Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Well Dad, it's been thirteen years. As I am not able to make it to your gravesite this Memorial Day, I thought I'd leave you these words here, today, 5/26/08.

You were, are, and always will be a major influence in my life. I know you would be proud of me this last week when I married Kristi Maughan. I know you always liked her. And god bless you and mom for having patience with me when I moved to Las Vegas in 1989 to live with Kristi. Mom and you as well as Kristi's parents thought we were insane. Well I guess we were, but look where it has brought us 20 years later?!?!?!?! I married a princess who really loves me Dad. I felt you at our wedding and interestingly enough, the breakfast shortly thereafter.

I'm just now starting a new relationship with your step-father. Now more than ever I need the same wise counsel you received from him so many years ago.

Love you Dad!!!!

Troy boy

Troy Eugene Swackhammer
Son

May 26, 2008

Swack,

You are gone but not forgotten and are always in our thoughts and prayers.

We will never forget you and your sacrifice.

Dave

Sergeant David Jones
Alaska State Troopers

May 9, 2008

Wow everytime I come here there are more reflections added! Dad, Its hard for me to express in words how much I miss you. Everytime I look at Troy and Kim I see apart of you live on in them. I want you to know that we are doing fine. I miss and love you.

Your son Ty.

Tyler Swackhammer
Son

May 8, 2008

My dearest Father,

It is so great to see the love on this page that is still felt for you dad. Many people from far reaches of the country still sing your praises. You were indeed an officer and a gentleman. Oh the stories that have been told to me from fellow officers, friends, aquaintences, and even people you jailed. Even the latter thought you were a man of integrity!

I exist today as the man I am because of you. Every day I make decisions based on what I think you would do. You live on in me, Tyler, Kim, and her son Reece Everett.

Rock on dad! Show them who's boss up there!

Your son,

Troy boy

Troy Swackhammer
Son

March 17, 2008

Your contributions and dedication to the last frontier are not diminished by time Sir. Your loss is still fewlt and your memory lives on in the officers who knew you and who came after you and in your family, friends and colleagues. Rest easy brother, we have the watch from here.

Chief John Millan
Galena AK PD

January 18, 2008

"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

November 14, 2007

My thoughts are with all of your loved ones on this anniversary of your EOW. Continue to watch over them and protect them.
"Good men and women must die, but death cannot kill their names." You have not been forgotten.

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

October 11, 2007

On the upcoming anniversary of your untimely death we wish to remember you and thank you Sir for your service.

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

October 9, 2007

It is wonderful to hear from those who knew my dad. He really was an amazing man. I think about him often and am glad to know that he is watching over me and his little grandson.
I happened to come across this through a random search and was surprised to see my brothers had been on previously. I hope that if there is anyone wanting to have a better update on our family, they will let me know.

Dad, I love you and I know that you are in a better place. I know that you are always there for me, no matter what!
Love always,
Kim

Kim Feller
Daughter

December 28, 2006

A message to Tyler and Troy

I hadn’t previously known of this site or I believe I would have communicated to you sooner. I read your messages from last year to your dad, and, your pain is the same pain I have felt for more than 50 years as we all lost our father at a very young age. I knew and admired your dad in a real but different sense than you. I have spent a lifetime wanting to know the details of who my dad really was, while the answers, have been very elusive and, very few who have had the knowledge were aware of my desperate need of it. At each stage of life, my questions have changed as my life has changed.

I knew “Swack” when he was a State Trooper Lieutenant in about 1978 and 1979. I was a civilian employee in the Commissioners Office when Swack was transferred from the Criminal Investigation Bureau in Anchorage to Juneau to serve as the Department’s Internal Affairs Investigator. I don’t know if Swack didn’t like his name or not, but, he definitely preferred to be called Swack over Claude. Calling him the latter would evoke a menacing stare of disapproval. Perhaps more than anything, Swack, was a perfect one word descriptive moniker for a no-nonsense, fearless, fair and professional investigator which was his demeanor. It fit perfectly and he liked it. I worked in the next office over. You mentioned cribbage. A whole group of us played cribbage over a brown bag lunch almost daily. Man did he hate to lose…….extremely competitive to the last peg, never conceding.

