Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

After reading the reflections of Officer Edwards’s partners and fellow officers, I strongly encourage all of you to join together in solving this murder. The family has a right to know and to have some sort of closure to this senseless crime.

If you are already actively working this case, then thank you. If not, why not?

Family: Please accept my deepest sympathy for your tragic loss. This one was especially hard to read.

Security Officer
Connecticut

November 3, 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

September 17, 2007

The event of your execution has been with me all these years.I remember the back up you gave the veterans and rookies in the streets of 77th.In difficult situations you were there.As a rookie at roll call or on patrol the sound of you calling out HANK MI BOY...I knew all was well.I regret to this day not being there for you on that May 11th. Mike,you were the best of the best.My promise is to get more involved with the help of others to find out what happened and who did it...Now that Im sober. GOD KEEP YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS LOVING HAND

XPOLICEMAN Henry(HANK)Rodriquez
LAPD-PARTNER

May 14, 2007

Michael, I never met you but I know so much about your life & your death. Your daughter is my bset friend. We honor your memory as often as possible. I am so sorry that you were murdered. Thank you for the beautiful legacy you have left with us. I am so grateful that you live on in Tobie & her brother & his daughter. Your image is a blessing to me.

Jackie Rose Humphrey
Family Friend

May 11, 2007

This Mother's Day it will be 33 years since this tragedy has happened. Today I sit and wonder way I still have no answers, only questions. His father is now with him, yet his Mother, Wife and kids would still like answers. I don't know what the bigger tragedy is that he is still gone or that 3 decades later we still have no answers. Now is the time to reflect and ask these questions of your fellow officers. It still may not be to late to close this case and truly let him rest in piece.

Penney Edwards-Chopyak
Wife

May 10, 2007

Lord I ask for courage
Courage to face and
Conquer my own fears...

Courage to take me
Where others will not go...

I ask for strength

Strength of the body to protect others
And strength of the spirit to lead others...

I ask for dedication
Dedecation to my job, to do it well
Dedecation to my community
To keep it safe...

Give me Lord, concern
for others who trust me
and compassion for those who need me...
And please Lord

Through it all
Be by my side...

NEVER FORGOTTEN...

May 10, 2007

Next week I will be presenting a class regarding Off-Duty Tactics. It will give me an opportunity to pass Your memory on to some of the "LAPD New Breed." (May You Rest-In-Peace)

Maj M. B. Parlor
USMC / LAPD

April 19, 2007

In four weeks, it will have been 33 years. Funny, how I came on "the job" ten years after your murder, yet people (some with more time than I), come to me and ask me "What was the name of the 77th cop who was executed...?" I guess they know that guys like me will NEVER let your memory die. It was passed down to me by Old Timers, and I wil ensured that it is passed on to the Newbies......

Of course, Your spirit knows that I dare not type anymore than that.....

Maj M. B. Parlor
USMC / LAPD

April 18, 2007

I hope the killers are caught, this day ruined my family. Want to know what happened??? Never forgotten.

jennifer baker
neice

March 19, 2007

You were a great partner and police officer.

P3 Robert Moore
X LAPD Former partner

June 21, 2006

At the beginning of every shift, myself and the other officers on shift dedicate the day to the memory of a fallen officer.

Tonight, May 11, 2006 we dedicated the shift to the memory of Police Officer Michael Lee Edwards who died in the line of duty on this date 32 years ago.

When one law enforcement officer falls, we all stumble for a while, but we will carry on.

Officer Edwards’ sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Sgt. Paul Bissonnette
Royal Canadian Mounted Police - Surrey, BC

May 11, 2006

You are not forgotten Officer Edwards. God Bless you.

Sergeant Tim Milliman
L.A. Sheriff's Dept.

May 11, 2006

Justice will come some day.
Know that you are not forgotten.

May 11, 2006

Our Lord will see to justice for you and it will be more powerful than any we could supply in this life.May you Rest in Peace knowing this and may Our Lord comfort your loved ones.

May 11, 2006

May we never forget Mike Edwards.

May 10, 2006

Brother Edwards,

May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Respectfully,
You’re Brothers in Blue

Untouchables LE Motorcycle Club

January 19, 2006

We will never forget you nor will we ever stop trying to find the coward who took your life. God bless your family. Remember he/she will pay at judgement day. The Lord said, "Vengence is his."

LAPD

January 9, 2006

I Pray everyday that one day we will find the answers to what happened to my father. Thank you for not forgetting Mike Edwards.

Tobie Wallingford
Daughter

January 9, 2006

It was a terrible day when I came back from a day off and I found out you were killed. I still pray they catch the killer(s). You were a good cop and friend.

Tony Barone Police Officer Retired
LAPD

December 29, 2005

I was assigned this case in 1974. There is not a day I wonder about Mikes death. Maybe someday it will be solved. That is my prayer!

Det III/Sgt T.McGuine
LAPD, retired

December 1, 2005

I never knew Mike personally, but felt like I did. I worked the Firearms Unit after his shooting & for years I ballisticly checked all guns that came into our custody in an attempt to match it to the murder bullet. Unfortunately, I never found the gun. BUT, hang in there Mike, we'll catch your killer one day....& he will pay for his sins.

Det Jimmy Trahin (Ret)
LAPD

November 24, 2005

The cowards who took you from us will be punished, if they haven't already perished under the sword of righteousness.
You left us so long ago but you are not forgotten, you are a hero and the good in you lives on in all of us who have fought and fight evil everyday.

Retired police officer.

May 11, 2004

Rest in peace. You are not forgotten.

Inv. Michael Walker
Tallahassee Police Department