Cops normally suppress their emotions while in uniform, but sometimes you’ll hear a catch in their throat that conveys more than words about their feelings for a fallen officer.

“He was a very friendly, compassionate person,” Sgt. Dan Malone recalled after Officer Robert Shultis was run over while making an arrest. “He always took time to lend a hand to the other guys,” Malone was saying. Then the catch in his voice. “He was Just a good guy to have around.”

Shultis died February 10, 1990, after a car struck him and 23-year-old Troy E. Durham of Mentone. They were hurled 30 feet along the 2700 block of Arrowhead Avenue. “Officer Shultis was attempting to arrest the subject, and they were struggling in the street when they were struck,” Lt. Thomas Maier wrote soon after the accident.

“We believe the arrest was drug-related,” he said, though he declined to elaborate. Durham also was gravely injured. He died at San Bernardino County Medical Center.

“We don’t know the reason for the initial stop.” said Maier. They may never know. Shultis didn’t say much to the radio dispatcher, other than to give them his location and his suspect’s license plate number.

Police stated that the teenage driver involved in the accident was not at fault.

Bobby Shultis was a good cop – and a caring person, his friend said. Particularly, the 34-year-old bachelor loved kids, Migaiolo recalled. If they were into booze or drugs, for example, Shultis often tried to recruit them for the department’s Explorer Scouts. “It wasn’t unusual for him to have Explorers riding with him two times a week,” said Migaiolo.

Off duty, Shultis played on two baseball teams, golfed, bowled, organized fund-raisers for the San Bernardino Police Officers Association, and acted as the group’s treasurer. “He would have been a detective before the end of the year,” said Migaiolo. “And he was building his (promotion) package for supervisory level.”

Police work apparently ran in Shultis’ family, some of whom still live on Long Island, N.Y. “He had relatives on the New York Police Department,” said his friend.

Shultis became a police officer five years ago, after a 10-year Air Force career. When he left the service, he was a staff sergeant at Norton Air Force Base. “I think they were sorry to see him leave,” said Police Chief Dan Robbins. “And we were anxious to get him.” While he was still in the service, Shultis joined the department as a police reserve officer. He did well, officials say, and was hired full time in April 1985.

Shultis did well in the Air Force, but police work was what he really wanted to do, said James Linzels, Shultis’ former supervisor. “He fell in love with it, Linzels recalled. “He would say it was his calling. Apparently, it was.

“He’s got all types of commendations and letters,” said Capt. Lorry Richards, thumbing through a police personnel file. As commander of the department’s patrol division, Richards was one of Shultis’ senior bosses. As a cop, Richards said, Shultis was a good patrolman who was on the promotion list.

Shultis spent the first half of 1989 on special assignment with a police strike team that focuses on high-crime trouble spots. He liked it, and did well. Perhaps most importantly, his boss said, “He was a nice guy.”

The life of Stockton police Sgt. Timothy White was dedicated to two responsibilities: “One of them was his family, the other was his police department,” said Bob Byington. White’s brother-in-law.

White, 32, died Feb. 4, 1990 after spending 12 days in two hospitals, unconscious and in critical condition. White was hospitalized after he was attacked and severely beaten by James D. Allen, a 20-year-old parolee whom White was chasing through central Stockton early Jan. 22, 1990.

The charge against Allen was changed from attempted murder to first-degree murder with special circumstances – killing a police officer in the line-of-duty. Allen was tried, convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

“The vicious act of a parolee has changed our lives,” Lucian Neely, the police department’s deputy chief in charge of operations, said at a news conference. White “was a very aggressive, dedicated officer. He took very, very seriously his responsibility to the community.”

White was the 12th San Joaquin County peace officer killed in the line-of-duty – the second in a five-month period. “The department has lost a valuable member,” Neely said. “The family has lost a husband and father. This community has suffered a grievous loss.”

Timothy White, the oldest child of Mary Larson and David White, a captain in the Stockton Fire Department, was born in Stockton on Jan. 16, 1958.

He was an Eagle Scout during his high school years and maintained a love of camping and traveling throughout his life. White was a graduate of Stagg High School and San Joaquin Delta Community College and earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice at California State University, Sacramento in 1979.

He joined the police department on Oct. 12, 1979, after scoring first on the civil service exam. The next summer he married Susan Byington, whom he had met through the First Baptist Church, which they both attended. The couple had two children, Missy, 5, and Andrew, 2.

In 1986, White became a K-9 patrol officer, an assignment he continued until his promotion to sergeant Jan. 1. His police dog, Lump, continues to live with the White family.

