Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

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

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

August 6, 2012

Happy Father's Day Pops! We miss you and love you always!

Kate Kolodziej
Daughter

June 17, 2012

miss you grandpa leonard =]

conrad kolodziej
grandchild

April 26, 2012

Happy Birthday Pops! We miss you always and love you forever!

Kate Kolodziej
Daughter

April 3, 2012

Brother-

Your family gathered last night in honor of your End of Watch, it was nice to see how many of us showed up...blood and blue.
Continue your Watch from above

Policeman
Phoenix Police

September 5, 2011

20 years today. Always in my memory. Such a sensless loss.

Mike Wheelis
Friend and squad member

September 4, 2011

Although Leonard wasn't my biological father, he certainly was the biggest father figure in my childhood life! Hug me when he knew I needed it, (even if I didnt no i needed it) scolded me when i totally needed it, and even let me cry on his shoulders when i missed my father! I miss and love you Leonard very much, i wish my children could have gotten to meet you! Blessed be dear father!

Maggie (Phillips) Patterson
Family Friend (daughter once removed) lol

September 4, 2011

20 years ago today my entire world exploded into a great ball of unfamiliar territory. 20 years later the ringing in my ears from the elements combusting still continues. Never in my wildest imagination could I have prepared for the wrath that ripped through my soul like a warm knife through butter. Though I grow stronger with each breath, I fight to bypass the emotional vortex that resides in my core from your absence. I have learned to accept the things in life that I do not understand and carry hope for the things that I need to unfold my future. You helped to give me life and in your death created me again giving me an awareness that can only be referred to as a blessing and a curse. 9-4-91 is when my Superman died but his memory is imprinted on my existence forever and no amount of life's kryptonite can weaken it's energy. I carry your heart in my heart, your pride in my veins, your legacy in my soul and your courage on my arm.
Leonard Leon Kolodziej 4/3/48 - 9/4/91. Loving you Forever and Always Pop!

Kate Kolodziej-Delafield
Daughter

September 4, 2011

Pop,
You are forever and always in my heart. We have kept your legacy alive through stories and traditions and your love has touched this family even 20 years after your death. All of the grandkids feel a connection to you though they were not yet of this earth when you were taken from us. You gave us tremendous strength and awareness and today you continue to have that presence in our lives. We miss you terribly and love you bunches!

Kate Kolodziej-Delafield
Daughter

August 29, 2011

I didn't ever get to meet my grandpa. He dies 8 years before i was born but from what my family says he was a pretty great man. On September fourth of this year not only another year will pass with out him in our presence, another century will pass with out him. He's been gone for 20 years now and not another day has passed that i haven't thought about him and how proud I am of him for serving Arizona. Love you grandpa Leonard
~bri ♥

Bri
Grandaughter

August 26, 2011

Happy Birthday Pop! We love and miss you so much.

Kate Kolodziej-Delafield
daughter

April 3, 2011

Leonard was a friend, a neighbor, and a damn good cop.

Sgt. Roger Ketelaar
Phoenix Police Department

November 30, 2010

Everyday I am thankful for the gifts and strength that you gave me. I love and miss you Pop!

Kate Kolodziej
Daughter

September 5, 2010

Officer Kolodziej, Thank you for your service to our nation. You are not forgotten.

SSA Ellen Pierson
US ICE

August 13, 2010

Just found this page. My continued heartfelt condolences to Officer Kolodziej's family. I have never met you, but you have been in my thoughts during these years.

Melissa (Wheelis) Boeck
daughter to the 2nd OS unit

April 30, 2010

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 18th anniversary week 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.

In looking at your reflections, I can see that you were an amazing man who is loved and missed by so many. Katie, you are in my heart's embrace today

Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya

Anonymous

September 9, 2009

Hey Pop~
Hard to believe it has been 18 years. In some ways it feels like yesterday. You are always a feeling in the wind. I love and miss you terribly.
Love Always
Kate

Kate
Daughter

September 4, 2009

My prayers go out to your family today. My father and Leonard were friends. My father had a lot of fond memories of him. May God bless you.

