How does the spouse of an LEO make it through the uncertainty of what that day or night's shift may bring? Have faith in their abilities, kiss them every time they leave for work, and try not to worry.
(originally published by lawofficer.com)
Behind the Badge
A spouse’s job is just as tough
Elizabeth Angel
Editor’s Note: Last names were omitted from this story at the request of the officers and spouses.
The clock ticking on the wall, the soft chiming as the hour passes yet again, the knock on the door coming just after you fall asleep. There they stand—his partner and lieutenant in formal dress uniforms bringing you the news you fear the most.
This is the worst nightmare of anyone married to a law enforcement officer or LEO. How do the spouses make it through those long days of not knowing and the terrible nights when they put themselves in the position of spouses who have lived it?
There are many uncertainties when you’re married to an LEO, and you’re greeted with those uncertainties daily.
There are times when it can all be overwhelming, especially if you’re not prepared for what life holds in store.
″That is an easy one for me,″ says Sassy. ″I trust his skills and abilities, and I help to make sure he has all the best equipment on his duty belt and has the time and money to attend the best training open to him. Worry is a virus and after you give in to it you can lose sleep and overall quality of life. This is the work my DH is meant to do. He is a professional LEO, who loves every minute of his work. We have an EOW folder if the worst does happen, and we always kiss each other goodbye.″
Jared, an officer who’s also married to a LEO, said, ″We have a plan.
Everything’s in its place in case one of us goes down or there’s an accident. Being in the field I know the risks, and I try not to think about her being out there risking her life as I do mine.″
A Close Call
In December 1995, while on a domestic violence call, my husband, Kelly, and two other officers encountered the suspect who had earlier in the day kidnapped his estranged wife and raped her. During the second call, my husband and his partners encountered the suspect, who waved a gun at them then sped away in his truck.
A short pursuit brought the truck and both patrol cars to a stop in a busy intersection. The man pointed his weapon out the window as the officers continued to try to get him to surrender. What none of them realized is that there was a jeep full of kids in front of the truck.
The suspect left the truck and walked slowly towards my husband’s partner, pulling the trigger on the gun. For some reason he didn’t realize that revolvers had to be cocked for them to fire. He left the officer no choice but to fire on him.
What the officer failed to see in his tunnel vision was a young man trying to stop the suspect from assaulting the officers. The officers’ shot hit the suspects’ legs. It also tore through the young man who was trying to stop the violence. Officers later learned the boy who died was the suspect’s son.
Because we lived in a small community, I always knew what side of town Kelly was patrolling. This day, it was his side of town where the shooting occurred.
Knowing that my husband was involved with this shooting was frightening because no one knew if it was an officer or the suspect who had been shot. I remember the lump in my throat as I waited to hear anything. I finally called the department and spoke to one of his sergeants, who assured me Kelly was all right.
The number of police officers who died in the line of duty from 2001 to 2007 is 1,198, according to the Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Web site. That number includes the officers killed during 9/11. According to the National Cops Web site, each year 140 to 160 police officers die in the line of duty. And they leave behind spouses, significant others, children parents and siblings.
There’s support out there for the families of the fallen officers. The spouses of other officers, as well as support groups can help them get through the terrible loss and deal with the bureaucracy and red tape. We learn to deal with the uncertainty of the job. Most of the spouses acknowledge the risks of their job.
Dwelling on the what if’s makes it more difficult to function.
″I have had to make myself switch off when he goes out the door,″ says Heather. ″I used to worry myself sick.
When he arrived home at 5:30 a.m. one morning—and should have been home at midnight—he was greeted by me in floods of tears. He got cross with me and told me that I had to accept that this was his job and that I couldn’t let it affect me this way. It is not an easy way of life.″
″It is difficult for me to let her go to work at times, although she works in the same field as I do,″ says Jason, the spouse of a DO about his wife working in a prison setting. ″I know what goes on behind the walls of a prison and I know what can happen. I worry but I do not think about it constantly, or I would never get anything done.″
Preparation is key, according to the Wives Behind the Badge Web site. If you’re prepared for the event and put it out of your mind, then you don’t think about it so much. Some wives prepare a file with all the information that they need. In case something happens, they’re prepared to deal with what they need to do--whether it is the funeral home, military burial or insurance benefits.
