“The Monument”

By Sgt. George Hahn, L.A.P.D.
(Retired)

I never dreamed it would be me
My name for all eternity
Recorded here at this hallowed place
Alas, my name, no more my face

“In the line of duty” I hear them say
My family now the price will pay
My folded flag stained with their tears
We only had those few short years

The badge no longer on my chest
I sleep now in eternal rest
My sword I pass to those behind
And pray they keep this thought in mind

I never dreamed it would be me
And with heavy heart and bended knee
I ask for all here from the past
Dear God, let my name be the last

Fallen Officers

Officer Michael J. Katherman

Date of Birth: October 18, 1981
Date Appointed: July 3, 2005
End of Watch: June 14, 2016

Killed June 14, 2016 — fatally injured when his police motorcycle collided with a minivan at North 10th and Horning streets.

• Read Officer Katherman's Story

Officer Michael J. Johnson

Date of Birth: December 4, 1976
Date Appointed: January 8, 2001
End of Watch: March 24, 2015

Killed March 24, 2015 — gunned down while responding to a welfare check on a subject threatening to kill himself and others.

• Read Officer Johnson's Story

Officer Jeffrey M. Fontana

Date of Birth: May 13, 1977
Date Appointed: January 8, 2001
End of Watch: October 28, 2001

Killed October 28, 2001 by gunshot from suspicious motorists on whom he had just initiated a vehicle stop for follow-up criminal investigation.

• Read Officer Fontana's Story

Officer Desmond Casey

Date of Birth: May 19, 1961
Date Appointed: April 3, 1989
End of Watch: October 25, 1999

Killed October 25, 1999 in an aircraft collision while piloting the Department’s police helicopter, preparing for the coming shift of patrol duty.

• Read Officer Casey's Story

Officer Gordon Silva

Date of Birth: November 24, 1949
Date Appointed: May 3, 1971
End of Watch: January 20, 1989

Killed January 20, 1989 by gunfire in the same firefight with the mentally ill pedestrian who had just mortally assaulted Officer Simpson.

• Read Officer Silva's Story

Officer Gene Simpson

Date of Birth: May 15, 1943
Date Appointed: September 1, 1969
End of Watch: January 20, 1989

Killed January 20, 1989 by a mentally ill pedestrian who wrestled and obtained the officer’s handgun and shot him.

• Read Officer Simpson's Story

Officer Robert Wirht

Date of Birth: August 19, 1945
Date Appointed: September 12, 1980
End of Watch: September 8, 1988

Killed September 8, 1988 while on a police motorcycle pursuing a speeding motorist, and then being struck by another errant motorist in traffic.

• Read Officer Wirht's Story

Officer Henry Bunch

Date of Birth: January 7, 1952
Date Appointed: September 12, 1980
End of Watch: July 29, 1985

Killed July 29, 1985 by an intoxicated arrestee who wrestled the officer’s weapon away and shot him.

• Read Officer Bunch's Story

Officer Robert White

Date of Birth: July 13, 1959
Date Appointed:October 25, 1982
End of Watch: January 27, 1985

Killed January 27, 1985 by electrocution while investigating an accident in which a motorist struck a high-voltage transformer.

• Read Officer White's Story

Officer Richard Huerta

End of Watch: August 6, 1970

Killed August 6, 1970 by gunshots from a pedestrian intent to randomly assassinate any officer he encountered that evening.

• Read Officer Huerta's Story

Officer John Covalesk

End of Watch: November 15, 1950

Killed November 15, 1950 shot by an armed burglar who Covalesk had detected in the process of a business burglary.

• Read Officer Covalesk's Story

Officer John Buck

End of Watch: April 5, 1933

Died April 5, 1933 from gunshot wounds suffered five weeks earlier while attempting to apprehend armed robbery suspects in a car.

• Read Officer Buck's Story

Sgt. Morris Van Dyck Hubbard

End of Watch: July 12, 1924

Killed July 12, 1924 by a hostage-taking gunman in a close range shoot-out.

• Read Sgt. Hubbard's Story