Becky McFarland (McCaslin)
daughter of retired Phx PD Officer Gary McCaslin

April 9, 2009

Happy Birthday Dad!
Love Always

~Katie

Katie Kolodziej-Delafield
Daughter

April 3, 2009

I want to thank all of the people that came to Dad's memorial dedication today. It meant a lot to our family to see so many of his friends in blue. Thank you for the stories and keep them coming. Today is Dad's birthday and you all helped us to celebrate his life. A special thank you to the officer that we met at Bill Johnson's today...thank you for what you did, that really touched our hearts and your kind words will be with us always.

Thank you for what you do and stay safe!
Katie

Katie Kolodziej-Delafield
Daughter

April 3, 2009

I first met Leonard Kolodziej at Squaw Peak Precinct in 1984 when I was a new officer. He had a big smile on his face and warmly welcomed me to my new profession. He also told me that if I ever had any questions or needed help, not to hesitate to ask him.

During the four and a half years that I worked patrol at Squaw Peak, there would be times that Leonard and I would be on calls together. After these calls, sometimes there would be times to talk. Leonard loved to talk about his children. I remember getting to meet them and his wife several times at a small hamburger stand that he and several of the senior officers loved to frequent.

One radio call that I will never forget, was while I was still in training. Leonard and I happened to be in the station at the same time and were the only officers there, except for the Admin. Sergeant. An emergency back-up call came out for two of our senior officers about 100 yards from the station. The Admin. Sergeant came running into the briefing room where we were both sitting and told us that these officers needed help. Leonard and I looked at each other and took off running towards the two officers (it was faster to run, then get into a car). As we were running I was thinking that this can't end well, as the officers we were going to back up were two of our precinct's biggest and strongest officers. If they needed help, what was a 133 pound female rookie officer going to do? By the time Leonard and I got to them, they had the suspect in custody. Both officers looked haggard, as the suspect was a professional football player and had thrown one of them across their patrol car before we got there. They did look happy to see us, but Leonard wanted to know where the Admin. Sergeant was?

After I transferred to new details, I would still run into Leonard out at Squaw Peak. He still had his big smile and dry sense of humor!

I was out of state when I found out of his passing via National News.

I will never forget Leonard and I am proud to have been his friend!

Retired Detective Sandra Gatlin
Phoenix Police Department

March 28, 2009

I was but a rookie when I went to the day squad at Tower Plaza. The Sergeant was Sgt. Tetak. Leonard was a squad mate who made you feel welcome and was there to help. I was honored to call him a friend.

Doug Kraemer
3144 retired.

Det. Doug Kraemer (retired)
Phoenix P. D.

March 27, 2009

To the Kolodziej Family,

I wish to express my deepest regrets for your painful loss. Our loss. I was fortunate to know Leonard from the first day he left the academy until his End of Shift date. From about March of 1983 until shortly before his EOS, we usually sat right next to each other almost everyday at briefing. We always seemed to end up on the same squads, and I think we were drawn to each other by our equally warped sense of humor. I have to share with you at least one of my many fond memories I have about him.