Another Unforgettable Incident
One incident, which occurred in March of 1996, sticks out in my mind as being life-changing for my husband. I had spent the day running errands with our one-year-old, before getting Kelly up for work. He was working graveyard this particular night. He and his partner, Dennis, a county attorney by trade and a reserve officer, were on a domestic violence call when they heard a loud banging coming from the house next door.
Kelly and Dennis went to investigate.
Kelly knocked on the door, standing directly under the outside light. A man came to the door and, in his hand, was a .357--pointed directly at Kelly’s chest. After identifying himself, he tried to get the man to put the weapon down. And Dennis called out from around the corner of the house for the man to drop the weapon, which distracted the man, turning his attention to Dennis long enough for Kelly to try to get out of the line of fire.
As Kelly was moving toward the shadows, the man turned back and pulled the trigger on him. By the grace of whatever deity you believe in, the primer was bad in the bullet and Kelly was safe. The man was arrested. However, Dennis, the county attorney, was now also a victim of this crime. In the end, the charges were dropped and the man got off, but the ramifications were far-reaching emotionally for both men and our families.
Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) happens to police officers at an alarming rate. When you combine the type of work they do with the emotional toll it takes in their lives, it can lead to serious emotional issues that arise not only at work but at home, as well. Kelly is a good man and has never in our entire marriage done anything to make me afraid of him, except once. Although he didn’t mean to, he hurt me and I knew it was PTSD at work. While my case is a mild one, many times the ″civilian public″ doesn’t realize that they’re suffering until someone points it out to them. They deal with the dregs of society and the effects of crime on good people every day. It’s important that there’s a support system there.
Some of the spouses when asked how they deal with the things their husbands share about the job. Some don’t want to hear about the things the men deal with on the job. Others, like me, listen because often there’s no one else for these guys to vent to, and no place to let out the day and find peace again.
When is sharing the information about what he does and sees too much? And how do you deal with it?
″Only one time has he been so upset that he wouldn’t talk to me,″ said Manda, one of the wives from the Wives behind the Badge Web site. ″He has seen many horrible things. But he has to talk about it. I will listen no matter how horrible it is. There are a lot of things I wish I didn’t have to hear, but I appreciate the fact that he trusts me and feels comfortable enough to share everything with me. I think it helps him a lot.″
According to Dr. Ellen Kirschman, author of I Love a Cop, PTSD affects five out of 10 police officers in this country. It’s become an important issue within departments across the country.
Ensuring that their officers are mentally fit to continue the job after a trauma is important not just for the officers but also for their spouses, who know them far better than anyone else.
The summer of 1999, like other summers was eventful. But that summer while on duty, Kelly answered the call of a distressed wife. She and her husband, a patrol officer with the reservation police department, had split up and he was threatening to kill himself.
The officer held up in a local hotel, then left the area, leading the officers on a short pursuit and ending in an intersection where he drew his weapon and aimed it at the officers. They were forced to kill him.
For 780,000 police officers in the U.S. the sad fact is that suicide has been considered and is an occupational hazard. These staggering numbers, according to the American Journal of Psychiatry, are the results of job stress, alcoholism, marital discord and the availability of firearms.
Police officers are commonly referred to as high-risk group for suicide. So far, no comprehensive review has been published about epidemiologic studies among police. According to the American Journal of Psychiatry they systematically explore the occurrence of suicide in police. However, there are no definitive statistics stating the rates of suicides of police officers.
None of the recent nationwide studies slows elevated suicide rates among police. Others studies show inconsistent results. Conclusively, it’s not documented that there’s an elevated suicide rate in police. A particular problem in previous research has been methodological shortcomings. There’s need for further systematic research, and this review points out some strategies of research that do not always work when it comes to diagnosing suicide in police officers.
In Sum
It’s an important part of being the spouse of a police officer to be able to be there and give them that support system they need. Whether an officer is on duty or off, the public must remember that they are people first.
This seems to be overlooked by the public in general, which doesn’t see them as people with families but as the machines that enforce the law and protect them from harm.
Being married to a police officer is a full-time job. The spouses of police officers are the ones to pick up the pieces when things go bad, and they’re the ones who keep it together when things go right. The police family is your family, and its closer than most because, we know that tomorrow it could be any one of us who has to walk that final walk and hear that last roll call.
