2024 Last Ring Notifications
Joseph Higgins Jr. #3981, retired Seattle Police patrol officer, passed away on March 9, 2024, at 72 years of age.
Joe was the eighth child born in Washington State in 1952. He was raised in West Seattle and graduated with his longtime friends Bill #3995 and John #3522 Moffet, and Dale Johnson #3983.
Joe grew up in West Seattle and graduated from Chief Sealth High School in 1970. He was interested in joining the Seattle Police Department early in life and attended the law enforcement program at Shoreline Community College. However, SPD wasn’t hiring due to a city-wide hiring freeze, so he joined the Army and became a military policeman. After basic training at Fort Lewis, he was stationed at Patton Barracks in Heidelberg, West Germany, where he was attached to General Westmoreland’s Honor Guard. Joe served as an MP in the 529th military police and was part of the 7th Army Honor Guard. When Joe returned to Seattle, he joined the Army Reserves, he worked at Harms Detective Agency as a P.I. He then was hired as a police officer with the Port of Seattle. During this same time, Joe earned his degree in Police Science.
On November 19, 1975, Joe was hired as an SPD Recruit. Joe was hired as a patrol officer on April 30, 1976, when the three-year hiring freeze for the city ended and entered Academy Class #79 alongside Karoly Fogassy #4008, Gary Reynolds #3992, Rolf Towne #3955, Fred Ibuki #3982, Andy Bottin #3999, Bruce Wind #3995, Mike Walker #3987, Eddie Rivera #3813, Bill Moffat #3995, and Dale Johnson #3983. After completing the academy, Joe was assigned to the 2nd Watch Robert Sector in the old Georgetown Precinct. During that time, SPD held its own academy at the "Range." They had trailers in the parking lot next to the pavilion that served as classrooms and administrative rooms for The Academy Staff. It was a six-month academy, followed by three months with the FTO.
In January 1979, Joe became a Field Training Officer, and his first (and last) student officer was Dick Belshay #4167. A few weeks into training, Joe and Dick are called in by Don Grasby #1525 and told to get into plain clothes and find out who is luring very young children into an abandoned complex near the Safeway on Empire Way (now MLK Jr Way) and Othello. After a couple of days, Joe and Dick notice a young kid, acting suspicious and go talk to him. The 12-year-old suspect confesses, and Joe is skeptical and wants to know how he gets into the abandoned building. The kid takes them to a window opening about 1’x1’ square and says, “through there!” Joe says, “Show me,” as he slaps one handcuff on the suspect’s wrist and holds the other. The 12-year-old suspect shimmies inside. He was arrested.
In May 1983, working 2D3, Joe and Don Wirth #4168 were dispatched to a robbery call with two suspects. They found the suspects walking southbound in the alley between Third and Fourth and Spring. When they exited their patrol car, they ordered the suspects to stop. Uncooperative from the start, the suspect one immediately resisted, and Joe was thrown backward to the pavement. The suspect somehow managed to pull Joe’s gun from the holster. Joe's yells, "He's got my gun," and the suspect pointed the service revolver at Joe while screaming to Don, "Let me go, or I'll shoot your partner." During this, the second suspect escapes. Don grabs his baton, striking the suspect one’s legs. Joe tries to put an arm hold on him but the suspect breaks free; Joe then places the suspect in a sleeper hold, which the department had just set a new policy on, so Joe releases the hold. The next thing Joe knows, he’s spun around and pinned to the ground and the suspect is holding the gun to Joe’s head. Don inched upward and got ahold of the suspect's right arm, shaking it, and making the suspect drop the gun. Joe kicks the gun out of reach and is finally able to call for backup.
By 1981, Joe worked in George Sector and by mid-1983 he was assigned to the Sex Crimes Unit. On February 4, 1987, Joe was assigned to the Green River Task Force. On a typical windy and rainy night on March 17, 1987, while off duty Joe was driving Northbound in the 16300 block of Aurora Ave North when he accidentally struck a pedestrian. While Joe was out rendering aid to the pedestrian, Joe and the injured pedestrian were struck by a second vehicle. Joe suffered massive trauma to his head and was in the hospital for months. The accident left Joe with a seizure disorder.
