Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

RIP hero! 27 years gone but never forgotten!

I read that your son is over seas and is a Marine, wathch over and protect him!

To your wife and children my thoughts and prayers are with you on this day.

Wife of LEO from NJ

Anonymous

June 28, 2010

hi my love . your a grandpa once more . yep its your little sweet pea again. this time she had an other girl. olivia m watson. she is a doll. she has a little bet of red haire. now that make three for maryann. i love them dearly . dont worry guy is the best to them . he is a very good man to the babys . they get along very good with them . he loves them so much . so he is like you giveing them everything. oh well my love keep on watching over the kids . love forever.

barbara a klacza
wife

March 20, 2010

Officer Klacza. R.I.P., GOD BLESS YOU & YOUR FAMILY!! Reading your reflections I can tell you were a Husband/Father who loved your family and they LOVE YOU! You are not just a HERO to them but a HERO to the citizens of Chicago! You gave your life so someone else may live! That is the meaning of a HERO! I am sure that you are walking a beat in Heaven or on patrol! Your son in the Marines is a Hero also! Sounds like he has had a couple of tours overseas and I am sure he has distinguished himself, like you did! I hope you can protect him and bring him home safely to your family! Thank You for your service and giving the Marines a fine example in your son!!

Detention Deputy G. Carew
Seminole Co. Sheriff's Office, FL

January 15, 2009

I was looking at the site and your name came up. In reading all the reflections I saw how much you were loved. You planted many seeds on earth, and now you can watch them bear fruit. Seeing your son grow to the man he is a father's greastest desire. May we all reach for the standard you have set.

God Bless.

Michael Lowry, Corporal
University of Colorado Police Department

October 21, 2008

Hi Wayne,

You don't know me, but I know so much about you and your family. Your wife, Barb, helped me so much when my husband was killed in the line of duty. In fact she helped a whole lot of people with similar circumstances. She has become my best friend and now we have been neighbors for 16 years. Wow time goes by fast. Anyways she is just a fantastic lady and she is so smart about so many things, I don't know what I would do without her. She is a blessing. Your kids are awesome people too. MaryAnn has 2 kids now and they are just adorable, she is such a good mom. Wayne can do anything, he is unbelievably talented and such a perfectionist. John's a marine, he is a Gunny Sargent now. He puts on a tough act but I think he is really the most sensitive of the kids. His step-daughter is a little cutie pie. Anyways I just wanted to say hi. I guess someday I'll meet you up there and we'll have a nice long talk.

Laura Mathews
friend

January 23, 2008

SO WAYNE YOU KNOW JOHN IS GOING OVER SEAS AGAIN . I KNOW YOU HEAR HIM AND I KNOW YOU WILL BE WITH AT ALL TIMES . I KNOW YOU GOT TO BE VERY PROUD OF HIM FOR WHAT HE IS DOING FOR ARE COUNTRY . I KNOW WE ALL ARE . WE WILL MISS HIM DEARLY . BUT WHEN HE COMES HOME I WILL BE THERE WITH HIS FAMILY TO MEET HIM . LIKE I SAID PLEASE WATCH OVER HIM . I GUESS ITS YOUR JOB NOW YOU CAN BE WITH HIM . AND PLEASE LET HIM COME HOME SAFE TO HIS FAMILY . LOVE ALWAYS

BARBARA A KLACZA
WIFE

January 18, 2008

Hey Pop,
Well, it's that time again. I'm headed back over seas. It gets harder and harder to leave my family each time. Every time I worry that I'll leave my family without a father and a husband. I can only imagine what it was like for you to have to do it every day. Well, I got promoted again. I'm serving in an Officer billet because we have a lack of Officers in the Corps now. It's funny how everyone says the support their troops but nobody can tell you how they support them. I guess just saying it is enough for them. Dad, help me leed with honor and distiction. You'd love my boys, their all good kids and loyal beyond belief. My biggest fear is letting them down or worse making a decission that gets them hurt or worse. I know I'm not ready for this position but I know you'll help me. Take care of my boys pop. They'll take care of your son. Oh, you may want to look after Wayne. I know he's having a hard time right now nomatter what he says. I've been there and I know how bad it hurts. He may make mistakes but he deserves to be happy once in his life. I hope to be by your side one day, just not now:) Take care and I'll hit you up when this is over.

