Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God."
Matthew 5:9

Marshal Chris Di Gerolamo
Federal Air Marshal Service

April 8, 2013

Just stopped by to say thanks. Wanted you and your family we still think about you.

FTO J.R. Skaggs
Yuma Police Department

June 9, 2012

Hey, Gary just remembering the time when you and Joe blassingame competed against those other bands in the battle of the bands on base you'll came in second but in our hearts we know that you could of won it. If only that second lieutenant had allowed you to of played Jimmy Hendrix rendition of Star Bangled Banner the reason he gave was that if he did, You would have everybody on base standing at attention, That song was your ace and you werent allowed to play your full hand . You had it nailed feedback , bombs screeching ,bursting , ambulance sirens. If i remember correctly the song you played on such short notice, I think was My generation by The Who in order to make a statement that he just didnt get it. Being the Marine that you are you followed your chain of command orders and settled for second . The Marines there Knew. So everytime i hear the Star Bangled Banner i remember that day, you and joe blassingame. I even remember the silly song that won it for them ... A song about a stupid brothel in a chicken ranch in La Grange Texas .. I guess things havent changed that much there are still service personall that forget their patriotic duties for cheap trills .. Rock n roll Gary! lets go . Hey! Ho! Let's Go!

Juan E Perez
USMC/Platoon member

April 28, 2012

Warrior and Hero!!!

Inspector

April 21, 2012

Another year has passed. Another year closer to seeing you again. Thank you for all you have done..

J.R. Skaggs
Retired U.S. Marshal's Service

April 15, 2012

I have the street sign with our Last name (Maas) that they put up in honor of you at the yuma police training facility blown up poster size at my work right on the wall above where I work. Its the first thing that anyone see's when walking into our office. Its also my screen saver on my computer at work.

Its now 26 years that you've been gone...and for me its only going to get longer...I wish you were still here. Theres not a day that goes by that I dont wish you could be with me. It hurts. Got to go back to work now.

Love Always and Forever,
Your lil' Girl,
Leticia Maas

Leticia Maas
Daughter

April 9, 2012

You are never forgotten..........

AZ Narc

December 19, 2011

Gary Allan Maas, I found you my friend , I remember you as if it was only yesterday, when we were both 19 years of age stationed at Kaneohe Bay, Hi. Even then i could see in you that you were a person that would be willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for your fellowmen. I never had the chance to tell you just how much your shared words of advice and wisdom have helped me in my life. Hey i still remember that gibson firebird guitar you bought, that baby was a beauty . Thanks to you and your guitar playing i was inspired to learn how to play guitar. LOl i also remember the very first time that i was invited to eat lasagna at your place off base. First time i ever ate lasagna , me being a country boy of hispanic descent had no clue what it even was , Thanks Victoria it was awesome . I remember Jason your first born .. you used to call him Punky or lol rugrat.. I'm sure he has grown up to be a fine man . Good thing safety pins for baby diaphers are no longer used Im sure you remember that Gary. I didnt know you have left us Brother. I just found out today by remembering that you dad was a police office in Horican i did a search about your hometown and that where i found out .. I hope your family is doing well.. Ill keep you in my prayers ..

Juan E. Perez
U.S.M.C / platoon member

October 22, 2011

Little Letty, 25 years is a long time. Not a day goes by when I don't think about your Dad. I have learned to live with the pain. Don't think it will ever go away; wouldn't want it to. It would be good to meet you again some day. Contact me via FB or Yaho... or have Jason or Stephie contact me with your contact info.

Anyone else who knew Gary, feel free to contact me at anytime.

James Maas
Brother

September 26, 2011

I remember the incident that occurred during my 2nd tour at Y.P.G.
May he rest in peace!

SP4 Kirk A. Smith
Yuma Proving Ground Military Police

June 21, 2011

I was there that awful night in 1986. I saw the recent aftermath of the horrific crime scene that had unfolded literally seconds prior to my arrival. It had a profound impact on my life and career with the Yuma Polcie Department. I will say with certainty, while I was new to the department, and I only knew Gary for a short time as a fellow squad member, I was deeply touched by Gary's sacrifice. That night heavily influenced my life and career. Gary has always been around. He was in our jokes, in our thoughts and our tales. We laughed a little, we cried a little. We used Gary's memories to describe sacrifice and dedication to others. Semper Fi.