Elizabeth Angel has been married to a police officer for 16 years. They currently live in the state of Arizona and have two children. Elizabeth is a full-time student, graduating from Ashford University this coming fall, and a writer.
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BOTB
''Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.''
~John 15:13~
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Friday, March 26, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Top Stories for March 23, 2010
What is Brotherhood of the Badge?
We wanted to send this out to everyone to explain a bit more about what exactly Brotherhood of the Badge is or as we often refer to it BOTB.
Brotherhood of the Badges' sole purpose is to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, assist the families left behind and to assist those who are active/disabled/retired in any event they need help.
BOTB does have over 5,000 members collectively through some of the sites we are associated with. For example policelink, facebook and the official BOTB site. However to get the most out of BOTB we would suggest becoming an official memeber through our website (it's free).
We also cover at last count 50+ countries were we have active members. This is something unique to BOTB which allows our members many wonderful oppurtunities.
We are set up to respond and assist at a moments notice anywhere across the globe we have members/representatives. Whether it be assisting with a memorial service, setting up donation accounts for families, making phone calls to rally troops, making notification, etc...
Because we have members located all over the globe we have the ability to in a way play the connector or middle man, bridge together many sources taking the stress away from others.
Having so many members gives us all a wonderful oppurtunity to meet fellow Officers and supporters all over the world.
This is an actual quote from BOTB member Sgt. Joe Borda who is retired Malta Police Sgt and currently still resides on the beautiful island of Malta with his wife.
Sgt. Borda... ''Through BOTB not only have I meet and made thousands of great fellow LEO friends around the world but have also been offered to stay with them during our travels.''
Quote from another BOTB member...
Ofc. Bodenhamer... Recently my family and I took a vacation to Boston. Before we left I sent a message that we were going to be in the area, I had several members respond saying, call me when you get here and we will meet and show you guys around. Without BOTB that would have probably never happened. I have also heard several stories like this from other members as well.''
Most recently BOTB had a member who was diagnosed with cancer and was not given very long to live by the doctors. This made it very difficult on the family not only mentally but also financially. BOTB rallied around our members and for several months now members from across the globe have been sending money to assist this family. Not only did members rally around to help financially but more importantly to pray for our brother.
BOTB offers several groups on our official website many of which are specific to Law Enforcement (note: you must be a verified LEO active/disabled/retired to access some groups) were you can discuss training, tools, tactics, scenarios, specialty units, your shift, etc... with officers from agencies all over.
Along with the above groups we also have many groups for members who like to collect LE memoribilia, talk about day to day things, groups were you can ask members to pray for you or someone you know, post pictures of your travels, family, etc...
BOTB also has a group set up that is monitored by a several pastors.
There are groups set up and monitored by officers who have been killed in the line of duty family members to help each other deal with these tragic situations.
BOTB often times serves as a bridge bringing officers, officer ran business, supporters, etc... together. If you have a business or run an LE website and would like to work with us please let us know. We offer free advertising to LE owned business.
We are also currently working with several companies to provide discounts to our members on shopping, entertainment, insurance, travel, lodging, food and more.
Something new to BOTB is our suicidal prevention section. We are in the process of setting this up however shortly we will have designated members available 24 hours a day as well as many other useful and hopefully life saving services.
BOTB is a Police Officer founded and ran organization. You don't have to be a Police Officer to become a member, we have hundreds of wonderful supporters who dedicate their own time to us.
BOTB is also a place were you can praise and worship God. While we don't push this on anyone many of our members are available to talk to about our faith anytime you wish.
Please take a moment to check out our facebook page as well as the official BOTB site. If you decide we would be honore to have you as part of our BOTB family whether you are a LEO or a supporter.
We look forward to chating with you soon.
God Bless and Stay Safe.
Brotherhood of the Badge
brotherhoodofthebadge@yahoo.com
www.brotherhoodofthebadge.ning.com
''Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.''
John 15:13
We wanted to send this out to everyone to explain a bit more about what exactly Brotherhood of the Badge is or as we often refer to it BOTB.
Brotherhood of the Badges' sole purpose is to honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice, assist the families left behind and to assist those who are active/disabled/retired in any event they need help.