GySgt John W. Klacza
Son

January 14, 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

December 30, 2007

HOW TINMES GOING BY SO FAST. BUT ON ONE HAND IS JSUT FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY . MARYANN GOT MARRIED LAST YEAR . ITS GOING TO BE HER FRIEST AN. YOUR GRAND KIDS ARE GETING SO BIG ITS SO FUN TO WATCH THEM GROW . AND THEY SAY THE DARN THINGS TO MAKE YOU LAUGH SO HARD . THIS CHRISTMASS WILL BE FUN FOR ALL OF THEM . I WISH YOU WOULD BE HERE TO SEE THERE FACES . BUT I KNOW YOU ARE WATCHING DOWN ON THEM . ARE JOHN ISNT COMMING IN THIS WINTER THEY ARE OUT IN CAL. HE WILL BE LEAVEING TO GO OVER SEAS JAN 13 I KNOW YOU WILL BE RIGHT WITH HIM WATCHING HIS BACK . THEY SAY HE WILL BE OVER THERE ABOUT 7 MONTHS OR LONGER I REALLY HOPE ITS NOT LONGER .. I KNOW HE WILL FEEL YOU WITH HIM AND I KNOW HE WILL BE TALKING TO YOU ALOT OVER THERE . SO KEEP YOUR EARS OPEN FOR HIM . THE OTHER KIDS WILL BE ALL HOME FOR CHRISTMASS IM LOOKING SO MUCH FOR THEM TO BE HERE . THEY KIND OF LIVE IN ALL STATES NOW . MARYANN AND HER FAMILY LIVE IN IN. NOW BUT I DO SEE THEM ALOT WHEN IM OUT IN IN IN, AT THE COTTAGE THEY LIVE ABOUT 11 MILES AWAY . SO THAT MAKES ME HAPPY WITH THAT . YOU WOULD BE SO PROUD HOW THEY ARE DOING FOR THEM SELFS . I KNOW THEY TAKE A LITTLE AFTER YOU . OK AND ME . I HAD TO SAY THAT YOU KNOW THAT . OH MY LOVE I DO HAVE A MAN IN MY LIFE . YOU WOULD LIKE HIM HE IS THE GREATS TO THE GRANDKIDS YOU COULDNT ASK FOR A BETTER GRANDPA . HE HUGHS THEM KISSES THEM AND WHEN THEY WANT STUFF JUST LIKE YOU WOLD I WOULD SAY NO AND HE WILL JUST JGIVE THEM WHAT THEY WANT LIKE YOU WOULD DO TO ARE KIDS . AS I KNOW YOU CAN SEE HIM . HE IS A GOOD MAN TO THEM ALL . AND AS YOU WILL ALWAYS BE MY LOVE . I KNOW YOU WOULD BE HAPPY THAT I AM HAPPY . BUT ONE DAY WE WILL HAVE A BIG TALK ALL ABOUT WHAT HAPPEN WHEN IT IS MY TIME TO BE WITH YOU . I NEVER FORGET YOU AND I NEVER WILL IT STILL HURST WHEN I TALK ABOUT YOU TO PEOPLE . BECAUSE THIS IS THE TIME WE WERE TO BE TOGETHER . BUT I GUESS LIFE DOESNT ALWAYS DO WHAT WE WANT IT TO DO I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU AND ALWAYS LOVE YOU FOREVER . AND I WILL AWAYS BE YOUR WIFE FOREVER . MERRY CHRISTMASS MY LOVE . WHEN THE KIDS OPEN THERE PRESENTS I ALWAYS THINK OF YOU . BUT I KNOW YOUR WITH US . SOME TIMES I THINK YOUR ERAS ARE HURTING YOU THAT I TALK TO YOU SO MUCH . LOVE FOREVER MY LOVE .

