Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

NEVER FORGET! Honoring the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Major Joseph LeBlanc of the Portage County Sheriff's Department, Ohio, and the additional 81 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer (Retired)
Ohio Attorneys General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

September 13, 2024

NEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Ohio Attorneys General Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Major Joseph LeBlanc of the Portage County Sheriff's Department, Ohio and the additional 81 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

September 13, 2023

NEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Ohio Attorneys General Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Major Joseph LeBlanc of the Portage County Sheriff's Department, Ohio and the additional 81 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

September 13, 2022

NEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Ohio Attorneys General Bureau of Criminal Identification & Investigation, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Major Joseph LeBlanc of the Portage County Sheriff's Department, Ohio and the additional 74 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Superintendent Joe Morbitzer
Ohio Attorney General, Bureau of Criminal Investigation

September 13, 2021

Rest in peace always knowing that your service and sacrifice will never, ever be forgotten by your law enforcement brethren.

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

September 13, 2020

Extraordinary service Major Leblanc. Three months of excellent honor and dignity, all reserved now and forever in God's House of integrity and wisdom. To become a police major with that amount of time, you must have been a most remarkable an dhumane soul of humanity.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

September 13, 2018

NEVER FORGET! On behalf of the Westerville, Ohio Division of Police, we honor the dedicated service and ultimate sacrifice of Major Joseph LeBlanc of the Portage County Sheriff's Department, Ohio and the additional 71 American Peace Officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this date in history.

Chief Joe Morbitzer
Westerville, Ohio Division of Police

September 13, 2018

I was stationed with Joe at Bossier Base,La., 1967-70. We were Air Force Security Policemen. RIP brother.

Calvin S. Newby, Jr. Retired Lt.
Virginia Beach, Va. Police Dept

April 1, 2018

I was stationed with Joe at Bossier Base, La. We were both Security Policemen. RIP Joe.

Calvin S. Newby, Jr. Retired Lt.
Virginia Beach, Va. Police Dept

April 1, 2018

Always in my thoughts.

Jodanna
Daughter

May 3, 2015

Dad, I miss you and wish I had more than just the 11 years with you as my father. I only knew you as a child, you were a good Dad. I always was and still am proud of you. I wish you could have meet all your wonderful grand children in person and that they could have met you. I know you're watching over us from above and I'm grateful for that.

Jay
Son

September 13, 2013

To fully appreciate the heroes of the present, we must recognize our heroes of the past. Your heroism and service is honored today, the 37th anniversary year of your death. I am priviliged to be among the first to leave a tribute to you. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered. Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

May 11, 2013

Joe was my Brother-in-law, and until today, I was unaware of this website. He was the older brother that I never had. His wife, my sister, never remarried, but we all still miss him. He was a good man.

Anna
sister-in-law

February 17, 2013

Thank you for your service to your community! Rest In Peace Major LeBlanc

Shelly Ragsdale, surviving spouse
Officer Alan M Ragsdale, EOW 11-27-00

February 17, 2013

Maj. LeBlanc,
On today, the 36th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice-not just for your Community, but for our Country as well when you served with the USAF during the Vietnam War. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

September 13, 2012

"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

January 8, 2008

"and the sun comes up each morning...it just doesn't know you're gone" Thank you for your dedication...

Kathleen
Alabama C.O.P.S.

April 16, 2006

No Hero should go without a reflection and you sir are nothing less than a hero. Enjoy your time on the great highway above.

May you rest easy knowing we have the watch from here. God speed.

Friends of Larry R Cox EOW 4/21/05
Chillicothe Ohio Police Department

February 27, 2006

Our uniform the same, so too will you remain. Rest easy, brother.

Deputy M. Moore
Warren County S.O. (OH)