In Memory Of

Spree DeSha
SOW: February 2001
EOW: September 12, 2024

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Dear Lord,
Be with me on my beat this day and every day.  Grant that each weary block I walk may ease a brother's way.  Let me be kindly to the old, and to the young, be strong, but let me triumph over those whose acts are cruel and wrong.  And if according to your plan I am to lose my life, please bless with your protecting hand my family.

Comments

[MyHeroDirect]

Our thoughts and prayers are with this family and the exended family of the LAPD.
Semper Fi

[Anonymous]

Am I missing something? Did she die on duty? LAPD will use any tragic incident involving an officer to score points with the media and the citizens of LA. Mourning Badges are reserved for in the line of duty deaths, yet as soon as he could, Bratton changed the web site. What about all the officers who are injured on duty and the department walks away from? Why doesn't he go overboard for them? Has anyone asked why she was in uniform off duty? Thats a violation of department policy, but since Bratton can get some sympathy, that violation will just be ignored. Was she in uniform so she could ride Metrolink for free? LASO does it all the time.... Her death is tragic, just as the deaths of all thoes who died are, but this department has it's priorities all out of whack. There are hunderds of LAPD Officers injuried right now that the department has thrown away, how about going the extra mile for them!

[peter marina]

hi i'm from israel and god bless all the american police officers. i love you LAPD .

[lapd owned]

Anonymous...it's obvious you're bitter...but for the record she was not wearing her uniform...it was with her.

[colercarr]

My thoughts are with the officer's family during this difficult time - as with all of the families who lost a loved one in the train accident.

Regardless if she was on or off duty, she is still an officer who deserves full respect and an honorable police funeral. She risked her life everyday for her LAPD brothers & sisters, and residents of the city. It's still a tragic loss to the department and to the community she served.

Anonymous - the department does a LOT to help their employees (and their families) who are injured or killed on or off the job. It's people who are never satisfied or who take advantage of the system who are bitter like you.

[anonymous]

Am I bitter, after 32 years on the job mabey, but after watching several of my partners thrown away because of on duty injury I think I have a right to be. Since you seem to know so much about the inner workings of the department Captain, please tell me about all the programs to help IOD officers. Is there one to get Tri Star to approve simple proceedures? Please tell me why the city looses all of it's denial of medical care law suits. I've never taken advantage of anything thank you, but then again I'm not a climber like you.

[Mia]

Anonymous, do you begrudge her the respect that was shown to her and her family at the funeral of a woman deemed by this City fit to wear the uniform of an LAPD police officer? Where does your bitterness stem from...is this the appropriate forum to vent your discontent? You should have read the wonderful and heartfelt comments that were written in her memory and in the memories of all the victims of the train wreck in the L.A. Times blog. Not a single person voiced discontent, but their heartfelt pain for the loss of all the lives cut too short. This woman gave her all for our City. It was in our City's best interest to give its all to her! May God rest her soul and give her family some peace and ease their pain.

[Me]

To set the record straight. Officer DeSha was in fact in uniform. There is an agreement with Metrolink that allows Department personnel to ride without paying a fee as they are expected to act in the event that the need arises. In fact this is not against policy but is encouraged for security purposes.

[Hollywatts]

I did not know her, but she sounded like a stellar person. Would an officer have received the same if she were killed driving home...NOPE. I have been to many officer funerals that died off duty or on their way to/from work and there was nothing like this. I wish they all were.

[oldschoolcopper]

News to me....Bernie came out with a special order ordering Officer not to ride in uniform and if they got caught they would get a 1.28...He also said any officer who get caught riding for free would be guilty of misconduct.. unless things have changed. But like the guy or girl up there said, Bratton looks the other way unless he can benefit from it. Were #1

[Bitter Sweet]

To the bean counters and pogues on this dept. This dept does not take care of it's sick or injured officers. As a casualty of a Use of Force Incident,I can attest that Tri Star and it's predecessor care more about saving this city money than caring for injured or sick officers. When I had back surgery, as result of my injury, the only call I got from "the dept" was from the 1.28 sgt who wanted to serve me with a complaint before "time expired". Bitter! Perhaps? Any street Cop that has been injured on the job, not the ones that hide behind a desk, can tell you that this dept only cares about you when it is politically correct to do so.

