Friday, May. 16, 2008
Name added to county memorial
Fallen law enforcement officers remembered.
By Victor A. Patton / vpatton@mercedsun-star.com
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ReprintSixty years have passed since Ken Leap's coach interrupted his football practice at Merced High School, telling him that something terrible had happened to his father.
Leap, who was 16 at the time, was driven by his coach to the local hospital where his father, Merced police Sgt. Edward Gerald Leap, lay with serious injuries from a train accident. He died later that night, Nov. 19, 1948, at the age of 49.
Even after all this time, Leap said he still dreams of his father coming home from the hospital -- appearing healthy and happy -- to be with his family. "(His death) took a big toll on me, but I didn't realize it at the time," Leap remembered.
Leap's father may be gone -- but he's certainly not forgotten. Leap and several members of his family joined with members of law enforcement Wednesday for the Merced County Peace Officer Memorial Service -- an event dedicated toward remembering the legacy of officers killed in the line of duty.
The emotional ceremony included an unveiling of Sgt. Edward Leap's name on the Merced County Peace Officers' Memorial wall, located outside the Merced County Administration Building. The memorial contains the names of 15 local law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty.
Law enforcement officials decided to add Leap's name to the wall after Tom Hilke, a historian who volunteers with the Merced County Sheriff's Department, found information about Leap's death. Many members of Leap's family drove more than six hours from Escondido to attend the ceremony.
"It just brought it all back. It brought tears to my eyes," said Frances Hobdy, 88, Leap's daughter. "You have no idea about how short life can be."
Leap was killed by a train while investigating a bogus check crime, said Merced County Sheriff Mark Pazin. Hobdy said her father was crossing a pair of train tracks and failed to see an oncoming train, coming from the opposite direction.
Merced Police Chief Russ Thomas said although he didn't know Leap personally, he will always be a member of the department's family. He called the event bittersweet.
"It's sad to add another name to this list," Thomas said.
Pazin welcomed the Leaps and the families of other fallen officers who gathered in the audience, including the family of Stephan Gray, the first member of the Merced Police Department to be killed in the line of duty.
"This memorial service is to assure the families that not only myself, but my peers and the entire law enforcement community, will not forget the sacrifices you have endured," Pazin said. "We will rededicate this memorial monument every year to you."
District Attorney Larry Morse II recalled how he was in Colusa County one year ago, prosecuting Gray's killer (who now sits on San Quentin's death row).
Morse said he will never forget how difficult Gray's death was for his family.
"Their pain and sorrow are forever seared in our memories," he said.
Los Baños Police Department personnel who died in the line of duty are also represented on the memorial.
Los Baños Officer Marshal Real was shot and killed during an armed robbery of a local pool hall in January of 1921. He was on duty and had stopped by the pool hall for only a few minutes, when an armed male entered and ordered everyone to put their hands up and to leave by the front door. Real was attempting to move to gain an advantage on the suspect when the he was shot in the back. It is believed that the suspect knew Real was a police officer. The suspect fled with $400 and was never apprehended.
In August of 1949 Officer Robert Mackie was shot and killed when he and another officer responded to a home after receiving reports that a man had a gun. The suspect was known to the officers and had been involved in several similar calls. When the officers arrived Mackie went to the front door as the other officer went around to the rear of the home. The suspect confronted Mackie and opened fire with a shotgun, striking him in the face. Officer Mackie fired a round from his pistol at the same time, but the round went through the suspect's hat. The suspect fled the scene but was later shot and killed by other officers.
Both Real and Mackie are part of the memorial and current Los Baños Police Department Cmdr. Gary Brizzee was present at the Merced ceremony to honor their memory.
"The motto is 'We will never forget,' and that's true," Brizzee said.
In addition to the wall, a small stone monument was recently placed in the memorial's garden in honor of Tracy police officer David Waite, who died in 2006. He was 36.
The somber sound of bagpipes filled the air, as speakers remarked on the heroism of the officers listed on the memorial who had given their lives serving the public. Members of law enforcement also placed a wreath of roses at the memorial.
The Merced County Peace Officer's Memorial was established in 2005, the 150th anniversary of the Merced County Sheriff's Department.
Reporter Corey Pride contributed to this story.