Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Jonathan you were a great guy you were a leader of heart made you rest in peace.

Seaman Juan C Romero

August 8, 2023

Another year brother and you are still in our presence and very much missed...

Jason Eaton
BM3

BM3
USCG

January 11, 2023

Rest in peace Coast Guardsman Scotchmer.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 9, 2022

I was Johnathan’s first Chief. He was part of our A Gang shop on Jarvis in Honolulu . I remember he was a hard worker and was curious about Engineering. We needed a clapper for the ships bell on the forecastle and he asked me if he could make one on the lathe. I encouraged all my people to work on the lathe and he made one and installed it. I had him sign it and he was proud of it. He was a good shipmate and played hard, he was well liked by his fellow Engineers. I was very proud to hear he graduated MKA school and became a Boarding Officer. I wrote a letter to his father after his death, but unfortunately his father died before he could read it. I hope he and his father found each other in the hereafter and are resting in peace. I miss you shipmate.

MKCS (ret) Russ Montague
Shipmate on Cutter Jarvis in Honolulu, HI

December 8, 2021

Jon was a somber, yet humorous guy. He left Jarvis for MK"A" school. From what I understand, a great student. We were all profoundly taken aback when the report came thru. After all these years, I still remember and mourn his loss. Tomorrow is Memorial day. He's the one I remember the most.

MK1 Sherman Bohannon
USCG

May 30, 2021

I was John’s first Chief on Jarvis in Hawaii. He was a fantastic worker and made a great Engineer. He was well liked and fun to be around. I could not have asked for a better young man from boot camp. Those who served with him miss him.

Russ Montague MKCS ret
Coast Guard

January 21, 2020

Rest in peace.

Lt. Jim Russo

January 9, 2020

Can't believe its been 25yrs since that fateful day brother...

I remember the good times we had in Miami, almost like it was yesterday. Just wanted to say what a great friend you where and you've definitely been missed. Rest in peace Jon.

BM3 Jason Eaton
USCG (Base Miami / Farallon / STA Miami)
281-685-5035

January 9, 2020

Jonathan,
On today, the 25th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for our Country. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

Semper Paratus!

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

January 9, 2020

Rest in peace and Olav Hashalom Coast Guardsman Scotchmer.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

January 9, 2019

I met Jonathan at USCG Boarding Officer School. worked side by side with every day for 33 days. He was our class Honor Graduate. When I received the message while standing Officer of the Day Duties it numbed me. I've seen the video more than once, and kept hoping it ended differently. I used the tragedy as a training tool for the next eight years as I trained men and women to be Boarding team Members and Boarding Officers. Rest in Peace Brother.

MK2 Brian Newman
Forner USCG Member. Current Inspector with DHS

October 25, 2018

I only knew John for a very short time while stationed in Miami. I met him through mutual friend but I can remember I liked him instantly. I was in "A" school when I receive the news but I have never forgotten him. I make a point to do so this time of year. God bless his family, and may we all remember him in hope that it eases his passing.

EM2 Micah Wood
USCG

May 27, 2018

I have the wonderful privilege of meeting Jonathan , and to this day I’m deeply affected by his passing.

I wish I have the chance to tell you again know how much I love you and miss you.

N/A
Friend

January 4, 2018

I came across these posts when pulling a picture for Memorial Day. My family has always been deeply stricken with my cousin's passing. This was a tragic and unexpected event. I am deeply moved by the number lives he has reached in death...as it is typical "Scotchy" - he touched so many lives in life. He would be so proud and honored to have helped so many. Especially, a tool that is saving people's lives. I miss you my dear cousin (my brother). You have an always remain in my heart. I am so proud of you then and now. God Bless all of you who have written and remember my cousin.

Heather Griffin
Family - Cousin

May 26, 2017

I was there. I will never forget.

Christopher Eddy
USCG

January 27, 2017

Rest in peace my brother.

