Fallen Heros
 

On Saturday, March 21, 2009 Oakland PD Sergeant Mark Dunakin and Officer John Hege were murdered, by Lovell Mixon, during a traffic stop. Mixon was a parolee-at-large who had been convicted of attempted murder. He was also just identified, through DNA, as being the responsible in the rape of a 12 year old girl. During the intense manhunt that followed Mixon was tracked to his sister's nearby apartment. OPD SWAT officers entered the apartment and Sergeant Ervin Romans and Sergeant Daniel Sakai were killed in the gun fight. OPD officers returned fire and killed Mixon.

I just returned from one of the most difficult days of my life, the memorial for the fallen officers. Approximately 17,000 people filled the Oakland Arena, with another13,000 spilling over into the Coliseum. Needless to say, it was a moving ceremony. Three of the four officers left wives and kids. I know times are tough but we're all going home tonight. If you can find it in your heart to make a donation to the families I know it will go a long way in helping them get through this most difficult of times.

Donations can be mailed to:

OPOA
Attention: Renee Hassna
555 5th Street
Oakland, CA 94607

Checks should be made to the following:

Dunakin Children's Family Trust
Roman Children's Family Trust
Sakai Family Trust

Or, wire transfers can be made directly to the Merrill Lynch accounts:
Dunakin Children's Family Trust, acct #204-04065
Romans Children's Family Trust, acct #204-04066
Salai Family Trust, acct #204-04064

Thanks:(

One of the officers killed lives in my city and the all the streets are blocked off right now for the funeral, packed with officers and two fire trucks w/ladders arching the street with a flag waving.

Sad indeed!

My thoughts go out to their families.

One of my toughest days was when my friend WO Charles Wells(USMC) was KIA in Iraq. He was also a firefighter recruit for Orange County Fl. which means we had two funerals for him, one for the Corps and one for the dept. My deepest condolances.

Joel

It's always a sad day when the very people that protect us from the scum of the earth are killed. My thoughts and prayers go out to them all and their families.