS AT LAKEWOOD STATION WHEN I WORKED FOR LASO. I HAD NOT SEEN DAVE SINCE I MOVED OUT OF THE LOS ANGELES AREA SEVERAL YEARS AGO, BUT AS I AM WRITING THIS AND THINKING ABOUT HIM, ALONG WITH THE GREAT LOSS TO HIS FAMILY, I AM CRYING. LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TRY NOT TO SHOW EMOTIONS, BUT WHEN A BROTHER GIVES HIS ALL, IT IS HARD NOT TO. ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT DAVE IS NOW WITH HIS FATHER IN HEAVEN AND THEY BOTH WILL BE WATCHING OVER US. DAVE YOU WILL BE TRUELY MISSED BY ALL. GOD BLESS YOU..!!

Deputy Ralph Obenberger
Mono County Sheriff's Department

As I'm sure you've heard many times before,
Dave Powell was a man who always had a smile on his face and everyone's best intrest at heart. He was a great man and we were blessed to have known him. His laughter will forever echo in our heart.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Eric Walters/Liz Jimenez
LASD

Dave the news of you being gone, reached all the way to ALBUQ NM. While I was assigned to LKD station from (1988-1993)I always looked up to you. You always had A cheerful up beat look on life, no matter what the circumstances were.I wont forget all the good times(working 134e,136R)at lakewood station. Dave you will be truely missed by all who knew and worked with you. Its A damm shame these things have to happen. Rest in peace Bro, SEE/YA on the FLIP/FLOP.

Deputy Ron BUCHHOLZ (EX LASD-LKD)
SANDOVAL COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE RIO RANCHO NM.

In all honesty I can say that I knew David better than anyone else. I have two thoughts to express. First the best memorial to David Powell will be for all officer's to follow the advise I gave him eighteen years ago..."When going into harms way, only another cop will back up a cop. That is because civilians will look after their own interests and priorities first. Consequently, never let a lone officer handle a situation by himself. At the very least, roll by and check on their status. Based on the reflections I have read from his fellow LASD officers, he took my advise. My command to all of you, particularly those that patrol solo, is to back each other up -- there is no such thing as a routine call. Second, if you are a solo patrol officer, take your helmet or duty cap and hang it from the headrest, like Dep. Powell did every day for 13 years, it just might give you the edge in a close situation. Finally...on the 30th of November 2002, as David said, "Oh, God...I'm shot." God asked him, "Do you still honor me?" David said, "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." And God brought him into his perfect rest. My final statement to all law enforcement officers is to study your heart and God's word -- the Bible. You are intelligent investigators, settle the question of your eternal rest prior to reporting for your next duty assignment...David did and was ready.

John R. Powell (twin brother)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Arms, and Family members.

My heart goes out to you all, and I will be thinking of you
during the next few weeks as you mourn the loss of Deputy Powell.

Take care. Your loss is a loss for all of us.
Sgt Dan Hoy

Sgt Dan Hoy
Douglas County SO Oregon

Thank you for your devotion to duty, Officer Powell. May God grant you safe passage to your next assignment on Heaven's streets, and to your family, soothing closure, and enduring peace. God Speed to you, and we'll see you on the other side. Rest easy, brother in arms.

Concerned Military Member
USAF

Dave and I worked together for a long time. When I would work our Department's mobile shooting range, Dave would always visit and qualify with his duty weapon bringing his infectious laughter with him. We had many of laughs together and it was very hard to attend his funeral. I saw that his family is strong and there only request was that he will not be forgotten. Well Dave, we'll never forget.

Dep. Jerry Berry
L.A.S.D / Cerritos

D/S Powell:
Thank you for your service and sacrifice. Please watch over us all from above. In doing so may you rest in peace.
To the family and friends of Deputy Powell:
Although I did not know David, it is easy to see by this page what those who knew him best thought of him. I only pray my colleagues have half as much admiration towards me. Long lonley roads lie ahead. Stay safe,stay strong, and stay proud. I offer my deepest condolences from the men and women of Beaufort County SC.

Sgt Tim Slupski
Beaufort County Sheriff's Office

May God give you the strength to stay strong during this time of great loss. Always remember, he left this earth doing what he did best... protecting the lives of others. My prayers are with you...

Deputy
Ventura County Sheriffs Dept.

May you now rest in Heaven...you are truly a hero...