White’s death “is particularly upsetting to us because of the way it happened,” said Sgt. Bob Mariano, who was White’s supervisor periodically during the past five years.

Officers realize their jobs are dangerous, Mariano said, but several people looked on as White was being severely beaten. “Nobody went to his aid,” Mariano said. Though physically small – 5 feet, 10 inches tall, 150 pounds – White was a spunky and tenacious officer who had a reputation for not backing down.

Rick Freeman, a fellow K-9 officer, said his friend was the hardest-working cop he’s known. “He always had to be doing something,” Freeman said. “It was just the way he was. He couldn’t stand to sit still.” Mariano said he would always request that White accompany him when he was transferred because of White’s work ethic.

Kelly Key was born December 26, 1940 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was appointed to the Department in October 1962, and retired on a disability pension June 1, 1971, due to a gunshot wound that paralyzed him. He was last assigned to Narcotics Division.

He died December 27, 1989, in Gardena as a result of medical complications from the gunshot wound he received in 1970, while executing a search warrant.

Key is survived by his son, Brian; mother, Gloria McKnight/ father, Kelly Key, Jr.; sister, Sandra Key; brother, Hikima Key; stepfather, Henry McKnight; stepmother, Zelma Key; and several other relatives.

Kelly Key was not only a tough man, but a gentle one. He was tough in enduring the anguish of 19 years of repeated setbacks and numerous operations related to his injury, but he never faltered in his devotion and dedication to his family, friends and faith. He also put forth great effort and desire in helping others who themselves suffered hardships due to alcohol and drug abuse. He counseled young and old alike. He was gentle in his relationships with people and generous with his love for others. He was never bitter about his life and remained involved with his many friends, on and off the job.

Kelly stayed active in Department and community functions and enjoyed being around all of us.

In the “Toughest Cop Alive” competition, Kelly would have qualified. In baseball Lou Gehrig was known as the “Iron Horse” for playing so many continuous years with severe injuries. In boxing, Heavyweight Champ Mike Tyson is know as “Iron Mike” because of his devastating punches and iron will to win. In law enforcement, Kelly Key will always be known as the “Iron Man” of cops.

– By George V. Aliano

More than 2,000 law enforcement officers from throughout the Bay Area paid their final respects to San Francisco police Officer John J. Blessing at a funeral Mass at Saint Cecilia’s Church in the Sunset District.

Blessing, a highly decorated 12-year veteran of the department, died Tuesday, Nov. 14, of a head injury he received when he was hit by a van during an undercover narcotics investigation. Blessing was 36.

He was assigned to the Special Operations Task Force and served with distinction, earning several citations for bravery, including a Bronze Medal of Valor in 1981 for confiscating a loaded firearm from a suspect in the Tenderloin.

Mayor Art Agnos stated “It is truly a tragedy when a distinguished officer like John Blessing dies while performing his duties.” He called the death “a loss to all San Franciscans” and ordered the city flags flown at half-staff.

Police said the suspect got away and the driver of the truck was not cited.

Monsignor James McKay told the congregation crowding the church, “Our son has died for us.”

He lauded the commitment of officers, who serve their city, adding, “Thanks to him who has given to us the ultimate gift of life.”

In addition to being pastor of St. Cecilia’s, McKay serves as a police chaplain. He told the congregation: “Every sworn officer knows that they may be called upon to give that gift at a moment’s notice.”

At the conclusion of the hour-long service, the officers emerged from the church and stood at attention while the coffin was brought out and put into a hearse.

A four-man mounted color guard led the procession slowly west on Vicente Street to 19th Avenue, on its way to Holy Cross Cemetery. A half-dozen fire trucks blocked intersections along the route.

The procession, consisting of more than 80 motorcycle officers and a similar number of patrol cars with emergency lights flashing, stretched for more than eight blocks and took more than 20 minutes to clear the area of the church. Most were from the San Francisco Police Department, but virtually every police department in the Bay Area sent at least one unit.

At the graveside, one officer presented Blessing’s 8-year-old son, Matthew, with a helmet that Blessing wore as a member of the department’s football team, the Centurions. Matthew’s twin sister, Jolene, looked on, as did Blessing’s widow, Denise.

An officer, a friend, a good citizen, and a kind man – Deputy Sheriff Dighton Little was all of these.

About 1,500 people attended the Mass for Little Tuesday, Oct. 24, filling all the pews at the Cathedral of the Annunciation and leaving people standing three abreast in the aisles more than an hour before the ceremony began.

About 250 crowded into the adjacent school auditorium and listened to the mass through a public announcement system.

