Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

As someone who is in the process of begin a career in law enforcement I would like to say thank you to Officer Pavelka for his ultimate sacrifice and service to this country and his community. My condolences to your family and loved ones, Officer Pavelka’s honor and memory will live on through us all.

Recruit Sayers
Burbank PD

June 26, 2024

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


R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

November 15, 2023

Matt, you are greatly missed by your family, friends, and colleagues. We remember and hold dear the songs of your heart. Your bravery and courage are legend, inspiring others. The echos of your laughter still resonate.

Fran Marshall
Aunt

June 10, 2023

Rest in eternal peace

Judy howivk
Citizen of Burbsnk

November 17, 2022

I just seen your story. I hope you are in a better place now! Thank you for your gretest sacrifice that a man can give to his community! God bless yor soul! Condolences to your family! What a fantastic auhtorities and officers were there, so they arrested that gang member, who killed you! Thank you to their service too!

2nd class warrant officer Imre Utasi
Special Police Operation Forces of Hungary

November 1, 2022

Matt. Shane and I will be coming by the wall again in two weeks with Chapter VII of the Unity Tour. Just a couple of Burbank guys still honoring a fallen partner. See ya soon and keep an eye out for us from above on our journey.

John Dilibert/Shane Sindle
Burbank Police

John Dilibert
Ada County Sheriff/Burbank Police

April 28, 2022

Today marks 18 years since that terrible day when you made the ultimate sacrifice. Rest in peace Matt!

Joe Chavarria
U.S. Marshals Service (Ret)

November 15, 2021

Although I never had the privilege of meeting you, I am thinking of you more especially today. Your locker is behind mine, and I never walk past it without looking at it, and wishing I was there to help. What an honor it is to wear the uniform with the same patches you once wore.

Police Officer
Burbank Police Department

November 15, 2021

I recently watched a documentary on Officer Pavelka's murder. As a son of a police officer and a former USAF SP myself, I felt an immediate connection to this HERO. Defensor Fortis! Rest in Peace, my friend.

MSgt, USAF (Retired)
USAF Security Forces

July 15, 2021

My Profound condolences to The Pavelka
Family. Thank You Officer Pavelka, for your
bravery serving the community. Rest In Peace
For All Eternity. Your Memory will forever live in all our hearts.

Graciela Santana

June 13, 2021

“Officer Matthew Michael Pavelka“

My Mother, Georgetta, is laid to rest next to Police Officer Matthew Michael Pavelka. She would be abundantly blessed knowing this because she loved and had the utmost respect for our police officers.

My mother had a Public Access TV show and once a month she had guests from law enforcement. She was a beautiful human being.

Thanks to all law police officers for your protection and service.

I send you my respect and prayers.

Susan

Civilian Supporter, Susan Dumas

June 13, 2021

Matthew, I just watched a program on television about you. I must say you sir are nothing short of an absolute hero!!! Your family is still so very proud of you. Rest easy sir.

Heather
None

June 13, 2021

If anyone who reads this message and knows how I can reach the family of Matthew Pavelka please give me a call on my toll free number 1-866-222-3715 my company is Alamo City Gold & Silver Exchange in San Antonio Texas. I make a badge pendant for all officers who die in the line of duty and when Matthew was killed I had just started doing the EOW badge pendants for the family. Since I started I have done over 3500 at no charge to the family. I would be honored to do one for the surviving family member.
6-1-2021

David Putnam
Retired San Antonio Police Detective
Alamo City Gold & Silver
(210) 930-3900

June 1, 2021

I was one of the principle undercover investigators during the Officer Matthew Pavelka and Officer Greg Campbell investigation. I was also one of the Field Training Officers for Matthew. Matthew and Greg Campbell were good officers. Both officers were truly heroic and confronted danger with bravery and honor that fatal evening.

Unfortunately, the recent Discovery documentary about the incident missed a lot of what actually happened during the subsequent investigation. And it only touched on the actual organized crime and government corruption that were exposed during the investigation.

Sergeant of Police
Burbank Police Department

May 24, 2021

I was able to watch a documentary on your story, as I'm sure many others in this country were and it showed you to be a true hero. As long as your name is being repeated you will never be forgotten. Thank you for your brave service to your community and our country.

Sgt. Daniel Lowe
Hoover (AL) Police

May 13, 2021

I didn't know Matt. But he is a hero among our armed men and women in service and also here among local law enforcement. Your bravery and courage to protect your community and your country will never be forgotten. Thank you for watching over us all.

Anonymous NJ
None

April 16, 2021

I grew up with Matt. We both went to school and graduated together. Matt was such a funny and sarcastic guy. He was a loyal friend.

Randi Crowe

March 30, 2021

I served with Pavelka in 1998- 1999. We both talked about life after the military and I remember he talked about following in his father's footsteps as a Police Officer.

Michael GIFFIN
RAF Lakenheath

October 20, 2020

I served in the Air Force with Airman Pavelka at Lackland A.F.B. during our training at Ground Combat School and the USAF SP Academy in 1997. I remember Airman Pavelka as a great guy, with a great sense of humor, and someone who always saw the bright side of things. I was upset at hearing the news regarding his passing. May God give comfort to his family. John Bates, Veteran, USAF

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

John Bates, Veteran, USAF
USAF Security Police

April 4, 2020

Rest in peace Officer Pavelka.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

July 22, 2019

Matt, as a childhood friend and someone that remembers you as the good kid and was not the least bit surprised to hear you became a police officer, I do think about all the great things you could have done. I wonder about how many lives you would have saved. I have since run into a group of police officers that I train with (all by chance) and it occurred to me that if you were here, you would be with them. A good cop, helping the community become better. Thank you for your sacrifice. It is never forgotten.

C. LaBonte
Simi Valley

May 13, 2019

Matty, you will never be forgotten. Sorry for the bloody noises during DT training. We all miss you!

Officer Brent Ambrose
Burbank P.D. (Retired 2013)

May 12, 2019

Rest in peace Officer Pavelka.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

December 19, 2018

Matt, today marks 15 years since your departure. Your sacrifice had a big impact on our lives and the lives of your fellow officers. Rest in peace brother, and may your family be blessed. Never forget!

Joe Chavarria
US Marshals Service (retired)

November 15, 2018

My deepest condolences. You embraced a profession that is often thankless and in doing so made the ultimate sacrifice while serving the community that you swore to protect. Though I did not know you personally, your story reached Lackland AFB when I was a young trainee and I will never forget the sorrow that I felt when I heard that my community had lost one of it's officers in the line of duty. Your sacrifice serves as a reminder of the dangers that our men and women of Law Enforcement face every time they begin their shift and also as a reminder of why we need to thank them every chance we get. You are a true hero and will always be remembered. Thank you Officer Pavelka.

Aragones, TSGT
U.S.A.F.

September 12, 2018