National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
Official Web Site
Concerns of Police Survivors Official Web Site
May there never be a
third
Chivalry, integrity and the love of
peace. That was their gift. That is
their legacy.
In Memory of Trooper
Pete Visser
In Memory of Trooper
Chris Logsdon
In October of
1981, Trooper Pete Visser
became the first Wyoming
State Trooper to die in the
line of duty, ending a
remarkable 48-year safety
record. After being called
from his home in Wamsutter
to investigate a crash in
the early morning hours, his
patrol car was hit at full
speed by an intoxicated
driver. Pete's patrol car
soon became engulfed in
flames. He was quickly
extracted by a passing bus
driver and wrecker operator,
but Pete had already
sustained serious neck and
head injuries. He was taken
by air ambulance to Casper,
where he succumbed to his
injuries. The drunk driver
in this case received the
maximum allowable penalty at
the time - six months in
jail. Ironically, Pete's
death caused a delay in two
other DWUI cases. He was the
arresting officer in both.
Pete left a wife, Debra, and
two small children.
In October of
1998, Trooper Chris Logsdon
became the second Wyoming
State Trooper to be killed
in the line of duty. After
receiving a report of an
intoxicated driver near
Wheatland, Logsdon responded
at high speed in hopes of
deterring a crash involving
the driver and other
innocent motorists,
including a bus full of
school children Chris had
just passed. At the crest of
a hill, Chris encountered
the driver head-on, who was
now driving the wrong way on
Interstate 25. Chris
abruptly and intentionally
steered right, sparing the
life of the driver. The
driver was later found to be
sober, but elderly and
confused; reportedly
thinking he was in Nebraska.
Chris’s patrol car left the
roadway, went through the
right of way fence and
overturned several times.
Chris, although buckled in,
sustained massive head and
neck trauma, killing him
instantly.
Chris left a
wife, Kay, and four
children.
In
1962, President John F. Kennedy
signed a proclamation which
designated May 15th as Peace
Officers Memorial Day and the week
in which that date falls as "Police
Week". Every year since, tens of
thousands of law enforcement
officers from around the world
converge on Washington, DC to
participate in a number of planned
events which honor those that have
paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The first official memorial service
took place on May 15th, 1982. On
that date, approximately 125 people
gathered in Sanate Park to honor 91
law enforcement officers. Over the
past 22 years, we have honored over
3,000 law enforcement officers from
around our nation. Today, the
National Peace Officers' Memorial
Service has become one in a series
of events which includes the
Candlelight Vigil, which is
sponsored by the National Law
Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund
and seminars sponsored by Concerns
of Police Survivors (COPS)." -
National Memorial Committee
The Grand Lodge of the Fraternal
Order of Police and the Grand Lodge
Auxiliary of the Fraternal Order of
Police are the official sponsors of
the Memorial Service.