BOTB does have over 5,000 members collectively through some of the sites we are associated with. For example policelink, facebook and the official BOTB site. However to get the most out of BOTB we would suggest becoming an official memeber through our website (it's free).
We also cover at last count 50+ countries were we have active members. This is something unique to BOTB which allows our members many wonderful oppurtunities.
We are set up to respond and assist at a moments notice anywhere across the globe we have members/representatives. Whether it be assisting with a memorial service, setting up donation accounts for families, making phone calls to rally troops, making notification, etc...
Because we have members located all over the globe we have the ability to in a way play the connector or middle man, bridge together many sources taking the stress away from others.
Having so many members gives us all a wonderful oppurtunity to meet fellow Officers and supporters all over the world.
This is an actual quote from BOTB member Sgt. Joe Borda who is retired Malta Police Sgt and currently still resides on the beautiful island of Malta with his wife.
Sgt. Borda... ''Through BOTB not only have I meet and made thousands of great fellow LEO friends around the world but have also been offered to stay with them during our travels.''
Quote from another BOTB member...
Ofc. Bodenhamer... Recently my family and I took a vacation to Boston. Before we left I sent a message that we were going to be in the area, I had several members respond saying, call me when you get here and we will meet and show you guys around. Without BOTB that would have probably never happened. I have also heard several stories like this from other members as well.''
Most recently BOTB had a member who was diagnosed with cancer and was not given very long to live by the doctors. This made it very difficult on the family not only mentally but also financially. BOTB rallied around our members and for several months now members from across the globe have been sending money to assist this family. Not only did members rally around to help financially but more importantly to pray for our brother.
BOTB offers several groups on our official website many of which are specific to Law Enforcement (note: you must be a verified LEO active/disabled/retired to access some groups) were you can discuss training, tools, tactics, scenarios, specialty units, your shift, etc... with officers from agencies all over.
Along with the above groups we also have many groups for members who like to collect LE memoribilia, talk about day to day things, groups were you can ask members to pray for you or someone you know, post pictures of your travels, family, etc...
BOTB also has a group set up that is monitored by a several pastors.
There are groups set up and monitored by officers who have been killed in the line of duty family members to help each other deal with these tragic situations.
BOTB often times serves as a bridge bringing officers, officer ran business, supporters, etc... together. If you have a business or run an LE website and would like to work with us please let us know. We offer free advertising to LE owned business.
We are also currently working with several companies to provide discounts to our members on shopping, entertainment, insurance, travel, lodging, food and more.
Something new to BOTB is our suicidal prevention section. We are in the process of setting this up however shortly we will have designated members available 24 hours a day as well as many other useful and hopefully life saving services.
BOTB is a Police Officer founded and ran organization. You don't have to be a Police Officer to become a member, we have hundreds of wonderful supporters who dedicate their own time to us.
BOTB is also a place were you can praise and worship God. While we don't push this on anyone many of our members are available to talk to about our faith anytime you wish.
Please take a moment to check out our facebook page as well as the official BOTB site. If you decide we would be honore to have you as part of our BOTB family whether you are a LEO or a supporter.
We look forward to chating with you soon.
God Bless and Stay Safe.
Brotherhood of the Badge
brotherhoodofthebadge@yahoo.com
www.brotherhoodofthebadge.ning.com
''Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.''
John 15:13
Officer Down Alert! March 23, 2010
Officer Down Alert!
Brotherhood of the Badge regrets to inform you of tge following brothers we have lost.
Federal Way Officer dies from heart attack on duty.
Officer Brian Walsh suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after responding to a an officer-involved shooting on 26th Avenue, SW.
After the initial response and search for suspects, Officer Walsh was posted on the perimeter to secure the shooting scene. At approximately 6:45 am he was found collapsed in his patrol car.
Read more and leave a reflection:
http://brotherhoodofthebadge.ning.com/group/officerdown/forum/topics/officer-brian-walsh-eow-march
California Officer dies from injuries sustanied by a gunshot 30 years prior.
Being fatally shot in the line of duty didn't stop Orange County Sheriff's Sgt. Ira G. Essoe from living another 29 good years.