Law enforcement officers from around the state came in formal uniforms and stood outside with 440 San Joaquin Sheriff’s officers before the service. They wore their black bands across their badges. Condolences to Sheriff’s officers came from as far away as Florida.

Sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Esau said it was not surprising to see more than 800 officers at the funeral. “Dighton really liked police work. He was an officer to the marrow and the bone. He loved it,” Esau said.

“He was the guy that naturally gets excited and once he was committed to do something, he went for it,” Esau added. “He was very popular with everybody.”

Little died Friday, Oct. 20, from a gunshot wound to the head he received as officers armed with a warrant prepared to enter a house trailer in Ripon. Other officers returned the fire, killing Richard Elsas, who they said fired the shot that killed Little.

It was silent in the rainy street outside the church as the officers stood at attention and county officials, family and friends filed in.

Honor guard officers wearing western-style sheriff hats and gold arm cords carried Little’s coffin, which bore a U.S. flag from the Deputy Sheriff’s Association, into the church while a bagpiper played and officers saluted.

Sheriff’s Lt. Max Benitez, who is a deacon with the Catholic Church, aided Father Laurence McGovern with the service. Sheriff’s Sgt. Chris Serpa did the readings for the Mass, which was open only to family, friends, and officers.

Most people left the service with tears in their eyes. A horse with an empty saddle bearing empty boots and a Sheriff’s blanket, led by Deputy Sheriff Wesley Evans, headed the funeral procession to San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery.

Sheriff John Zuniono presented Little’s parents and sister with the flag from the coffin. Two California State Police officers gave them a flag from the governor that flew half-staff at the Capitol in Little’s honor. Honor guard officers each placed a red rose on Little’s grave while Deputy Sheriff Rick Caccan played “Taps.”

Officers, family, and friends left the scene quietly.

“Everybody is hurting,” Esau said of his colleagues.

Little was the son of Warren and Patricia Little. Warren Little was the senior FBI agent in Stockton for many years before his retirement. Dighton Little also had a sister, Linda Little of New York. He was divorced and had no children.

Little graduated from Lincoln High School in 1972 and went to work as a security guard while he attended Delta College. After two years in the U.S. Army, Little got an Associate of Arts degree in Political Science at Delta College and a Bachelor of .Arts degree in Criminal Justice at California State University at Sacramento.

He joined the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Department in 1979 and was a detective in the sheriff’s robbery/homicide division at the time of his death.

Little was an active member of the Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Big Brother/Big Sister programs, child abuse programs, the Bacon Bash annual charity football event, and formerly was a member of the Stockton Judo Club.

– Lodi News Sentinel

Deputy Rosemary Iris May, 49, died in a traffic accident on Sept. 26, 1989. A vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed by Edgar Gastelum, 22, of Rosamond, who failed to stop at a stop sign, hit May, who was driving an unmarked Los Angeles Co. Sheriff’s Department vehicle in Lancaster.

May was rushed by ambulance to the A.V. Medical Center in Lancaster where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Gastelum was booked for vehicular manslaughter. He eventually pled guilty to one count of manslaughter in return for the dropping of three other charges and was sentenced on Oct. 12, 1989, to one year in jail.

May, who preferred the name Iris rather than Rosemary, was raised in Long Beach and graduated from St. Anthony Catholic High School in 1958. She also attended Long Beach City College and Long Beach State College.

She joined the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on Aug. 22, 1968, and served as an “Off the Streeter,” a deputy who was assigned to clerical work “off the street” until assigned to an Academy class, for two months before attending the Sheriff’s Academy Sept. 16, to Nov. 10, 1968. Her first assignment was as a corrections officer at the Sybil Brand Institute for Women from 1968 to April 1973. She worked at the Lakewood Station from April 1973 to September 1973, before being assigned to “Management Staff Services” from September 1973 to March 1976.

From March 1976 to January 1985, May served in the Health and Welfare Section of the Sheriff’s Department where she dealt with injuries and illnesses of all Department employees and workers’ compensation benefits. She also helped coordinate funerals for employees who died “in service” or in the line of duty.

May transferred to the identification section of the crime lab (Scientific Services Bureau) in January 1985 and developed an expertise in fingerprint identification and crime scene investigation. She had “covered the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys since 1985” and was transferred to the Lancaster station two years before her death.

On the day of her death, she had been taking fingerprint samples at several “Eastside locations” she was scheduled to visit that Tuesday. Sgt. Richard Ott and Sgt. Richard B. Jamison of the Lancaster station noted that May was quite proficient in her work and was able to get evidence – latent prints eight out of 10 times. The sergeants noted that other technicians were able to get prints in only four or five of ten cases.

