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HISTORY OF THE CALIFORNIA
PEACE OFFICERS' MEMORIAL

Each year during the week of May 15, groups of people gather together to honor the memory of a member of their family. Surviving spouses grieving a lost partner; children missing a parent; older couples who have survived their son or daughter; brothers, sisters, fellow peace officers - so many of us commemorate National Police Week as participants of a Peace Officers Memorial Service.

California Peace Officers Memorial Ceremonies have been conducted in the State Capitol since 1977. It is a ceremony that honors the officers who have fallen in the line-of-duty the preceding year, recognizing the sacrifice of those loved and left behind.

We understand that the grief of the loss still lingers on, and such proceedings renew unhappy memories and can be the occasion of additional pain. However, it is important that those of us left behind, recognize that these officers did not die in vain. The people owe a debt to those who have given their lives, and the peace officers of this state want this memory to stay fresh in the minds of the citizens. That is why we must revisit these unhappy memories each year on that day set aside to reflect on courage and sacrifice; and, to assure that their loss will not be forgotten, and the survivors will always be a part of the police community.

They stand tall. At about 9 feet, they cast a long shadow.

They have to. For the three bronze figures represent the more than 1,400 peace officers who have died in the line-of-duty since California became a state.

The three look down on a life-sized figure of a woman comforting a child sitting on a bench, representing the grief-torn families they left behind.

Vic Riesau, who retired in 1977 as a Los Angeles County Sheriffs division chief after a 25-year career, started a new career as an artist and sculptor.

His bronze figures depict a county sheriff of the 1880s, a state trooper of the 1930s, and a city patrolman of the 1980s.

To build the tribute, more than $200,000 was raised in private donations, primarily from the law enforcement community. Much of it came through the sale of desk replicas at $1,250 each.

We pledge our best efforts to stand behind the men and women who stand behind the badge, said then Gov. George Deukmejian in dedicating the memorial. The job of a peace officer is perhaps the most difficult and challenging one of all in our society. We are very thankful to those who are willing to risk injury and even death in order to provide greater protection and safety for all of us.

While it can surely be said that these men who have placed their lives on the line for the safety of their fellow men are heroes, we must recognize that simply donning the uniform of a peace officer has in itself become an act of courage, said dedication speaker, David Snowden, chief of the Costa Mesa Police Department.

Too many of our men have paid the ultimate price. Each time an officer gives his life in the daily performance of his job, a piece of foundation upon which this nation is formed is chipped away.

Much of the credit for the memorial should be given to the California Peace Officers Memorial Commission and Sen. Robert Presley, D-Riverside, who carried the authorizing legislation for the memorial and an earlier roll of honor maintained in the east wing of the Capitol.

What is the California Peace Officers' Memorial? Is it the wood and glass-encased book of fallen officers names, attached to the wall just outside the governor's office? Is it the 13- foot, three-figured bronze monument in Capitol Park at 10th Street and Capitol Mall? Or is it the sense of loss when a law enforcement family buries one of its members?

In 1976, a small group of peace officers felt the need to create a remembrance for their fallen comrades. With the signing of SCR94 (Sen. Robert Presley), by then Governor Jerry Brown, the dream of memorializing the fallen peace officer came true. These peace officers then went to work raising funds and formulating ideas for a memorial. The ideas became the memorial case, the leather-bound book of names, and the two hand crafted swords that symbolized the spartan warrior and the keeper of the peace.

For the ten years that followed, the PORAC Memorial Committee, as provided for by the Presley legislation, gathered the police family at the State Capitol to rededicate the memorial. This committee became the caretaker of the California memorial, taking great pains to insure that the names of the dead officers submitted by their respective departments, were included in the memorial book, as well as the hearts of every Californian.

In 1985, Gov. George Deukmejian called upon Senator Robert Presley to again sponsor legislation establishing a monument memorializing the peace officers who died in the line-of-duty.

The establishment of a nine-member California Peace Officers Commission from this legislation developed into a new chapter in the memorial story.

The commission consisted of eight peace officers and a police widow; Richard Moore, chief of Atherton P.D.; Phil Jordan, an officer with Vallejo P.D.; were elected chairman and vice-chairman respectfully; Lt. George Aliano, Los Angeles Police Protective League, secretary; Bob Applegate, California Assn. of Highway Patrolmen, treasurer; other commissioners were Sgt. Jim Vogts, State Marshals Assn.; San Diego Sheriff John Duffy; Deputy Art Brown, Assn. for Los Angeles Deputy Sheriffs; Mrs. Sammy Hoyt, widow of Lake County Deputy Sheriff and past PORAC president, Dave Hoyt; and Senior Officer Gil Coerper, Huntington Beach P.O.A.

The Executive Director, by a unanimous decision, was Al LeBas, retired division chief with the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Dept. and law enforcement liaison for Gov. Deukmejian.

From around the state, hundreds of the cities, counties and states finest were gathered at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13, 1988, for the dedication ceremony when Gov. George Deukmejian released the cover from atop the California Peace Officers Memorial Monument. They stared at the three figures looking out into the grassy, tree-lined park.

The bronze figure represents an evolution of California law enforcement depicted by a county sheriff of the 1880s, a state traffic officer of the 1930s, and a city patrolman of the 1980s. To give real meaning to the piece, there is a woman comforting a child, in bronze sculpture, life-sized and seated facing the monument. Placed alongside the woman, on the bench lies an American flag folded into a triangle. Inscribed on the front of the pedestal of the principal monument are the simple, yet meaningful words in the line-of-duty

As the brick planter which contain individual plaques bearing the names of fallen peace officers was unveiled, the pride and sense of honor emerged from everyone present and was almost overwhelming. As families, friends, and many peace officers began to push forward with the hope of getting a closer look, some had smiles, some had tears, while others just stood and stared.

At that moment, all of California had their memorial to honor their keepers of the peace. Almost everyone felt the urge to reach out and touch a leg, shoe or hand of the three- figured statue, or woman and child sitting on the park bench a few feet away, or touch the name of a fallen officer, on the walk of honor.

We pledge our best efforts to stand behind the men and women who stand behind the badge, said Gov. Deukmejian in dedicating the memorial.

Retired Division Chief Vic Riesau, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Dept., turned sculptor, was very generous with ideas and very receptive to thoughts from the commission. His funding package provided the necessary plan to raise money to build the monument, while allowing each major contributor the opportunity to possess one of 500, numbered, two- piece replicas of the statue. It was hoped that all the money would come from the law enforcement community.

Riesau, primarily a self-taught artist, brought to this project a unique mix of artist/professional law enforcement, and that blending of careers is exemplified in the outstanding monument.