Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I was gone when this horrible part of my hometowns history happened. I still get sad thinking about it. Tom Dillon was so respected and his wife Elizabeth is alive and beloved today. We named one of our parks Dillon Park to honor his service to our community. Cherish the memories of his young life.

Beverly Hoffman
community member

November 19, 2022

Chief Dillon,
On today, the 50th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Bethel. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

November 19, 2022

Chief Dillon was my uncle. He was my mother's older brother. I never met him as I was born in 1970 and he was killed in the line of duty in 1972 when I was 2. Dillon was originally from the state of Maryland where I was raised. He was known by his nickname "Dick" by family and friends growing up because of his love of the Dick Tracy comic strip in the newspapers. His son, my cousin, was only a year old in 1972 when Chief Dillon's life was taken. His son had a hard life growing up without a father and suffered with depression and tragically died in a drowning accident as a teenager. I spent a little over 20 years in the Army and after retirement from the Army, I too answered the call to become a Police Officer. I have been a Deputy Sheriff in Northern New York State for over 14 years now, 11 of those years as a K-9 Handler. I am proud of my uncle's sacrifice, though a little angry that the person who shot him served very little time incarcerated for taking my uncle's life. I would have liked to have known him. Thank you to all who posted here in remembrance of my uncle. Knowing that he is not forgotten means a lot to his family.

Deputy Sheriff J.M. Froelich
Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (State of New York)

July 16, 2022

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

Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

August 25, 2020

Rest In Peace Brother. Thank you and your family for your service and sacrifice. May the coward who took you away from your family rot and suffer.

Officer Mike Robinson, (Ret)
Upland Police Dept. CA

November 19, 2017

On the day, Chief Thomas C. Dillon was shoot and killed really put a hurt deeply into my heart. Chief Dillon was a dedicated Law Enforcement Officer and was always a brave fellow officer. Mr. Nicholson, who shot and killed Bethel's Chief of Police deserved a life sentence. It's ridicules, shame, cruel, the Alaska Judicial System did not view it and contained it as Murder in the 1st degree. What Mr. Nicholson did was take a life, left Chief Dillon's family without a father, a son, an Uncle and a husband to his family. It was a sad day in Bethel for all local resident's, Law Enforcement Officer's nation wide. Chief Dillon is still in Law Enforcement Officer's mind, daily, weekly, monthly and 365 days of the year. His soul shall rest in Eternal Memory and in all our heart's.

Former Law Enforcement Officer
Friend/Former Law Enforcement

November 20, 2016

Thank you for your service and for helping to make America a safer place.

Deputy Brian Jones
Boulder County Sheriff's Office, CO

November 24, 2012

Thank you for your heroism and service Sir, RIP

James Kotke
Civilian / Former Officer
WSF Park Police (Wi.)

February 18, 2012

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 39th anniversary 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.

Rest In Peace

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

November 19, 2011

When I stop by here and read this, it reminds me that every day could be my day, anytime, anyplace, even in a town as small as this one. We can easily forget that our job is no different anywhere in the world, in any city of any size. It keeps me on my mental game. Thanks for your service, I wish you were here today.

Police Officer
Bethel Police Department

April 10, 2009

You are remembered today and thank you Sir for your service

Pat Van Den Berghe, Manchester, NH
Neighbors for a Better Manchester, NH

November 27, 2007

"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 © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

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

July 25, 2007

G-d Bless.

February 20, 2007

Rest in Peace, Chief Dillon. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

November 2, 2006

Rest in Peace sir, you did your duty well. Your community lost a fine man.

Michael Roberts
Browser

July 31, 2006

HERO! thank you sir, you and your family are in my prayers.

April 26, 2005

I stop by this website often after the death of two dear friends with the NCSHP (Troopers Calvin Taylor E.O.W. October 3, 2001 and Anthony Cogdill E.O.W. May 30, 2003).

We all grieve over the lives lost in the line of duty. I hope you can find some comfort knowing that there are countless prayers that go out for your family.

These are senseless tragedies that never seem to stop. God Bless the men and women who continue to serve their communities in our great Nation.

...Gone, but never Forgotten....

(Formerly of Seward Alaska)

Marti (EMT-Paramedic)
Haywood Co EMS (NC)

April 6, 2004