[South-End]

Anonymous, In a way I agree with you. If this officer deserves this honor, what about the LAPD Officers who have been IOD and committed suicide because they have been left twisting in the wind after being hurt in the field. There have been at least 2 in the past few years that I'm aware of. The department covers that little fact up. If she gets the whole 9 yards, then they should also. Thats why this honor is and should continue to be reserved for in the line of duty deaths. Also, MIA, what does her sex have anything to do with Anonymous' argument? If we are gonna throw in irrelevant facts, how come an officer with only 7 years on the job is already inside? One has nothing to do with the other and should be kept out of the discussion. God Bless Spree and all officers injured in the line of duty.

[No one special..just a citizen]

While I do have the upmost respect for law enforcement as a whole and do not wish to disrespect this officer's memory, I also question why this officer got a police funeral. I do not believe that she died in the line of duty. Forgive me if this sounds mean spirited or disrespectful but is the local government also paying for the funerals of the other victims of the crash including the conductor who was actually on duty ?

As to riding for free while in uniform, I thought that police officers were not allowed to accept gratuities. From my point of view as a civilian, this is exactly what this is.. call it what you will but it's no different than getting that free cup of coffee or the comped dinner.

[I honor her]

You know what I am sick of? People like you guys who take advantage of everything just to express your selfish opinions and agendas.

Officer DeSha was killed as a result of this accident. She did an honorable job as an officer for her time on earth. How about you guys write comments honoring her and her service, instead of complaining how she gets a nice funeral and how you hate the politics of LAPD and blah blah freaking blah??

How about you guys think about how you would feel if you were killed in a train wreck and instead of people honoring the job you did, everyone just used your death to complain about how they were cheated in one way or another? I hope God makes you whiners tell DeSha the same complaint in person when you die. She will be in Heaven and you guys will be outside explaining to her how you used her death to whine about politics.

[nhd]

I think that if an officer in uniform can ride public transportation for free, I commend that priviledge. I have ridden the metro and other public transportation and sorry to say but there are really creepy and weird people out there. I would feel a hundred times more safe if I saw an LAPD officer riding in the same car. Their prescence would make people think twice about taking advantage of innocent riders like myself.

[alicein1derland]

In the first place, the city (government) and the Police Department have never paid for police funerals. The Memorial Foundation was created long ago to pay for funeral and/or burial expenses for all LAPD officers and their families, and it is a privately funded charity. All officers who die while active, whether they were killed in the line of duty, or not, can have a "police funeral". As they should.

They chose to honor Spree because she was available, in uniform, to help if she was ever needed. If she had survived the crash, I would bet money she would have been on the front lines assisting all the injured and frightened. I say let her rest in peace and take out your frustrations for the police, in general, in some other way.

[No one special..just a citizen]

Like I stated before, I have total respect for Law Enforcement and do not want to disrespect this or any other fallen officer.

I've never been aware of the foundation nor the fact that it pays for the funerals so for that I do apologize.

Now as far as the gratuities comment, I stand by it. I've also seen plenty of LAPD officers riding the metro. Usually they're wearing a jacket covering up their uniforms. If they want to ride for free because they provide an additional measure of security/uniform presence then don't cover up otherwise buy a ticket just like the rest of us...

[Officer Spree Desha]

So many of you do not know what you are talking about! Officer Spree Desha was on duty wearing her uniform proudly.

Officers are asked if they would wear their uniform going back and forth to work to keep unwanted persons off the train and to make others on the train feel better and protected - it is voluntary, and she could have chosen to drive to work in her civilian clothes. Do you wear the LAPD uniform when you are off duty?