May was on the Sheriff’s Pistol Team for several years and won several awards for her marksmanship. She also traveled to other cities with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s shooting team for inter-city meets. She was a 21-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Department at the time of her death.

May was born on Dec. 9, 1939, in Illinois to John and Doris May. She was the third of three girls. Her sisters, June Ann and Diane Jean of Long Beach survived May.

Traffic officer Hugo Olazar was tragically killed when a pickup truck, traveling 50 mph, plowed into the rear end of his squad car that was parked on the shoulder of northbound Interstate 280 in San Francisco.

Olazar and Officer Javier Rocha were awaiting tow-truck assistance for a single-car accident they were investigating when a Toyota pick-up driven by Jorge Perez hit their patrol car.

On impact, the patrol car burst into flames and the doors jammed shut on the officers.

After unsuccessfully attempting to kick out his window several times, Rocha shot out the passenger window with his pistol and escaped the burning car by climbing over the unconscious Olazar.

Rocha tried to pull his patrol partner from the fiery car, but was driven away by flames.

The CHP closed northbound lanes of the freeway for five hours while investigating the fatal accident.

Perez, 24, has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol. Perez and two passengers, who were in his truck at the time of the accident, were treated at San Francisco General Hospital.

Officer Rocha was hospitalized at the Saint Francis Burn Center for second and third degree burns sustained in the initial collision and rescue attempts.

The 35-year-old Olazar joined the CHP’s San Francisco branch in 1982, transferred for a short time to Redwood City, and returned in July to San Francisco. He had prior service with the Pacifica Police Department. His wife, Denise, and a 6-month-old daughter, Ashley, both of San Mateo, survive him.

A former police officer of the year was killed June 22 when his sheriff’s department motorcycle collided head-on with a pickup truck in Norco.

Riverside County Sheriff’s Deputy Randy R. Lutz, 29, assigned to a recently established sheriff’s department traffic detail in Norco, had been on motorcycle patrol in that city for less than two weeks.

Lutz was southbound when he came upon slow or stopped traffic, said Sgt. Don Farrar of the county Sheriff’s Department.

He apparently swerved his motorcycle into the center lane to avoid the traffic jam, Faraar said, and collided with a pickup truck.

“It looks like (Lutz) tried to make a basic maneuver and wasn’t able to do it,” said Farrar, standing a few feet from the strewn wreckage of the large black and white sheriff’s department motorcycle.

Lutz was named officer of the year in 1986 while with the San Jacinto Police Department.

More recently, he was a 1988 nominee for peace officer the year for his role in the aftermath of the gunshot wounding of Deputy Joseph Cleary in Moreno Valley in early 1988. Lutz’s actions, including his part in a vehicle pursuit, led to arrests and convictions in the case.

“At one time he was trying to work on getting a traffic program going here,” said former colleague Sgt. Randy Hicks of the San Jacinto Police Department. “He was an all right guy, absolutely.”

Witnesses at the scene said several motorists stopped to help the injured motorcycle deputy. One passerby expertly administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation until an ambulance arrived.

Lutz began his law enforcement career in 1982 with the California State Police. He was an officer with the San Jacinto Police Department from 1983 until 1987, when he joined the sheriff’s department.

Lutz had been the adviser for the Riverside sheriff’s explorers post for the past two years and helped to establish a countywide explorer academy.

“He was one hell of a guy and we all loved him,” said 19-year-old explorer David Poplin of Riverside. “He was like a father to some of the guys. He was always there when you needed him.”

Lutz was a patrol deputy in Norco until becoming a motorcycle officer a few months ago.

Motorcycle patrol officially began in Norco in May after the city applied for and received a $305,000 state grant to train and pay two motorcycle officers.

The city provided about $30,000 to buy the two motorcycles and special equipment for the officers.

Deputy Randy Lutz was survived by his wife, Kimberly, and his two daughters. He was also survived by his parents and one sister. Deputy Lutz was born in Aurora, Illinois.

Deputy Egan died on May 2, 1989, as a result of a traffic accident while on his way to Porterville Municipal Court to testify in a narcotic’s case. A woman failed to stop at a red light and collided with Egan’s patrol unit. He died at the scene of the accident.

Egan came to Tulare County Sheriff’s Department in July of 1983 after serving nine years with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He was a member of the Department’s Special Tactical Enforcement Patrol, a unit within the Sheriff’s detective division.

He is survived by his wife, Joann; daughters, Michelle and Nicole; and son, Robert.