BARBARA KLACZA
WIFE

December 15, 2007

Once again the Christmas season is upon us and a very hard time of the year for most of us to get through. We now have started new traditions with our families to help us cope with the loss of our blue angels who are no longer with us and spend most of our time thinking about those that are missing and tell stories about them to other family members. Once again I've decorated the outside of my home in all blue lights and one of those lights will be lit every night until New Years in the Memory of Wayne as my way of say he has not been forgotten. Continue to watch over your loved ones, especially your son, keep him our of harms way.

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

December 1, 2007

THAT WAS SAID SO TRUE .

BARBARA A KLACZA
WIFE

November 12, 2007

Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, but love leaves a memory no one can steal.

November 7, 2007

Hey pop,
I read a poem today that said fallen police officers will walk the beat in heaven. The Marine hymn says we also guard the streets of heaven. Should I fall in combat, I look forward to serving by your side (just keep in mind, I out rank you now so you'll have to take orders from me:) Some would say that since you weren't around for me as a child that you didn't add anything to what I've become. Those people are fools. Everything I am today is because of you. I try everyday to make you proud but know I'll never be able to fill your shoes. Your sacrifice has given me the greatest gift a father can give a son...HONOR!

Staff Sergeant John W. Klacza
Marine Corps

October 28, 2007

Dear Officer Klacza,

You sir, are a hero. One who will NEVER be forgotton. You purposely placed yourself in danger to protect another person, a stranger. My heart goes out to your wife, Barbara and your children. From her tribute / message to you, I can tell she looks to the stars in Heaven to see you. She knows that you are looking down to watch over her and you children.

Thank you for your service, dedication and courage. I pray that God Almighty will extend and continue to extend a comforting hand to your family.

Thomas Jensen
Father of Det. Jared Scott Jensen CSPD, EOW 2/22/2006

Thomas Jensen

July 27, 2007

WAYNE,
ANOTHE XMAS IS GONE THE KIDS ALL CAME OVER BUT JOHN. WE WENT OUT TO MICHICAN TO SEE THEM. HE DOESN'T GET MUCH TIME OFF OF WORK. AS YOU KNOW HE IS A MARIAN FOR 12YRS NOW. I TOOK PICTURES AND NOW IM JUST LERNING HOW TO PUT THEM IN THE COMPUTER. YOU WOULD BE SO PROUD OF ME HOW I CAN WORK THESE NEW THINGS. IT CAME A LONG WAY. ARE GOD CHILD TURNED 30 I WENT TO THE PARTY HOW TIME GOES. I JUST REMEMBER WHEN WE CHRISTEN HER. CHUCK WAS TALKING ABOUT YOU HE MISSES YOU ALOT. HE PUT YOUR NAME ON HIS ARM. AND HE IS VERY PROUD TO WEAR IT. OH WELL MY LOVE JUST KEEP ON WATCHING OVER ALL OF US. IT WILL BE A NEW YEAR 2007 HAPPY NEW YEAR. I WILL LOOK UP AT MIDNIGHT SO I CAN SEE YOU LOOKING AT ME.LOVE FOREVER

BARBARA A KLACZA
WIFE

December 29, 2006

BARBARA,

I just wanted to reach out and say hello to you, and to honor your husband with a reflection.

I joined your CPD family a couple of years ago, and since then have come to accept the challenges and dangers of this job.

I've come to your husband's page as a result of your reflection on Michael's...

...and I'll make the most sincere promise to you and Wayne whenever I leave a reflection: I'll promise to continue his work as a Chicago police officer.

Please take comfort and pride knowing that I wear my police star daily- with honor- knowing that there many great police officers before me, working beside me, and currently training in the academy.

Police Officer
Chicago Police Dept. -011th District

December 20, 2006

My thoughts are with your loved ones this holiday season. I Know it has been over two decades since they lost you but I know the pain is still present in their broken hearts and will be for as long as they walk this earth. I have decorated the exterior of my home with blue lights, one of those lights will be lit in your honor every night until New Years as my way of letting you know you are a hero and have not been forgotten. Continue to keep watch over your loved ones and those still on patrol in the City.