Paralyzed by a bullet from the chest down in 1980, beset by numerous infections and illnesses over the years, Essoe still enjoyed a loving wife and three children who followed his career into law enforcement - a profession he never stopped loving.
Read more and leave a reflection:
http://brotherhoodofthebadge.ning.com/group/officerdown/forum/topics/sgt-ira-g-essoe-eow-feb-4-2010
God Bless and Stay Safe,
Brotherhood of the Badge
brotherhoodofthebadge@yahoo.com
www.brotherhoodofthebadge.ning.com
'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.''
John 15:13
Brotherhood of the Badge regrets to inform you of tge following brothers we have lost.
Federal Way Officer dies from heart attack on duty.
Officer Brian Walsh suffered a fatal heart attack shortly after responding to a an officer-involved shooting on 26th Avenue, SW.
After the initial response and search for suspects, Officer Walsh was posted on the perimeter to secure the shooting scene. At approximately 6:45 am he was found collapsed in his patrol car.
Read more and leave a reflection:
http://brotherhoodofthebadge.ning.com/group/officerdown/forum/topics/officer-brian-walsh-eow-march
California Officer dies from injuries sustanied by a gunshot 30 years prior.
Being fatally shot in the line of duty didn't stop Orange County Sheriff's Sgt. Ira G. Essoe from living another 29 good years.
Paralyzed by a bullet from the chest down in 1980, beset by numerous infections and illnesses over the years, Essoe still enjoyed a loving wife and three children who followed his career into law enforcement - a profession he never stopped loving.
Read more and leave a reflection:
http://brotherhoodofthebadge.ning.com/group/officerdown/forum/topics/sgt-ira-g-essoe-eow-feb-4-2010
God Bless and Stay Safe,
Brotherhood of the Badge
brotherhoodofthebadge@yahoo.com
www.brotherhoodofthebadge.ning.com
'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.''
John 15:13
Monday, March 22, 2010
Officer Down! California Officer dies 30 years after being shot
Brotherhood of the Badge regrets to inform you another brother has gone off duty for the last time.
California Sgt. Dies 30 Years After Being Shot
BY GREG HARDESTY
Orange County Register (California)
Being fatally shot in the line of duty didn't stop Orange County Sheriff's Sgt. Ira G. Essoe from living another 29 good years.
Paralyzed by a bullet from the chest down in 1980, beset by numerous infections and illnesses over the years, Essoe still enjoyed a loving wife and three children who followed his career into law enforcement - a profession he never stopped loving.
Now, the profession is loving him back.
Essoe, 69, died Feb. 4 of "delayed complications" from gunshot wounds he suffered Nov. 6, 1980, during an attempted car theft in Orange, the coroner has ruled. Technically, he succumbed to sepsis, in which the bloodstream becomes overwhelmed by bacteria.
Because all of Essoe's medical issues were determined to be a result of his initial gunshot wounds, his name will be enshrined next year on a California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation memorial in Sacramento, as an officer who died in the line of duty.
Essoe will be similarly honored in Orange County and likely in Washington, D.C.
"This is a vindication of everything he went through these last 30 years," said his son, whose name also is Ira Essoe, a sergeant with the Sheriff's Department's contract city of San Juan Capistrano.
The younger Essoe, 46, recently recounted a tale he knows by heart, down to every exacting detail.
He was a 17-year-old senior at Ocean View High School when he thought he lost his father forever.
A little after 8 p.m. on Nov. 6, 1980, Essoe and fellow sheriff's investigator Greg "Mike" Brown drove to the Mall of Orange to collect bail on a warrant issued against a relative of an employee at Sears.
As they looked for a place to park their unmarked car, the investigators - wearing plain clothes - saw three men attempting to steal a black 1968 Mustang.
The Inland Empire men - Robert Dustin Strong, 25; David Michael Knick, 23; and David Ray Vogel, 34 - all were parolees with long rap sheets and in need of a getaway car for a planned theft at a nearby supermarket.
Essoe got out of the car and approached one side of the Mustang while his partner walked to the passenger side.
One of the men disarmed Brown at gunpoint, took his gun, told him to lie on the ground and threatened to kill him.
Essoe pulled out his gun, trying to save his partner's life.
The three men fired on Essoe simultaneously.
