Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Gunny Slater, as I knew him during our shared service in the US Marine Corps, was the ultimate professional and an individual of the highest integrity and dedication to his unit, the Corps and our country. I learned so much from him and think often of him & his ability to teach, lead and do everything with a smile and sense of pride and purpose.

Gunny, you are missed and I am one of many who are better for having known you.

Creighton Reed
US Marine Corps, former teammate

April 7, 2024

Deputy Sheriff Slater,
On today, the 20th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just as a Law Enforcement Officer but for our Country as well when you served with the USMC. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Semper Fi Devil Dog!
A fellow LEO;former Marine

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

August 29, 2023

Rest in peace always knowing that your service and sacrifice are always remembered by your law enforcement brethren.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

August 29, 2020

Rest in peace Deputy Sheriff Slater.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

March 29, 2019

Rip Gunny one the hardest Marines I know indeed you will be missed
Kilo 3/12
Lemond Feagin
USMC
January 23,2015

Lemond Feagin
USMC

January 23, 2015

I like Matt Dorman was a recruit under then Ssgt Slater. He was so tough. I remember flunking my swim qual and he went back o the tank with me and walked the perimeter of the pool as did the mandatory 5 min float. I went 4mins and 45 seconds the first time and the look of disappointment on his face made me never want to fail anything ever again. Next time around, I did the 5 with him looking m in the eyes for 5 mins every stroke. I am who I am because of you ssgt. Thank you and God bless you. I just happened up on this sight today and I am glad I did. I often speak of you ssgt. Rest in peace. Much love and respect to you sir.

Lcpl London Davis

October 8, 2011

Gunny Slater was hard but fair. He was a picture perfect Marine. He will be truly missed. He is an inspiration to many Marines that attempt to mirror what he was like. He was a teacher, father, and a brother. He ruled with an iron fist, but would offer constructive criticism to teach. Sometimes his criticism would be harsh, but that was Gunny Slater. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and God should call in some support when the ol' Gunny arrives. Heaven better be squared away or he will make it his mission to square it away. Semper Fidelis Marine.

Cpl Jason C. Weid
USMC

July 28, 2011

GySgt Slater is one of the best and Hardest Marines I ever have known. My condolences to his family, just know he is a true American Hero!

SSGT Beamon
USMC

July 19, 2011

Man, I'm so lost for words right now! I remember the first time I me SSgt Slater, he was screaming at me in school. When I left Fort Sill I prayed to never meet that man again. A few months later he is in Kilo battery in charge. He turned out to be such a good man. I remember gunny always saying, "yeah, what the F is yeah"! He was hilarious and he was so fair and was a great guy to talk to. We never know how much we miss someone until that person is gone. My prayers go out to his family. Please know your father was a huge inspiration to me!!!

Corporal Davis
Marine

July 17, 2011

Gunny was an awesome Marine. Rest in peace. Ma God's grace be with his family. Semper Fi

Raynaldo Alexander
USMC

July 16, 2011

I was station with the Gunny in 94 to 96. He was as everyone says a hard man but he was always fair. He said to me when I got promoted to Cpl "Its about dam time you got promoted". I was not in his platoon nor was even a 0811 but he new who I was. That was a testimony to great leader of men. Rest in Peace from all your brothers in the Corps and Kilo 3/12 2nd BN 11 Marines. OOHRAHH

GySgt Cunningham Christopher E
Marines

July 16, 2011

Thank you for being so brave. To your family, I feel your pain. My father was also a spokane county sheriff killed in the line of duty in 1961.We are lucky that our fathers and husbands cared for others as much as they did and still do. God bless you and your family, Joseph M. O'Connor the second.

Joseph M. O'Connor

December 7, 2009

Your heroism and service is honored today, the sixth anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was murdered on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

I hold your family in thought and prayer today, and pray for their solace.

In looking at reflections left for you by fellow Marines, I think it was very possible you served with Larry. He spent years at 29 Palms, he was a Ceres Commander at the Depot in San Diego for his last active duty MOS. Like you, he loved the Corps and his Marines .

Rest In Peace, James. Semper Fi.
o
Phyllis Loya

Anonymous

August 29, 2009

SGT. Slater was my one of my Drill Instructors at MCRD San Diego. PLT 1110 1988. He was the hardest and meanest man of the drill instructors, but when it was all over and graduation day came he pulled me aside and asked me if I knew why he was so hard on me. I said "because the USMC doesnt doesnt deserve any candy ass's" "good answer" he replied. SGT Slater was a very good Drill Instructor. he had the charm of Viet Nam era Instructors and pushed the limits, which I think made me a better Marine. Im so saddened to find out he is gone. I will forever think of him. Semper Fi.