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

December 19, 2006

Dear Barbara and Family, I had just stopped by Mike Gordons site and saw your reflection so I came to Wayne's to say hello to you and your family. My son-in-law Sgt. Jeffrey T. Hewitt was shot and killed on 04-04-04, while serving domestic papers to a mental disturbed man. The man was hiding in bamboo he had planted. Jeff saw him, and told him to put his gun down. They said the last words Jeff said was "Hey Buddy, you don't want to do that" Jeff was the first officer to jump the fence. The man shot Jeff. then turned the gun on himself. How we wonder why!!! One is never prepared for the news that a loved one has been taken from us. I miss him so much. I am so sorry you lost your husband, and your children their Father. Four months and four days after Jeff lost his life, Michael Gordon was killed. Mikes Father had left a reflection for Jeff. I was so touched by his words that I called Riverside Police Dept., got the address and sent Bob and Carol a card, at that time I didn't have a computer. As a result, The Gordons and I have become very close friends. Last March, I had the honor of them visiting me, and I hope to come to Chicago some day. Barbara, we never understand, but somehow good overrides the bad. In loss there is gain. No, no-one can replace our loved one. Never could anyone take the place of Wayne. And Wayne I salute you Sir for your service to us. Continue to keep watch over your loved ones along with all the Hero's who have taken their final flight. I know in my heart you all stand together in Heaven forever keeping an eye on us. Thank you. Barbara,please know that you and your family are in my prayers, that my thoughts are with you. And if you see Bob and Carol tell them this Carolina woman is so thankful for their friendship. And Barbara, always know your "Blue Line" family will keep the memory of Wayne alive. May your Christmas be full of happiness and precious memories. Love and Prayers, Carolyn Moore Asheville, N.C.

Carolyn Moore

December 12, 2006

TO MY LOVE,
YOUR GRANDKIDS ARE GETTING SO BIG. WE JUST WENT TO SEE HAILEY ON STAGE SHE IS 5 NOW. AND YOUR BABY SCOTTY IS 3. HE IS A DOLL.YOU WOULD BE SO PROUD OF THEM. ARE CHILDREN ARE SO BIG NOW. AS YOU SEE THEY HAVE KIDS OF THERE OWN. IT' XMAS TIME AGAIN IT REALLY ISN'T XMAS LIKE THE ONES WE HAD WHEN THE KIDS WERE SMALL. BUT I GUESS THINGS DONT STAY THE SAME FOREVER.
JOHN HAS A STEP DAUGHTER HER NAME IS TYLER. SHE IS A DOLL SHE IS 9 NOW.
WAYNE DOESNT HAVE ANY CHILDREN YET. I HOPE SOME DAY .WELL REST IN PEACE. AND WATCH OVER US AS YOU BEEN. I KNOW YOUR THERE FOR ME AND THE KIDS. MARRY XMAS MY LOVE. AND PLEASE GIVE MY MOM AND DAD A HUGE FOR ME.

BARBARA KLACZA

December 8, 2006

Even after 23 years you have not been forgotten. This fall your name will be visible for all to see as it is engraved on the new Chicago Monument to honor fallen officers from the City. Your loved ones will never forget you nor will the Blue Family ever let you be forgotten. Keep watch over your loved ones and say hi to my son for me while you are both on patrol. You are a true hero and heroes never die.

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

Bob Gordon

July 17, 2006

The reason you died on my birthday was so I would always remember you, cause you never forget your own birthday. Though so many years have gone by, my love for you remains as strong as the day you left me and always will until we meet again. All my love forever.

Barbara

December 2, 2005

He was a good man... who made the altimate sacrifice. He wore the shirt of blue with honor and died a hero. I miss him dearly and although not here psyically, he has been a spirtual influence to me my whole life. I know he watches over me and has been watching over me, even when I thought he wasn't. Thank You for your guidence.

A great man... A true hero and mentor to all Police officers everywhere.