Once back to work, Joe was assigned as the Gang Unit Coordinator, specifically for the Bloods and Crips. Around this time was when Joe decided to retire as a Detective in the Army Reserves. On February 15, 1989, Joe was assigned to the North Precinct, 2nd Watch walking a beat in Ballard with Sean O’Donnell #4621. Joe had heard Sean talking about going to college and Joe knew the value a degree could have in your career, but Joe was patient for so long and one day Joe had enough and he drove Sean to the college to sign up for classes. On August 4, 1990, after 14 years of service, Joe retired.
Many credit Joe in teaching them that no matter how evil someone’s eyes are, their eyes aren’t going to hurt you, but their hands can, so always watch their hands.
In retirement, Joe moved to Henderson, Nevada to be in warmer weather near some friends. Joe enjoyed reading, especially mysteries and history books. After a few years in the desert, Joe was ready to move home to the Pacific Northwest and moved home to Edmonds.
Joe is survived by his close friends Barbara and Sean.
Paul “Bob” Jellen #3564, a retired Seattle police patrol officer, passed away on February 27, 2024, at the age of 77.
Bob was born and raised in Ballard. During high school, he was a member of the track team and worked as a caddie at Seattle Golf Club. After graduating, he worked as a drafter and saved up money for college at Everett Community College.
In the mid-60s, when the draft was ongoing, Bob made a deliberate choice to join the Navy instead of being drafted into the Army. Following basic training, he was stationed at Sandpoint and Lake Union before being assigned to Charleston, South Carolina, as an Electrician’s Mate. During his three years of service on the submarine Remora (SS-487), he traveled to the Philippines, Mediterranean, Malta, Greece, and Spain. Bob seized the opportunity for an early discharge by agreeing to serve as a reservist for another five years.
In 1970, Bob purchased a baby blue VW Bug, which he had proudly driven for over 30 years. His journey from South Carolina to Seattle was eventful, as he encountered heavy snowstorms in Kansas and Denver before finally reaching home.
In 1968, Bob worked as a shipping clerk for REA Railway Express Agency. Several years later, during a theft and homicide trial, Bob testified that two gold bars had been stolen while he was working. Bob had placed the bars on top of a security locker and was called away to help a customer. When he returned, the bars were missing. A co-worker had stolen the bars and claimed that his grandfather had obtained them by robbing a Civil War train and later willed them to him. The gold bars and some stolen pearls valued at $800,000.
Bob was hired on April 19, 1971, and attended Academy Class #68 along with Barry Fretwell #3583, Chris Kolar #3141, Roger Amundson #3336, Mike Fann #3493, Jim Dyment #3576, Jim Muir #3567, Arne Jorgensen #3565, Bill Bradner #3411, and Owen Burt #3562.
On June 6, 1975, Bob responded to a silent alarm at 0330 at the school district administration building on 17th Ave. When Bob arrived, he saw the suspect leave the building with two guitars. The suspect pushed past Bob and fled. Bob fell over a bulkhead and fired three shots at the suspect, hitting him, but the man still fled. An aid crew was summoned to a residential area to treat a bullet wound in the lower back of the 20-year-old suspect who survived to go to trial.
On June 1, 1979, Bob testified in a jury trial. As he was testifying, a fly, whose name and age were unknown, kept buzzing around Bob’s head for several minutes, continuously landing on his face and head; Bob and the entire courtroom were distracted. Bob continued to brush the fly away. The judge interrupted the trial and ordered the bailiff to do something about the fly as it was distracting the jury. As the fly landed on Bob’s head, the bailiff grabbed the attorney directory and, with a single blow, “whacked it to kill It.” The judge refuted telling the bailiff to “kill that fly,” and Bob stated that the judge instructed the bailiff to “render the fly immobile,” so the bailiff replied, “I had to do my duty, you know – mission accomplished.” Bob was relieved to be free from the fly’s harassment, saying he had experiences with other flies, and he did not think the bailiff overreacted, adding he was glad that the fly was not destroyed on his jacket instead. This story appeared in the Seattle Times, titled “Court Throws the Book at Fly.”
By 1989, Bob was working graveyard shift at the North Precinct. This allowed him to spend as much time with his kids as possible. Bob chaperoned many school events and field trips and was the first to be called if no one volunteered as he could always be counted on.
In 2009, Bob was awarded the Excellence Award at the Annual Seattle Police Foundation Banquet. Bob was recognized for his commitment to serve and protect the community as well as his professionalism, mentorship and above and beyond work ethic and attitude.