Several times she assisted in situations on the train, removing crack heads, disoriented mentally ill, others ; people that should not be or did not belong on the train.

Some officers turn down this opportunity, and some step up and take on the responsibility as did Officer Spree Desha.

She was riding free, on duty in uniform, to protect others; and she gave her life to do this for you.

Believe me, NO citizen paid for officer DeSha’s funeral. Nor would she want you to.

If you were late for your morning coffee, because of the funeral - Tuff!

Officer Spree Desha was the a perfect officer, or at least she tried to be.

So many of you just blog to complain. I seriously hope that most of you who are complaining are not LAPD officers.

I would not want you to protect me! Your mother's must be so sad to know you are an angry, jealous, and totally un-caring person.

Shame on you. Find another JOB! There are so many wonderful LAPD officers who do their job and do not complain. Thank You for your service, You do not have an easy job!

Officer Spree DeSha would have taken a bullet for any of you! Which sickens, me because needless to say some of you would not have been grateful even for that.

I am the Mother of Officer Spree DeSha. I am so proud of her and her caring and giving to others, No matter what, She was there for you!

Look into yourself and at least try to be there for others, and perhaps you will see how good it feels.

I am a Mother in morning, and I do not want to deal with you cry babies.

Officer Spree DeSha who was proud to wear that badge.

I will forever miss you my love. Mom

[?]

Just FYI, "on-duty" does not include your drive to and from work, even in uniform. Nothing against Ofcr Desha, it was a terrible thing to happen to her family, friends, etc. I didn't know her personally, but I sure she was a great person. Let's just let it go and move on. NOT FORGET, but move on.

[Dana K.]

It's sad that so many hide behind the anonymity here, and direct bitterness towards someone that they probably didn't even know personally. To Spree's mom and Laura, I'm sorry that you have been subjected to this vitriol...it's uncalled for, and this is not the forum for it.

I did not know Spree personally, but I have spoken to several people who worked with her at North Hollywood, and I have heard nothing but wonderful words, rememberences, loving thoughts, how great she was to work with, and just how much she will be missed by all who had the honor to work with her.

My thoughts and prayers have been with you, her loved ones, since this tragedy, and I pray that all of you are able to eventually find a measure of peace.

[Richard Davis]

The loss of an officer is a loss for all, I wish this accident were not so but it is. Events like these are hard on everyone and remain tragic. Many families will be forever changed by the deaths of thier loved ones. There were heroic efforts by both sworn and civilian on that fateful day. Perhaps the future holds a means of preventing such tragedy. Until that time we reamin a city hurting and only time will ease the pain. I for one wish with all my heart this crash had never happened, unfortunaty my wishing will not make it so. I will remember this officer for what she accompished and what she stood for. She swore an oath and as near as I can tell she honored her oath to very best of her ability. She deserves our respect and her family deserves our support. Anything less would be in conflict with our code of ethics and our own sense of duty and honor.

[Officer LAPD]

Dear FYI, Know what you are talking about, before you write something you know nothing about.
Officer DeSha was asked by the LAPD if she would please wear her uniform too and from work to protect
Citizens of L.A. while taking the train. She was being compensated for this, Meaning on duty!
Officer DeSha gave her life that tragic day for you and the citizens of L.A. Is this not enough!
What do you want!

[Curtis Lemansky]

There was some kind of notice a few years back that clearly stated LAPD officers in uniform could ride the Metrolink without charge. I think it may have been a HR bulletin. She was clearly not violating policy.

The department does try to protect itself regarding IOD claims and unfortunately, probably goes too far in some cases. I've always said how crazy it is that the city will settle a frivolous lawsuit for over 200k but then fight an officer trying to get some benefits from an IOD injury tooth and nail. I recognize that it happens. But is this posting the appropriate forum to discuss it?

This is a further reminder to some of you officers that although this blog is public, you should feel somewhat restrained about what you say and the manner in which you say it. It's public, and the public reads it, and one of them may be on your jury someday...hopefully not a civil jury.