Larry Lasater

From the Down Officer Memorial Page:

Police Officer Larry Elwood Lasater, Jr. | Pittsburg Police Department, Californiawww.odmp.org

Police Officer Larry Elwood Lasater Jr.
Pittsburg California Police Department
End of Watch: Sunday, April 24, 2005

Biographical Info
Age: 35
Tour of Duty: 5 years
Badge Number: 257

Incident Details
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: Saturday, April 23, 2005
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Shooter sentenced to death and accomplice sentenced to life without parole

Here is a link to the City Park dedicated to Officer Lasater’s memory: Larry Lasater Park, Pittsburgh, California.

Officer Larry Lasater succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained the previous day while attempting to arrest two robbery suspects on the Delta De Anza Regional Trail.

The two suspects had just robbed a supermarket and bank branch and were fleeing from officers when they crashed their vehicle in a residential area. The two then fled onto the trail on foot.

As the officers searched for the suspect, Officer Lasater spotted one of them hiding in the bushes near the trail. As he ordered the suspect out of the bush at gunpoint, the suspect opened fire, striking Officer Lasater in the neck and leg. Other officers returned fire and took the suspect into custody. The second suspect was arrested a short distance away.

Officer Lasater was taken to a local hospital where he remained on life support for two days so that his organs could be donated.

In September 2007 both suspects were convicted of first degree murder. One of the suspects was sentenced to death and the second was sentenced to life in prison without parole. (He was a few weeks shy of his 18th birthday – a JLWOP case).

Officer Lasater was a US Marine Corps veteran and had served with the Pittsburg Police Department for 5 years. He is survived by his expectant wife.

Larry’s Officer Down Website

View moving video with Larry’s family winning the “We Will Remember” Tribute in Larry’s memory.

Will Always Remember Email Stationary 2011

Dear Ms. Loya,

In late 2009, the Memorial Fund launched the “WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER” photo tribute campaign, resulting in hundreds of touching and creative photos submitted from supporters across America.

http://support.nleomf.org/site/R?i=WJjhdMcz-hrjhhN2OXPpvQ..
 Jo Ann & Cody Lasater at National Police Week

The winning photo featured Cody Lasater, son of fallen Pittsburg (CA) Police Officer Larry Lasater, killed by a robbery suspect in April 2005, before Cody Lasater was born. Cody and his mother, Jo Ann, joined 20,000 other members of the law enforcement family on May 13, 2010 at the annual Candlelight Vigil.

News about Larry’s case

The California Supreme Court heard oral argument on the life sentence given the teen killer of Larry Lasater. On Feb. 3, 2014, Phyllis Loya, Officer Lasater’s mother, issued the following statement:

Tomorrow will be an important day for our family and the hundreds of other victims who will be affected. The California Supreme Court will hear oral argument tomorrow to review an appeals court ruling that overturned the life-without-parole sentence of a defendant who was under 18, by four days, when he committed an armed robbery of a bank and grocery store that culminated in the ambush and murder of my son, Police Officer Larry Lasater during a foot pursuit.

The Sacramento-based Criminal Justice Legal Foundation has joined the case on behalf of our family, seeking a decision to overturn the lower court ruling and reinstate the defendant’s sentence. “The 16- and 17-year-old murderers eligible for a life without parole sentence are not children,” said Foundation Legal Director Kent Scheidegger. “In many cases, they are violent, remorseless killers who, if over 18, would be eligible for a death sentence. Andrew Moffett has earned his sentence, and the Supreme Court should assure that it is carried out,” he added.

Thanks so much to CJLF for the wonderful work they do on behalf of victims and public safety. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Although we will stand strong if we have to go through a third sentencing hearing, each time we are in a courtroom facing that remorseless killer, we suffer and I pray the Supreme Court reinstates the sentence