I remember the day that Leonard and I were in the indoor range at Squaw Peak for some optional range practice. A certain sergeant, who will go nameless, was unlucky enough to take the middle slot between us. This sergeant was well known for having a very difficult time in qualification shoots (so he really needed all the good practice he could get.) This wasn't a qualifying session, but we always treated it as such, because everyone knows you play like you practice. While it could have been a great opportunity for the sergeant to practice his shooting, it was an even better opportunity for us two to practice ........... our ability to mess with a sergeant. There Leonard stood on the left with his Colt Python, and me with my Smith and Wesson Model 19 on the right both facing the firing line, waiting for the targets to turn. Without either of us saying a word, or even signaling to each other, we both calmly proceeded to destroy any possibility that the sergeant had of getting a decent score that day. We each would put one, out of every three, rounds we fired into the white (non-scoring) area of the unsuspecting sergeant's target. Most times, back then, we never bothered to count the number of hits inside the black (scoring area of the target) when figuring out how well we did or didn't do. It was much easier, and quicker, to just add up the very few misses we had. Well, needless to say, the sergeant didn't have just a few misses that day. He had a lot, a whole lot. Now this would have been funny if it happened once. However, it became absolutely hilarious because we did it through three full 50 shot practice rounds without the sergeant ever catching on. Leonard was even kind enough to offer Mike (oops, I said part of his name) some sage advice between practice sessions. We eventually told him what we had done, during the next month's open range day.

Leonard was always quick with a joke and to laugh at the jokes of others. He also enjoyed poking fun of his Polish heritage during a time when "Pollock Jokes" were all the rage. He had a favorite saying that he was always putting to good use, as well. He told me he got it from listening very intently to his grandfather when he was a young child (but I can't remember if it was from his mother's side of the family, or his father's.) The best thing about the saying was it covered just about any circumstance you could ever come across in life. I liked it so much that I adopted it myself and have since passed it on to both my children and my grandchildren. In fact, if you were to say to my 5 year old grandson "Bradyn, you know what they say..." He would answer, "Oh well...." That's the saying in it's entirety "Oh well." I mean, is that a profound statement or what?

Leonard was always a good friend to me, and probably the best friend I ever had that I couldn't hope to spell his last name correctly. He was also a good cop, but he could tell you exactly how many months, days, and hours he had to work to be able to retire with 20 years of service. I've always been deeply saddened that he didn't quite make it to his target date.

Although none of us could have predicted what would happen on that terrible day, I've been deeply troubled, by certain aspects of it, ever since. The vile, senseless act, that took him from us, happened on a day that I happened to be working. It had been a very boring morning, and I was having a lot trouble trying to stay even a little busy. The location it took place at was in my beat area, not his. Because he had just recently changed squads, it wasn't even part of his squad area. It happened during my shift hours. Had I not responded to an emergency traffic call of a bombing at 24Th Street and Indian School, just a couple of minutes earlier, I probably would have been available for the call that Leonard took. Later on, we learned that the bomb, was one of two, that had been placed by the same low life that shot Leonard. He had set the bombs in an attempt to distract the police so that he could kill his wife. What makes the entire situation even worse, is that Leonard did absolutely nothing wrong in how he handled the call. He did just as he should have done. He did exactly what I would have done had I gotten the call. By all rights, it could have been, should have been me, that took those bullets that day. I've thought about that a lot these last 17 plus years, and I just wonder why it happened the way it did.

I never got a chance to share with Leonard how sorry I was about that. I'm not sure if I ever expressed these feelings to any of you, his family either. I'm sorry, so very sorry. If I had been able to tell Leonard, I'm pretty sure what his response would have been, "Oh well...."

Leonard will never be forgotten by any of those who were lucky enough to call him a friend.....certainly, he will always live in my heart.

Leonard, we will meet again, Bud.

Wayne.

Officer Wayne Stadler (Retired)
Phoenix P.D.

March 26, 2009

Leonard was a very close friend. I think of him often and I still miss him. John Barclay 2490

John Barclay officer
Phoenix

March 26, 2009

I met Leonard in 1980, my first year with PPD. We both worked at Squaw Peak (700). What I remember most about Leonard is that while he was very much senior to me, he never acted like it. He always said hello when we crossed paths, and referred to me by my first name, which was not always standard operating procedure among seasoned officers towards rookies. Leonard was a good guy, and a good police officer. What a terrible tragedy his death was. I pray his family has learned to cope with his loss.

Ofc. Matt Ridener #3857
Phoenix Police Dept. (Ret)

March 11, 2009