All About Pocket Knives

I had a brother who was an LA Sheriff, killed in the line of duty some 30 years ago. This year the new LA Sheriffs graduating class #369 dedicated there graduation in my brothers memory. Friday morning they had a 10k run through the city of lynwood Ca. to the spot where my brother was killed. On that spot they had a memorial set up and some kind words were said about him by friends and family. Even after 30+ years I still miss him very much, he was my big brother and my idol! Below is the text from the Law Enforcement Memorial and his picture.


Deputy Dee Hurdle was assigned to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Lynwood Station at the time of his murder. When his regular partner called-in sick, Deputy Hurdle teamed up with Deputy Sheriff Trainee Johnny Brown. They were on patrol when they noted suspicious movements and something being thrown from a vehicle with two occupants. The deputies circled around and approached the vehicle from the front. At that point, the vehicle had only one occupant. As the deputies exited their patrol car to investigate, a man appeared from behind the suspect car, firing at them. The deputies returned fire. Although the suspects escaped temporarily, one of them was wounded in the exchange of gunfire. Deputy Hurdle, although wearing a ballistic vest, was shot in the shoulder, the bullet deflected down into his chest. He died from his wound. Deputy Brown was hit in the leg and shoulder. A large containment of the area was established by deputies responding to the call for assistance. The suspects were apprehended (one as the result of assisting deputies following the blood trail from his wounds). The two suspects were subsequently arrested and charged with murder of a police officer and possession of PCP.


Deputy Didier "Dee" Hurdle

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept.

Date of Birth: December 24, 1940

Date Appointed: May 15, 1969

End of Watch: November 25, 1977

observing a moment of silence here.

My thoughts are with you Mitch. Those in law enforcement rank side by side with our Military and our firefighters. He may be gone from this world, but it is obvious he is not forgotten. Kelley

A fine looking young man unfortunately brought down long before his time but sometimes we are unable to understand Gods' actions but if you believe as I do then your brother is in a better place and walking on streets of Gold, waiting to meet you again someday.
Our sarrow shows selfishness because we will miss the loved one, I have been know to be very selfish, I am the second in line and I too lost my brother to a drunk driver in 94.
There was no call for it he should not have been at that place at that time but he was, I feel for ya Man.
Rusty

Thanks! Gringo, Kelley and Rusty for your kind words. Rusty sorry to hear of the loss of your brother in such a senseless way. I know, probably most of the people reading this post don't know what to make of it and no response is necessary. I only told the story because yesterday stirred up some old feelings I have had buried for a long time.

Marc, I'm sorry you lost your brother who died in the line of duty. We can't comprehend the courage that these officers possess, with the dangers that they face each day. I hope the SOB's got the death penalty for their actions and not some cushy cell with three squares a day for life.

some times it is good to get those old feeling off your chest, makes it easier to breath somehow.
Take care man
Rusty

Thanks Jim! Actually in the 1970's, they still had the "Diminished Capacity Defense" Since their lawyer claimed they were on PCP (Angel Dust) They weren't in their right minds and didn't know what they were doing. They each got a 7 year sentence! They both are still alive today, although they have been in and out of prison several times over the years for various crimes. The cadet who was shot with my brother went on to become a highly respected Homicide Detective for the Sheriffs Department. He died of Cancer last year at the age of 62.

I just reread the letter about Dee's passing and noticed the date of his last Watch, Nov. 25 1977 a few days later on Oct. 1 1977 I was pronouced dead at 10:20 AM in an abulance on the way to Wichita from Mulvane ks., the night before I had been in a motorcycle accident and they did not find me til the next morning.
I do not mean to take away from hohoring Dee in any way and I hope that you are not upset by my calling him by that name, I am sure that it was a name that his friends used very afectionately.
I have found some very odd coincidences on this site makes you go (HHUUMMM)
Rusty

Marc,

I can only say that I'm sure your brother is walking with him on this special weekend.

God bless!

Bill

Mitch;
Condolences seem terribly shallow on such a day of Supreme Remembrance.

It is my opinion that Law Enforcement and Military who have given the ultimate for their
Countrymen have a special place reserved for them at the big dinner table in the sky.

God Bless,
Moss

MITCH RAPP you said "I know, probably most of the people reading this post don't know what to make of it"

Sorry to hear of our lose. I just don't know what to say or how to say any thing.

I would like to take this time to thank you for sharing a piece of your live with us here at AAPK. THANK YOU VERY MUCH for adding a smile on my face many days...

Mitch, to lose a brother would be very difficult and I feel your loss deeply but always remember he gave his life as so many others have for this great country of ours, to protect and defend our right to be safe in our homes and in our communities. I will never take lightly the duty and dedication of our men and women to serve, protect and defend us from harm and your brother IS a living testimony to that great cause. I can surely see why you looked up to him so much.
I appreciate you sharing this moment with us. You will always have the pleasure of knowing that he did his duty to the fullest. God bless him and your entire family this Easter Sunday Mitch.

Perry

Diminished Capacity my a$&! Seven years for murder!!! If they can't put them underground, then why can't they keep them locked down for life? Even in Michigan with a Not Guilty By Reason Of Insanity verdict it's possible to stay locked up for life.

Thanks for the kind words My Friends, I really appreciate it!

Jim, You are right about that being a Bull Sh@# Defense. That Law was overturned in 1982, but to late to affect my brothers killers. One can no longer claim that Drugs, Twinkies or whatever made them do it. Here is a brief History of why!


A spotted history

California allowed a plea of diminished capacity beginning in the 1950s. But the plea came under intense scrutiny during as the so-called "Twinkie defense," in the 1979 case California v. White. Dan White, a former city supervisor, shot and killed the mayor of San Francisco, George Moscone, and another city supervisor, Harvey Milk. The crime displayed a high degree of premeditation: White packed extra bullets, climbed through a City Hall window to avoid metal detectors, and shot the two men nine times.
White's attorneys argued diminished capacity. They claimed that a diet of only junk food had created a chemical imbalance in White's brain (the "Twinkie defense"), and that he was depressed over his loss of his city supervisor position. Therefore, he was unable to premeditate murder, one of the requirements for first-degree murder.
The jury convicted White of voluntary manslaughter -- the least serious charge for homicide. This caused an uproar against the diminished capacity plea in California, and in 1982, voters overwhelmingly approved a proposition to eliminate the defense.

Interesting that they could be so affected by their flimsy excuses of too many Twinkies, taking PCP or using alcohol, that they can still shoot what they are aiming at. Why didn't they just turn the gun on themselves like a man and just eat some lead?