Numerous rounds narrowly missed him, tearing through the fabric of his shirt.
Then, from behind, Essoe got hit under his left arm, the bullet exiting the top of his chest.
A second bullet - another .45-caliber slug - shattered his ribs, passed through his left lung, blasted two of his vertebrae and severed his spinal cord.
Essoe fell to the ground in a clump, unable to move.
One suspect walked over to him. He reached down and took Essoe's gun and car keys. Strong and Knick sped off in Essoe's vehicle.
Police arrested Strong and Knick about an hour later, after they crashed during a high-speed pursuit on the freeway. Vogel fled on foot and was linked to the crime later while serving time in federal prison on a bank robbery conviction.
Essoe was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Brown was not injured.
Growing up in Budapest during the hardships of World War II, Ira Essoe Sr. had setbacks early. By age 7, he'd endured two bouts of polio, rendering his left leg underdeveloped.
When he was 8, the family moved to America.
The elder Essoe, whose father was a troop commander in the Hungarian army, always knew he wanted to be a police officer. But, for financial reasons, he had to put off his dream job.
Living in Westminster with his wife, Ramona, and three children, Essoe worked several years as a computer analyst and got a master's degree in business administration.
By age 31, he was able to walk away from a nice salary and enter the Sheriff's Academy. For nine years, he thrived as a deputy and, later, as an investigator.
Then, he got shot. The biggest setback of his life had begun.
Essoe's wife, Ramona, never left his side. She became an expert caretaker as he dealt with constant pain and, throughout the years, kidney failure, colon cancer and the loss of both of his legs.
The younger Essoe says his father never complained. "He had to be in such pain, but he never showed it."
Nor did he once regret getting into law enforcement. "Being a cop was the one thing that made him happy," Essoe says. "Ultimately, the way he looked at it, he was still alive. He still had his family.
"His attitude was, 'I can choose to be miserable, or I can choose to be happy."
Essoe says his father's attitude helped inspire him to become a peace officer.
The younger Essoe's siblings, Tony and Ramona, also went into law enforcement.
And, in 2008, the younger Essoe's son, Raymond, was sworn in as an Orange County sheriff's deputy.
The three men involved in the shooting got sentences for attempted murder that ranged from eight to nearly 18 years in state prison.
Essoe's shooting prompted then-Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates to initiate what has become "Project 999," which helps wounded officers and the spouses and orphans of peace officers killed in action.
Essoe was the first California peace officer to die in the line of duty this year and the ninth Orange County Sheriff's Department deputy to die in the line of duty, according to records dating back to 1912.
Some of these fallen officers died in vehicle or motorcycle crashes. The last Orange County deputy shot to death in the line of duty was Bradley Riches, in 1999 in Lake Forest.
Now, with his name to be permanently enshrined on state, county and federal memorials for fallen officers, Essoe's legacy is set.
"Getting this recognition is a small thing, but it means that someone else recognizes what he went through," his son says. "He's finally being recognized for gallantry in battle - not just for getting shot."
Copyright 2008 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Brotherhood of the Badge ©
brotherhoodofthebadge@yahoo.com
www.brotherhoodofthebadge.ning.com
'Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.''
John 15:13
California Sgt. Dies 30 Years After Being Shot
BY GREG HARDESTY
Orange County Register (California)
Being fatally shot in the line of duty didn't stop Orange County Sheriff's Sgt. Ira G. Essoe from living another 29 good years.
Paralyzed by a bullet from the chest down in 1980, beset by numerous infections and illnesses over the years, Essoe still enjoyed a loving wife and three children who followed his career into law enforcement - a profession he never stopped loving.
Now, the profession is loving him back.
Essoe, 69, died Feb. 4 of "delayed complications" from gunshot wounds he suffered Nov. 6, 1980, during an attempted car theft in Orange, the coroner has ruled. Technically, he succumbed to sepsis, in which the bloodstream becomes overwhelmed by bacteria.
Because all of Essoe's medical issues were determined to be a result of his initial gunshot wounds, his name will be enshrined next year on a California Peace Officers' Memorial Foundation memorial in Sacramento, as an officer who died in the line of duty.
Essoe will be similarly honored in Orange County and likely in Washington, D.C.
