05/18/2025
National Police Week.... my connections
On the Washington State Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Wall in Olympia the names of every officer killed in the line of duty, over 275, across our state has been, and continues to be engraved.
While i feel connected to many many of the names, having saw their story on the news or attended their memorial service to photograph it and pay tribute... Some of the names I have a closer, personal connection to:
Richard Snider, Centralia PD and Lewis County So. Killed in 1986.
"Dick" was my friend and we worked side by side for a number of years as police officers. He was dedicated and loved being a police officer. I miss him and his laughter to this day. From the time he started with my department in Centralia until the time of his death during the line of duty, "Dick" could always be counted on by ever officer that worked with him and the citizens he swore to protect.
Rick Silva, Lewis County SO and Chehalis PD. Killed in 2025.
While Rick joined the Sheriffs Office after I had retired from Centralia PD. We got to know each other and become friends. I had the opportunity to photograph Rick on the job, and watch him working on the streets. I never heard anyone say a negative word about Rick. Like all good cops, he was dedicated to his profession, his community and to his family. He too is missed to this day by me and everyone who knew him. My son Phillip, also a Centralia PD officer worked side by side with Rick for a number of years and became friends with him. You simply could not meet Rick and not like him, not want to become friends with him.
"Mike" Stephen Gallagher, Lewis County SO. Killed in 2009. I never had the opportunity to work on the streets with "Mike". I did have the opportunity to photography him and get to know him as an outstanding and well respected police officer. He was another outstanding officer that was dedicated to his profession, community and family. Again, my Phillip worked side by side on the streets and was friends with "Mike"
Justin Schaffer, Washington State Patrol. Killed in 2020. A k-9 officer for the patrol and well respected by everyone who knew him. I would cross paths with Trooper Schaffer from time to time as a photographer working for our local fire departments. Again, my own son Phillip worked the streets side by side with Justin. I had first met him when he was a young boy and moved to Chehalis. I knew and was friends with his father, the Chief of Police in Chehalis PD. His murder was tragic in so many ways. Not the lest being the fact he was killed during covid and was not given the proper and standard memorial service which would have been attended by thousands of cops and citizens from across the country and Canada.
James C.A. Parsons, Centralia PD. Murdered in 1903. Of course I never knew officer Parsons. But he was the first police officer killed in the line of duty from my own department, and I the connection is there.
William H. Smith, Centralia PD. Killed in 1910. The last police officer from my department that was killed on duty, well before my time yes, but still connected.
Francis P Konen, Kelso PD. Killed in 1948. My grandfather, Lee Reynolds was a Kelso Police officer than Kelso Mayor and worked with Officer Konen. My grandfather never did get over the loss of his friend and brother officer. Again, I feel connected not only through my grandfather, but the fact I worked as an officer in the Kelso Police Department in the early 70s.
As I looked and photographed the memorial wall this year I once again realized that each and every name on that wall in Olympia, on the capitol grounds, has a story. Each officer left behind a family a community and a department that felt the loss.
Over 275 names are engraved on the wall. Each of those officers were willing to give up their life in service and to protect strangers.
You can read the details of each of those officers in the line of duty death at the following link, https://behindthebadgefoundation.org/heroes-remembered/
The Behind the Badge Foundation designed, built and maintains the memorial wall on our capitol grounds in Olympia. No tax dollars were used to build it or maintain it. It's all by donations.
I have visited this wall several times over the years. i have visited the national law enforcement officers memorial wall in Washington DC. Once you do, trust me that you will never look at police officers on the streets in the same way. You will start to understand.