Sgt John Nozar
Yuma Police Retired

June 12, 2011

Just a note of thanks for being there for all of us. Never to be forgotten...

J.R. SKAGGS
Retired Deputy U. S. Marshal

April 17, 2011

How could 25 years go so fast? I will never forget that night, and will never forget you......

Mike Erfert Lt. (Ret)
Yuma Police Dept.

April 9, 2011

Officer Gary Mass,
I was a freshman at Yuma High School when I learned about your bravery you encounter. I just wanted to say Thank you so much for your sacrifice to our community and you made it very safe for us on this day. To the Parents and Children of Officer Gary Mass, May God Bless you Forever.

Anonymous

April 9, 2011

Officer Gary Maas,
Rest in peace brother.

Detective Dave Howell
Plano,Texas Police Dept-Auto Theft

April 8, 2011

I can't believe that Saturday will mark 25 years of the morning my heart stopped when I heard you were the Yuma PD officer killed at the bus depot. I was working and stopped in at dispatch where I could hear the ambulance workers desparately trying to save your life, all the while not knowing it was you. I figured I would call you later in the morning to ask what had happened. I was home for a couple of hours when a friend from our academy class called to tell me your were gone. I couldn't breath. I missed you immediately. I miss you now.

I remember the night when the power was out at ALETA. We were sitting out in front of the dorms and you said you didn't think you were going to make 5 years on the job. Your only wish was to take "him" with you. You didn't and you did. This world is definitely not the same without you. Everytime I hear "Jutebox Hero", I think of you. Until we meet again. Love you. me

Anonymous

April 5, 2011

To The dispatcher who wrote that message i commend your full in detail passage it was so touching of a tribute I So touched by the words I had to thank you and this officers
Sacrafice to his Community should never be forgotten .

Robert Booth
Citizen Of The United States

February 9, 2011

Gary my friend,
I can honestly say that there is not a day that goes by that I don't think of you. While I was stationed in Sinai, Egypt my mom sent me a package and inside of it was several newspaper cut outs from the Yuma Daily Sun. I read each one of them as fast as I could and was in total shock of what I had read.
I tried to figure out how I could go AWOL and fly back to the States and find the guy who had done this. My next letter had in it from the Sun that he had been captured. That was a great joy for me but deep inside wished that he would have done something that the officers in Texas would have had to use deadly force.
Once I got back to Yuma, Kenny Nelson and I would go out on the anniversary of your death and order a beer and shot for you. It would sit on the bar between us, we would drink a Toast in your memory.
I remember all of the good times we had at Adair Park and practicing "WHO DO YOU TRUST". Me standing in front of the target as if I was a hostage dropping down to the ground as you put two to the head. I even wrote an English paper at AWC about you and those adventures.
In 1993 my wife at the time had a daughter our second child of 4, she was born on April 9, 1993. So every year we celebrate her birthday and I say a little prayer for you. I still have all of the letters that you wrote me while I was in the Army and thought maybe someday I would give them to Jason.
One other thing your Dad sent me a photo of you standing on 4th Avenue. I have it hung up in my house and over the years my kids have asked who is that? Is that you Dad when you were younger? I tell them laughing no its not your Dad but one of the best friends I have ever had and then explain to them about what happened to you.
Rest in Peace my good friend, I know that as you walked through the Valley of Darkness you feared no evil, for your .357 Python and break away holster was by your side.

Hal Burgess
Friend

November 23, 2010

I think of you often and of the impact you have made on so many. This includes my son, who has also joined the LEO profession. I just want to say thank you for being on duty for so many of us.

You are missed everyday.. jrs

J.R. SKAGGS
Retired Deputy U.S. Marshal

August 3, 2010

Wow! Gary, I was just talking not more than an hour ago about you with a co-worker. Then a few moments ago I opened the website and saw you featured today. I hope you always know that many of us remember you and what the cost of protection the citizens of Yuma cost you. Rest in peace.

AZ Narc

June 4, 2010

Gary,

Rest in peace brother.

