Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

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

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

April 29, 2021

Rest In Peace Brother LEO. Thank you Hero and your family for your courage and sacrifice. Always remembered.

Officer Mike Robinson (Ret.)
Upland Police Dept. CA

April 29, 2020

Chief Lewis,
On today, the 50th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Capac. And to your Family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
United States Border Patrol

April 29, 2020

Rest in peace Chief of Police Lewis.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

December 30, 2019

Mr. Lewis lived just a few homes from ours growing up in Capac. He would often stop and talk to us youths playing baseball.I will always remember his gold tooth and big smile.The day he gave his life,I remember being let out of Baseball practice early, and told to go home and pray for his family by my baseball coach. A few days later I've never seen so many police officers at one time as they paid their respect for his sacrafice at his funeral. Chief Lewis issued me my first drivers license,and policed the first accident I had even though it was on Lynch road in Berlin Twp. A few years later I became a Patrol officer for the village of Capac,and then a Deputy serving 34years total, and my brother was a Captain for Clinton Twp. serving more years than I. R.I.P. Chief Lewis you served us very well." No man is greater than one who will lay down his life for another"

Deputy Dale C. Mills

April 29, 2014

Memphis Police Department is hosting a dedication ceremony on May 12, 2014 at 6:00pm in honor of Chief William Lewis. If there are any family members, past and present law enforcement that could make this please call me.

Chief Jessica Beels
Memphis Police Department

April 29, 2014

I was a Trooper assigned to the MSP Romeo post, and on patrol on M-21 near Capac. Hearing on the car radio about the shooting of Chief Anger, I responded to the scene and observed Chief Lewis on the ground and behind a tree. There was no sign of life. Knowing that two officers were down, I took up a position in the back yard of the residence to contain the suspect. Understanding that he had a powerful rifle, I laid down behind the tree. Seconds later, two or more shots went thru that tree about chest height. I rolled my Trooper hat into plain site, as if injured. No more shots were fired in my direction. I held that position until we later learned that the suspect was dead inside the residence. Likely my knowledge of Chief Lewis's manner of death was critical to my survival. Officer Omer Reygaert of Romeo whom I also knew was killed by gunfire in a traffic stop just seven months earlier. I still do not find it easy to discuss these deaths, but thought it was time to tell what happened in Memphis on that dark day. Rest in Peace Chief Lewis.

D/Lt ret. David T. Smith
Michigan State Police

April 21, 2014

I was one of the first deputies there that day aftering hearing the call of an officer shot in Memphis. The call was made on Memphis Police Chief Anger's police radio by a citizen that was at the scene. When I arrived and exited my patrol vehicle a shot was heard and Bill went down. It took us a few minutes to get to him and when we did there was nothing we could do. Just after that first shot there was another shot. It was from the rifle Offficer Glenn Burk of the Capac Police Dept. fired and it hit and killed the suspect. April 29, 1970 is a date I will never forget, nor will the many other officers that responded that day.

Undersheriff Bruce E. Lindke
St. Clair County Sheriff's Office

April 29, 2013

I am working on organizing a memorial for Chief Lewis at the Memphis Police Department and putting in a flag pole (yes we don't have one, and haven't had one). I would like to organize a ceremony in memory of Chief Lewis as he was killed in the line of duty in Memphis, MI. If anyone can help me locate his family I would like to have someone present during this ceremony.

Chief of Police- Jessica Beels
Memphis,MI

February 12, 2013

Grandpa,

You were taken before I was even born, but I heard so many stories about you and the selfless acts that you did. You were a role model for the entire community. Even without you as a physical presence in my life, I have felt you around me and protecting me all the time. I really wish I would have gotten the chance to know you and had more than just those stories told to me by the other officers in Capac, but I treasure those memories and stories. I know you touched many peoples lives and you still live on in their memories and in my heart...even though I never got to meet you. Love you Grandpa!!

To those who wrote reflections, Thank you from the bottom of my heart. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. To those current officers, may your fallen brethren (like my grandfather) look over you and keep you safe.

Renee Lewis
granddaughter

May 1, 2012

Your heroism and service is honored today, the 42nd anniversary of your death. 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

April 29, 2012

Another year has passed and you are still admired and respectfully remembered in the hearts and minds of so many. My thoughts and prayers are with your loved ones and friends on this anniversary of your EOW. You will never be forgotten.

James Sheppard
Father of Sgt. Jason L. Sheppard EOW 12/7/06

April 29, 2010

YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY AND THANK YOU SIR FOR YOUR SERVICE

Pat Van Den Berghe
MANCHESTER, NH

April 29, 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 13, 2007

As a patrol officer who started his career with the Memphis and Capac Police Department you often believe that working a small town department is the safest place that one could work. As a resident of Memphis I thank you and may god bless you and your famile for the sacrifice given to protect our community.

xavier
Hazel Park, MI

January 3, 2004