Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I knew David well, we were on the dive rescue team and David worked part time at the hospital where I worked. He was a very good friend and a good person. I think of him often and wish he was still here with us. Rest in peace brother.

Kevin
Lee’s Summit underwater rescue and recovery team.

August 31, 2024

David,

Over forty years later meet someone who shared some of our same connections and all the memories we shared came flooding back like it was just yesterday. You will and have always had a piece of my heart. Miss you still.

Diane

Diane Smith
Friend

August 1, 2023

I salute you dear Brother on the anniversary of your sacrifice - Thank you for taking on the difficult assignment of underwater search and rescue and risking your life to save another - true bravery

I was a member of our Underwater Search and Rescue team for 25 years

F/Lt (retired) Michael Fulcher
Washtenaw County Sheriff

May 1, 2021

Thank you for your service and please know that your sacrifice is one that will never, ever be forgotten by your law enforcement brethren. Rest in peace always.

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

May 1, 2021

He was actually a member of the Lee's Summit Underwater Rescue and Recovery. There is no Jackson County Underwater Rescue Team.

Randy Tetzner, Diver
Retired

November 18, 2020

Thank you for your service and please know that your sacrifice will always be remembered by your law enforcement brethren. Rest in peace always.

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

July 28, 2020

David, June,5 2020
You will never know how much you really made an impact in my life a younger girl and what you meant to me you was like a big brother to me and I know this doesn’t make a lot of sense because even after all these years I’m crying trying to write this. I still miss you and I hope you and momma are fishing together in heaven much love Big Brother.
Love,
Patty
the little sister who always looked up to you

Patty Pettit
Like a Big Brother to me

June 5, 2020

To my best friend. I miss you every day. My daughter AMY was forever touched by your passing. She loved you so much. Doing your death investigation was one of the worst days of my life, I so miss our time together. Wish I had been there, the way you were so many times for me.
Forever brothers.

Gordon Cockrell

Detective
Lee’s Summit Police

April 12, 2019

Rest in peace Officer Hartman.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

February 15, 2019

I watched you drown, and I don’t quite remember the event quite the way it is written up here. What matters is that someone, very selfishly, decided to go canoeing in very high, very dangerous, flood-stage water of the Little Blue. You and many others answered that call to help him, and you died needlessly because of it. I will never lose the images of your tragic death from my mind. It was an honour and privilege to know you, Dave.

Walk well, my Brother.

Donnie Bowerman Retired LEO CMSUPD, IPD, KCPD, JCSD, DEA

August 23, 2018

To my "Brother" David -- for you were a big brother to me, and dear to my folks too. You rescued me so many times from my own mistakes ... and when I'm in duress, and in need of rescue, you visit me in my dreams. Still making me laugh. Still showing me the way. And always I say in my dream, "But David, you're dead. How can you be here?" and he replies, "Lori, I'm not dead. I'm right here." Thank you for being here, then and now. I, and my folks, love you dearly and cherish your memory. Family dinners, holidays, birthdays, fun days, drinking lemonade and laughing until you made that loud honking sound. I love you , forever and always, my big brother.

Laura Crowley Lynch
Family friend "little sister"

March 20, 2015

"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

December 6, 2007

Twenty-four years. Not forgotten.

"For those who pledge to uphold it, freedom requires a sacrifice the protected will never know."

Wife of an MCPD, Maryland Officer

May 1, 2007

I wanted to stop at your reflection page to let you know that you have not been forgotten as you are a true hero and heroes never die. Continue to keep watch over your loved ones. Thank you for your dedicated service to law enforcement.

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

May 1, 2007

May you rest inpeace and may Our Lord ever bless your loved ones.

May 1, 2007

To Police Officer Charles David Hartman, his loved ones and his fellow officers:

On this the twenty third anniversary of your tragic death, please know that your memory is revered and honored today.

May your family continue be to comforted by the warm embrace of their law enforcement family, and other police survivors who share this painful journey with them. My heart is with your family.

Reading all the loving reflections left by those who cared for you gives us an understanding of what a good and honorable man you were and of the high esteem with which you are held.

Officer Hartman, as a peace officer you rescued us, saved our possessions, our lives and our families. You are one of the rare heroes among us. You were always there for us in the most traumatic moments of our lives. No matter when we called, we just expected that you would come and do whatever it took to help us, and you always met our expectations. Your selflessness and dedication are awe-inspiring.

This world, this country, your community truly are better places because of you. To have lost you is a great tragedy, an irreplaceable, immeasurable loss for society. We are grateful for and to you, and honor you for all you did for us day in and day out whether you received a word of thanks or praise.

Rest in Peace, Officer Hartman. I am so humbled by your valor and courage, and the fact that you died trying to save the life of another.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the distinquished service Officer Hartman gave to his community and the citizens of Missourri, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on May 1, 1983.

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

May 1, 2006

We miss you and love you, but we also thank you for being the kind of person who loved life so much, you gave your own in order for someone else to keep theirs. We could not be more proud. It was the right thing to do.
The little girl we were expecting turned twenty today! As you know, she is beautiful and is so much like you. Thank you for looking out for us while you were here--and even now. She is the best gift you could have ever given me.
Through the eyes of my heart, I see you beside me.
Be happy. Enjoy

Marcia Hartman-Coleman
Officer's widow

November 5, 2003

Dave,
Your were one hell of a traffic cop. I think about you every time I pass by the Blue River while on calls. Thanks for every thing!!! Guard over us and I'll see you soon.

Officer Randy Ellis
Grandview Missouri Police

October 16, 2003

At the beginning of every shift I supervise, myself and the other officers on shift dedicate the day to the memory of a fallen officer. Today, May 1, 2003 we dedicated the shift to the memory of P.O. Charles Hartman who died on this date 20 years ago.

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

Officer Hartman's sacrifice will never be forgotten.

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