Detective Dave Howell
Plano,Texas Police Dept-Auto Theft

May 20, 2010

Twenty-four years ago on this date at 2331 hrs. , Officer Gary Maas was dispatched to the Greyhound Bus Depot in reference to a report of a child finding a bullet on the bus. A normal routine type call received third party from a representative of Greyhound. Nothing in the call indicated a disturbance of any kind but since it was a bullet and the possibility of someone having a weapon was indicated, a back-up officer was also sent.

Earlier in the evening a confidential Attempt To Locate (ATL) had been given to all law enforcement officers in the area regarding the possibility of two brothers, Donald & Edward Smith, coming to Yuma. The Smith brothers were wanted for a variety of reasons including robbery and homicide. The Yuma Sheriff’s Office had their relative's home under surveillance. Information received indicated the Smiths were traveling in one of their victim's truck and possibly had a scanner to keep track of law enforcement activity. Officer Maas had this information and their descriptions on his roster attached to the dashboard of his patrol car.

After arriving at the bus depot, no other transmissions were received until Officer Chris Crocket, the back-up officer, arrived. He stated there appeared to be a man down in the parking lot and he would be investigating. This turned out to be Donald Smith who had been shot several times by Officer Maas. The next transmission was one no one ever wants to hear, "Officer down, send Rescue." Unbelievably of all the shots fired in that exchange and despite the fact there are several residences in the area, dispatch never received one telephone call reporting shots fired. Nothing indicating anything out of the ordinary was occurring. Edward Smith escaped into the night and was later found in Texas, extradited to Yuma, where he was found guilty of homicide and sent to Florence prison where he is housed today. Then Sgt. D. Rhodes remembered as they conducted a house to house search he spoke with many residents who heard the shots fired. One lady in particular said she heard shots, followed by louder shots (Gary's .357) that made the roof of her house shake. She lived directly east of the depot, was alone at home with several small children and spoke only Spanish. She had no phone and pretty much spent the whole night frightened, because the shots were followed shortly by many sirens.

For those of you who never had the opportunity of knowing Gary, he followed in his dad's footsteps, who retired as a police lieutenant from Horicon, Wisc. Gary firmly believed in always being ready for anything. He was forever running scenarios at Adair gun range in his off duty time, practicing the “what if” situations. He was a man who thought of his co-workers as part of his personal family and looked after them as such. Many times on night shift an officer would check out with a subject and a few minutes later request a back up. Almost instantly you would hear Gary say he was on scene. He took it upon himself to drive by and make sure everyone was OK. He was also pro-active in his work. He would go to the 16th Street overpass, go down to the train tracks, and run subjects he found there. Usually good for a few felony warrants, he would say. He was an outstanding street cop in the full sense of the word. Before anyone ever heard of the term Critical Incident Stress Management, Gary had established our own debriefing session. At 0700 when the shift was over we would go out to breakfast on our "Friday" as a squad. We would take this time to share information, find out what happened on calls, answer questions anyone might have, and just enjoy each other's company. He was instrumental in making us a team.
I was asked to share a few memories of my friend and I want to say he was neither a perfect man nor the example of the perfect officer but he was so humane in his dealings with others. He often expressed his desire to work with kids. He wanted to set an example so they would want to be police officers when they grew up. I would recall this comment as the procession carrying his body to the Civic Center for his memorial service passed Palmcroft School. There lined up in the school yard were all the students holding up signs saying they loved the Yuma Police Dept. and Officer Maas. His impact on our community was felt not only by members of our department and the community itself, but by those officers who traveled here from other communities to pay their respects. Letters were later written stating how impressed they were by the support and respect paid by the citizens of our city to Officer Maas and his family.

I know if Gary could pass on one message to everyone here, it would be that you look out for each other and to always be prepared for the unexpected. His love for police work is reflected on his headstone in Wisconsin..."He died for what he lived for".

Maria Lopez
Retired Dispatch Supervisor - Yuma P.D.

April 9, 2010

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 9, 2010

I haven't forgotten. Thanks.

Skaggs
YPD

March 23, 2010

Thought about you and your family today. Hope all is well with the family. I check YPD's site often. Bless you and your family. Thanks.

Officer J.R. Skaggs
Yuma Police Department

February 17, 2010