Baltimore County Police Department

God's Grace and Peace to you, your family, and the law enforcement family~

Anonymous

To my fallen brother David, Rest In Peace. May God grant your dear family the guidence to get by their grief. The law enforcement community mourns your lost.

Detective/Bomb & Arson
Chicago P.D.

Deputy Powell,

Today as I was on my way home from school, I saw your funeral procession going down Inglewood Ave. It caused me to reflect upon how deeply grateful I am that there are men and women like yourself willing to lay it all on the line to keep the residents of LA county safe. You are a true hero. Thank you so much for your service in protecting us all.

Anonymous

Dave, how strange it is for me to walk into the back door of Lakewood Station knowing I won't see you again, or hear that familiar laughter from wherever you were in or outside. I swear I could hear you laughing inside when I was out and vice versa. To say that you were always an "up" person would be understatement. To say that you were loved and will be missed...the same. As I travel through this life, it never ceases to amaze me how the caring, wonderful people associated with our law enforcement family are always there. It lifted my spirits greatly to read the reflections left by officers, family and friends from across our great nation and beyond. To the family of one of my heroes, my sincerest condolences. Know this, he was a great man, a friend, partner and will be missed. PS. Dave, re: that statement about not seeing you again,,hopefully, God willing, that's not entirely true. God bless you and your family.
Joe Kirk

Dep. Joe Kirk
LASD

When a Brother Officer goes down a part of all officers go down with them. We truely have a brotherhood that only we can know and appreciate. Once a brother, always a brother. God Bless you and all that you have done and all that you will do by watching over your fellow brothers and sisters in blue still on earth. The Guibord Family will pray for the friends and family of Deputy Powell a true hero that will never be forgotten.....

Chief Steven C. Guibord
Naples Police Department

A FALLEN STAR-A deputy dies the other day.People mourn the loss.They shake their heads.They say,what a shame,Good men shouldnt die that way.For those who knew him truly understand all we lost the day death came and stole him away.Its not as if we dont know the risks,know that each sunrise,aned each sunset may be the last,but as for me,I believe if i was careful,and i took care of my partners it wouldnt happen here.It couldnt happen here.I lost that illusion,his death wiped it away,my loss of illusion is the least we lost that day.Partner,friend,confidante,counselor,husband,father,cop,all gone in the blink of an eye.His wife,and children left asking why.Why my husband,why my daddy,why did my hero have to die? Tears fall from my eyes, I cant begin to answer their questions,when i cant answer mine.All i have to offer are a handful of heartfelt promises. To take better care of my partners.To think first.To be a better cop.To be there for his children,to smile in times of joy.To cry in times of grief.And finally,to introduce his children to the man their daddy was.Maybe if i can show them what he stood for.Mayybe someday they can understand why he fell...

I know you are watching over all of us now.Protecting each of us everyday, so we can continue doing the job you so dearly loved. Lakewood will never be the same.Even though you have left us behind,youll always be with us in heart,spirit and mind. Rest in peace brother...

Deputy Michael Herrera
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH DAVE ON ALMOST A DAILY BASIS. HE BACKED UP CERRITOS STATION DEPUTIES CONSTANTLY, EVEN THOUGH IT WASN'T HIS BEAT. YOU DIDN'T NEEDN'T TO ASK FOR HELP. HE WAS ALREADY THERE, TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS.

WE CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE GREAT LOSS ON THIS DEPARTMENT, FAR MORE THAN ANY ORGANIZATION SHOULD HAVE TO BEAR.

DAVE WILL NOW BE WALKING A DIFFERENT BEAT WITH HIS OTHER FALLEN L.A.S.D. BROTHERS AND SISTERS. HE WILL BE SORELY MISSED AT THIS STATION ALTHOUGH, I KNOW HE'LL BE COVERING OUR BACKS FROM ABOVE.

REST WELL MY BROTHER.....

Sergeant Joseph Haertsch
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

You died trying to save the life of another. There is no greater sacrifice a man can give. Your family,friends and co-workers are proud of you.Rest easy Brother,your tour is done...

Detective
Buffalo, N.Y. Police dept

I remember Dave as one of the best partners I have ever worked with. Whenever I was on a traffic stop, Dave would role to back me up, no matter what. Even when I transferred to Cerritos Station, Dave would back me up. I will miss your bright smile and laugh. We will all miss "The Commander". Put in a good word for us up there. See you again one day brother.

Dep. Martin Klaus
LASD/CER