"This is a vindication of everything he went through these last 30 years," said his son, whose name also is Ira Essoe, a sergeant with the Sheriff's Department's contract city of San Juan Capistrano.
The younger Essoe, 46, recently recounted a tale he knows by heart, down to every exacting detail.
He was a 17-year-old senior at Ocean View High School when he thought he lost his father forever.
A little after 8 p.m. on Nov. 6, 1980, Essoe and fellow sheriff's investigator Greg "Mike" Brown drove to the Mall of Orange to collect bail on a warrant issued against a relative of an employee at Sears.
As they looked for a place to park their unmarked car, the investigators - wearing plain clothes - saw three men attempting to steal a black 1968 Mustang.
The Inland Empire men - Robert Dustin Strong, 25; David Michael Knick, 23; and David Ray Vogel, 34 - all were parolees with long rap sheets and in need of a getaway car for a planned theft at a nearby supermarket.
Essoe got out of the car and approached one side of the Mustang while his partner walked to the passenger side.
One of the men disarmed Brown at gunpoint, took his gun, told him to lie on the ground and threatened to kill him.
Essoe pulled out his gun, trying to save his partner's life.
The three men fired on Essoe simultaneously.
Numerous rounds narrowly missed him, tearing through the fabric of his shirt.
Then, from behind, Essoe got hit under his left arm, the bullet exiting the top of his chest.
A second bullet - another .45-caliber slug - shattered his ribs, passed through his left lung, blasted two of his vertebrae and severed his spinal cord.
Essoe fell to the ground in a clump, unable to move.
One suspect walked over to him. He reached down and took Essoe's gun and car keys. Strong and Knick sped off in Essoe's vehicle.
Police arrested Strong and Knick about an hour later, after they crashed during a high-speed pursuit on the freeway. Vogel fled on foot and was linked to the crime later while serving time in federal prison on a bank robbery conviction.
Essoe was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
Brown was not injured.
Growing up in Budapest during the hardships of World War II, Ira Essoe Sr. had setbacks early. By age 7, he'd endured two bouts of polio, rendering his left leg underdeveloped.
When he was 8, the family moved to America.
The elder Essoe, whose father was a troop commander in the Hungarian army, always knew he wanted to be a police officer. But, for financial reasons, he had to put off his dream job.
Living in Westminster with his wife, Ramona, and three children, Essoe worked several years as a computer analyst and got a master's degree in business administration.
By age 31, he was able to walk away from a nice salary and enter the Sheriff's Academy. For nine years, he thrived as a deputy and, later, as an investigator.
Then, he got shot. The biggest setback of his life had begun.
Essoe's wife, Ramona, never left his side. She became an expert caretaker as he dealt with constant pain and, throughout the years, kidney failure, colon cancer and the loss of both of his legs.
The younger Essoe says his father never complained. "He had to be in such pain, but he never showed it."
Nor did he once regret getting into law enforcement. "Being a cop was the one thing that made him happy," Essoe says. "Ultimately, the way he looked at it, he was still alive. He still had his family.
"His attitude was, 'I can choose to be miserable, or I can choose to be happy."
Essoe says his father's attitude helped inspire him to become a peace officer.
The younger Essoe's siblings, Tony and Ramona, also went into law enforcement.
And, in 2008, the younger Essoe's son, Raymond, was sworn in as an Orange County sheriff's deputy.
The three men involved in the shooting got sentences for attempted murder that ranged from eight to nearly 18 years in state prison.
Essoe's shooting prompted then-Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates to initiate what has become "Project 999," which helps wounded officers and the spouses and orphans of peace officers killed in action.
Essoe was the first California peace officer to die in the line of duty this year and the ninth Orange County Sheriff's Department deputy to die in the line of duty, according to records dating back to 1912.
Some of these fallen officers died in vehicle or motorcycle crashes. The last Orange County deputy shot to death in the line of duty was Bradley Riches, in 1999 in Lake Forest.
Now, with his name to be permanently enshrined on state, county and federal memorials for fallen officers, Essoe's legacy is set.
"Getting this recognition is a small thing, but it means that someone else recognizes what he went through," his son says. "He's finally being recognized for gallantry in battle - not just for getting shot."
Copyright 2008 LexisNexis, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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