His appointment as Internal Affairs Investigator tells a story all by itself. This is perhaps the toughest job of all as it involves judging your peers under the most difficult circumstances. Citizens who don’t accept responsibility for their own actions frequently make outrageous accusations against officers that need to be resolved and, unfortunately, on rare occasions, officers, for difficult reasons to understand, do something stupid, or even outrageous, which demeans the entire profession and, will hurt their peers, their department and, those they serve. The task of investigating and separating these factors was and is one of the most difficult jobs in the Department. I recall long discussions and deliberations by the top level command to select the special person who had the investigative skill, the professional status and respect of his peers, thick enough skin and the standing and respect in legal and judicial circles to accomplish this task. Anyone who accepted it, did so out of loyalty to the organization and its principles and, to its command because, it is a job that no one really wants. But, being considered for it was recognition that you were among the very best in your profession….and Swack was clearly among the very best.

Your dad is still living, but thru you. I’ve always made every major decision in my life by reflecting on what I think my dad would have wanted me to do. I bet you have too. If anything positive can come from that horrible event, it will be that you may have had a better opportunity to make good decisions than your peers who have had an ongoing relationship with their dad throughout their teen years and beyond. Those are tough times and often involve difficult and sometimes irrational conflict when dads try to impose their judgment on their sons who are trying their wings. I’ve always had in my conscience an inaudible voice that lets me know what dad expects of me and for the most part I’ve always followed it. I suspect you might do likewise.

I always wanted to believe that dad was perfect, but reason tells me he was a regular guy who enjoyed success, made mistakes, occasionally embarrassed himself or made bad decisions, wanted to do the right thing, loved his family, and, was a good, good man. I believe that that is who I am because, that is who he has guided me to be. I believe he is proud of me but, I can’t prove it. Sometimes, I think he laughs at my dumb mistakes. The most painful times have been at the most significant times in my life like completing my education, marrying my wife and the birth of our children but the joy of the event carries us happily on. I’m proud of all of my children so he would have nothing to be concerned about. That is his legacy. I think he made me a better parent because his absence gave me a stronger understanding of the importance of me being there for my own children. He’s got to be happy because, I am. I can tell from your short notes that, Swack is proud of you as well. If I saw him today, he’d be bragging and smiling. I have never met you but, I wish you every success in life and I hope some of the Alaska State Troopers who are now retired and knew Swack far better than I, well might contribute other anecdotes either at this memorial or contact you directly so that you might know him and yourself a little better.

Merry Christmas to your entire family,
Tryg Hermann
Issaquah, WA

Tryg Hermann
Director of Administrative Services

December 25, 2006

There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of you and thank my lucky stars that you were part of my life.

I miss you so much.

S.N.

Friend

November 7, 2006

Rest in Peace, Commissioner Swackhammer. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

November 2, 2006

I will always remember when Mr. Swackhammer showed up at the Alaska Public Safety Academy for his tour of duty as Director, when I was a "greenie" at the academy for a muncipal agency.

His professionalism, his demeanor, his standards, his words... all spoke of a man with confidence, and what an honor it is to be in public service as a peace officer.

I was saddened to hear of Mr. Swackhammer's passing just a few days ago... learning from a new friend who had recently moved from Anchorage. I was shocked to hear of his tragic death, and of Sgt. Bittick.

I have thought much about my time in Alaska, and my return to California to continue my career, and I can honestly say two people come to mind that I found their values to be beyond comparison to any others, and one of those was Dep. Commissioner Swackhammer. I am glad he promoted after leaving the Academy. He deserved it then, as he deserves life now.

Robert W. Nelson, Traffic Officer (Ret.)

September 21, 2006

It will be 12 years since your tour of duty ended and you have not been forgotten. You are a true hero and heroes never die. I know you may not physically be here but you are always present in the heart of your son who will honor you for as long as he walks this earth. Keep watching over your loved ones and protect them from harm.

Poem by Richard Fife:

No person is ever truly alone.
Those who live no more,
Whom we loved,
Echo still within our thoughts,
Our words, our hearts.
And what they did,
And who they were,
Becomes a part of all that we are,
Forever.

Bob Gordon, father of fallen officer
Michael P. Gordon, Chicago, EOW: 8/8/04

Bob Gordon, Chicago Gold Star Father

September 13, 2006

The time i got to spend with my father was very short. I was only eight when he went from my life so many years ago. Now that im a grown man there are so many things I wish I could say to him but will never have the chance. I want him to know that im doing just fine. The man that I have become today is due to him and my mother. He may of been just an ordinary man to some but he was a hero to me. I will honor him always

Your son Ty

Tyler Swackhammer
family

October 21, 2005

It's been eleven years dad, but I still think of you almost every day. I wish I could tell you all the things that I never got to say, always thinking there would be more time. Every time I play cribbage, the memories come flooding back. You were the best father a son could ever have. I will never forget you dad. Your memory will live on forever in my heart.

Your loving son,

Troy

Troy Swackhammer

September 30, 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

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