CPL. matt dorman
USMC

February 19, 2009

You make law enforcement look good. Thanks for choosing such a noble and
difficult profession and thanks for serving the Evergreen State!
Lynn Kole
Bellingham, WA

Anonymous

August 29, 2008

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

April 29, 2008

My thoughts are with all of your loved ones and close friends on this 4th anniversary of your EOW. You have not been forgotten by those that love you dearly nor by your close friends. Keep watch over all of them and wrap your wings around them to help protect them from harm. You are a true hero. Thank you for your dedicated service to law enforcement and also to your Country.

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

August 28, 2007

Jim Slater and I served together in the Marine Corps in 29 Palms, Ca., Kaneohe Bay Hawaii, and as Drill Instructors in San Diego, Ca. I remember him as a friend, a devoted husband and father, a motivated Marine, and most of all a good man. He was there for me when times were hard even though he was going through tough times himself.

Meriam, I know you probably don't remember me but I will remember you and your girls in my prayers. May you grow closer to God through your memories of Jim.


Mark Stacks

Mark Stacks
US Marine Corps Veteran

August 25, 2007

GySgt Slater,

I retired this year from the Marine Corps and would like to thank you for that good old Marine Corps Sprit that you gave me 20 years ago as a recruit in PLT 1079. It was great to have worked again with you at the Mountain Warfare Center on your last duty station in the Corps. Upon my arrival and to my surpise I was transfer to Fort Sill Oklahoma where a plaque you made hangs proudly in the Cannon Crewman Class. Master Gunnery Sergeant Sam Young has made it a center piece of the class. God Bless you and your family. Semper Fi

GySgt James D. Mozingo
Recruit

August 2, 2007

Dad, I will always love you, and always remember you. YOU ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!:)

Shelby Slater
daughter

May 24, 2007

Jim,

My Heart goes out to your wife and daughters. You guys taught me what it was like in a loving home. You were a more honorable person and Marine than I have ever met. I told you that at your retirement and I meant it. What an Ice cave we built didn't we! And yes you are the only witness to my downhill run on 1 ski with a whiter rocket and VB boot.

You have always been in my thoughts especialy Thanksgiving and XMas :-) Jim, only you would realize the humor in my signature! You made an impact on my life and the memories I will keep forever!

John M. Vass SSgt,USMC,Ret

John Vass
Team member/Friend

August 31, 2006

To the family and loved ones of Deputy Sheriff James Joseph Slater and his fellow officers with the Spokane County Sheriff's Department:

On this the third anniversary of James' tragic death, I wanted to honor and remember him today. James' professionalism and dedication will never be forgotten, nor will his valor and courage.

In reading the loving reflections left by his friends and co-workers I can see that he was very loved, well respected and is sorely missed. I hope that God is holding him in the sweetest part of his heart and the most gentle part of his soul.

No doubt that Heaven has another hero in James, but I am so sorry you had to lose your beloved James. To his parents, I too share your anquish of having lost a cherished son in a line of duty death. May you all continue to be comforted by your faith and your law enforcement family and other police survivors.

I also salute James' patriotism to our country through his serving in the Corps. My son Larry was James' brother in green as well as in blue and I know that those Marines have things squared away. Semper Fi, Deputy Slater.

I am so sorry that James was robbed of his life so young and so tragically, but through his heroism and the profound sense of duty with which he lived his life, he made an immeasurable difference. May his spirit continue to soar and may his memory continue to inspire.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the dedicated service James gave to his community and the citizens of Washington, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on August 29, 2003.

Phyllis L. Loya, mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater, PPD
eow 4/24/05

August 30, 2006

Thank you.

LEO Wife

August 29, 2006

It has been 3 years since you were called away and my thoughts are with your loved ones on this day. I know they think of you every single day and will continue to do so for as long as they walk this earth. Keep watch over them and protect them from harm. You are a true hero and heroes never die and you will never be forgotten.

Bob Gordon, father of fallen Chicago Officer
Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

Bob Gordon, Chicago Gold Star Father

August 29, 2006

Deputy Slater, on the day of your funeral you were watching out for your brothers already. I was envolved in a pursuit that day in the county just south of Spokane Co. My vehicle left the road way at a high rate of speed on a sharp corner. Why and how I made it through that accident, someone had to watch out for me. God bless you and your family.

Officer R.T.W.
Colfax P.D.

May 14, 2006