Richard Carroll BM2
U.S. Coast Guard

December 4, 2016

My name is Manuel A. Huezo, Jonathan and I went to MK A-School together we were roommates and during all of our time in school I didn't know he spoke Spanish, it wasn't until the end of A-school when the detailer came out and asked if there were any Spanish speakers that would like to get orders to LEDET Miami, I was surprised when I saw Jonathan raise his hand since all the time that we were there he never mentioned he was raised in Guatemala. Soon after that point we became a lot closer. We both received orders to go to LEDET Miami where we completed several Deployments together, he would come over to my house and play legos and a racing track with my son who was 4 to 5 years old at the time. I remember taking him to a baseball game during the first year of the Florida Marlins and him telling me that he had never been to a Professional Baseball game and he was happy to be there with us. Jonathan was like a little brother to me, he had a strong desire to be a Police Officer and he kept asking me to go with him and put our paperwork for Broward County Sheriffs to which I told him to go and fill out the paperwork first and if things go well I will follow him after. The day he passed away I was suppose to help him train his new Unit (Station Miami Beach) since he was in the process of getting out of the CG to become a Law Enforcement Officer, he came and told me that we will have to change plans due to him having to go do a boarding out anchored in the Bay and we will complete the training later in the day. I remembered someone coming in later that morning and telling us that there was an accident where Jonathan has been seriously hurt, I went immediately to the hospital where we were told he had passed away.

It was very painful receiving that news than as it is now. I miss him so much and he will NEVER be forgotten. I became a Police Officer with The Los Angeles Police Department and I know that he helped me get here and I will be soon retiring from LAPD and I will do so knowing that I will complete what he had asked me to do, join him being a law enforcement Officer. Rest in Peace my Brother.

MKC Manuel A. Huezo
USCG retired

October 1, 2015

I had the honor of attending the Memorial when Scotchmer's name was added. I was accompanied by members of his unit at Miami Beach and also sat with then Admiral Saunders, D7 District Commander. I also met Scotchmer's mother and we had the opportunity to sit with her and have dinner. She indicated she saw the finished video and wanted as many law enforcement officers to see it. D7 TACLET then committed to turning the tragedy into a training tool for other Coast Guard law enforcement officers with the objective of emphasizing the hazards of our law enforcement mission. The video has also been used in leadership training for newly promoted officers that work for state, county, and local law enforcement to drive the point home that their decisions now have consequences that often affect their subordinates. The video has had a significant impact on the thousands that have viewed it. Unbelievably, It's been over 20 years since that tragic day and undoubtedly PO Scotchmers death has saved many lives.

BMCS Manny Vega
US Coast Guard/D7 TACLET

May 16, 2015

So sad. Thank you for standing the watch and holding the line.

Aux. Robert Quigley
USCG

February 7, 2015

God Bless this young man and to thank him for his service in the USCG...
From the Mom of a CG Lt. who inspects large vessels.
Fair Winds Sir.

Sandy Neither
USCG Mom

January 11, 2015

The hazards of a boarding are numerous and always something to watch out for. I have seen too many people hurt form boarding's but never a death. My heart goes out to the family and fellow shipmates. Just remember when the number comes it happens. No thing could have prevented it.

MCPO
USCG Ret

January 10, 2015

Although I never met PO Scotchmer the news hit us at TACLET South very deeply. Being part of the newly created TACLET's our mission united all of us in the Law Enforcement arena with a newly renewed realization of the hazards of our mission. We trained hard and members deployed longer than ever on US and foreign ships. We strived to make sure that his sacrifice would not have been in vane and tried to trained hard and look out for each other. My salutes to all my shipmates from 1994 thru 1998. Part of the first ever crew-command of TACLET South, along side LT Vosburgh and YN1 Lasseter.

CWO3 Luis O. Cruz
USCG (ret), US Department Of State

January 10, 2015

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

Deputy Brian Jones
Boulder County Sheriff's Office, CO

December 26, 2012

The incident in which PO Scotchmer died was being filmed by a BBC film crew. His family graciously allowed the Coast Guard to use the video as a tool for Law Enforcement training. I saw it twice in the 90's. I am not sure if it is still used, I hope it is, because it really drove home the point how dangerous this job is.

God Bless

BMCM/Trooper Jon Graham
US. Coast Guard Reserve/Vt State Police

December 11, 2012

I joined the CG in 1998, so I never served with Jonathan, but I know that he gave his life directly in the line of duty conducting a mission we do alot safer today because of learning from his tragedy.

I graduated from the CG MLE Academy and received the J. D. Scotchmer award for the honor graduate and never felt so honored in my entire life. I will never forget him. He will always be a part of the CG family.

My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Fair winds and calm sees brother.

BM1 Reddick
USCG

July 30, 2012