During Bob’s time in the department, he served as a FTO to student officers. He taught with conviction and led by example. In 2000, Bob was assigned as the prisoner van driver. Bob was known for his humility, calm demeanor, and courteous manner which put people at ease. He meticulously kept a notebook documenting every prisoner transported, including their names and a list of their property. When transferring a female prisoner, he would specifically announce, “Nora-10, I’ll be enroute to KCJ with three, including one woman.” Bob's estimated times of arrival were always accurate to the minute.
On June 30, 2014, Bob retired after 43 years of service. In his retirement, Bob continued to enjoy outdoor activities. You could find him running or later, walking four-plus miles a day. Bob stayed active gardening, fishing, bike riding the Burke Gilman Trail, swimming, canoeing, or kayaking at the Arboretum. If you were fortunate, you could even find him in the kitchen cooking, baking, or canning apple sauce.
Bob was highly respected, admired, and revered by fellow officers. Many wrote to say how kind, respectful, and efficient Bob was and that he always had time to check in on you, with a smile. When Bob’s passing was announced, many reached out and said, “They don’t make them like that anymore,” and “The world could use a lot more people like Bob Jellen.”
Bob is survived by his son Jens, and his daughter Siri.
Written by: Stephanie Coleman
Seattle Police Pension
Stephanie.Coleman@Seattle.Gov
Gerald “Jerry” Sampont #3193, retired Seattle Police detective, passed away on January 17, 2024, at 79 years of age.
Jerry was born and raised in Kirkland. He graduated from Lake Washington High School alongside his close friends John Reynolds #2889 and Dick King #3124, Jerry openly admitted that he had always been up to mischief. When a counselor suggested that Jerry join the military, he took it to heart and decided to join the Coast Guard. This was during a time when the draft was still in effect, and joining the Coast Guard seemed like a great option, with the focus being on search and rescue as well as law enforcement.
Jerry aspired to become an electronics technician, but didn’t pass the test. Jerry was determined to achieve his goal, so he sought the help of a tutor, appealed to retake the test, and successfully passed the exam. Jerry was then sent to Groton, Connecticut, to begin electronics school. After graduation, he returned to Seattle and was stationed to Captain of the Port (Seattle). In November 1965, he received his orders to report to Alameda, California within two weeks for a ten-day training, his assignment was Squadron 1, Division 13, a newly formed division that was being deployed to Vietnam. He underwent Marine Corps survival and gun training prior to embarking on one of nine 82’ patrol boats. Jerry wasn’t too concerned, as being a communications specialist, he would “just” handle radio operations.
On February 22, 1966, Division 13 arrived at Cat Lo, Vietnam, 40 miles south of Saigon. Each vessel had a South Vietnamese naval officer with them as a translator. The USCG mission was to block the supply line on the Soriap River as the Navy boats were too large to navigate the rivers and the Navy swift boats would not show up for another year.
On his third night of patrol, while on a 95’ cutter, Jerry’s ship came under fire. Jerry’s captain swamped the enemy ship, but the gun fight was still on, even as the Coasties were trying to rescue the enemies from drowning, a bad guy swung up to the side of Jerry’s ship and fired his fully automatic AK-47 almost into Jerry’s face. Jerry stayed in Vietnam for a year and then came back to Seattle and served another six months to finish out his enlistment. He served in the Coast Guard on active duty from September 7, 1963, through September 7, 1967. Jerry then joined the Coast Guard Reserves.
When he came back to Seattle, Jerry worked as a box boy in a grocery store and attended junior college. He wanted to become a teacher. Jerry was a bartender at Black Angus when he met his future wife. While driving, Jerry overheard Jack Webb on the radio advertising for Seattle Police jobs. Knowing that bartending wasn’t for him, he took the test and did not pass. He was determined though, went and bought a book on policing, studied hard and re-took the test while he listened to Andy Williams “The Impossible Dream”. He passed the test with flying colors and was hired by SPD on June 16, 1969, as a Law Enforcement Trainee. Jerry was one of the original six trainees. He attended Academy Class #63, along with John Guich #3267, Jim St. Delore #3341, Dan Fordice #3280, Bob Baumgartner #3263, Curt Winther #3324, Keith Engstrom #3275, Dennis Bringham #2696, and Jules Werner #3276.
Jerry was assigned to patrol. In December 1971, officers responded to a prowler with a gun call at the Jensonia Apartments. The suspect had been hiding and was on the loose after escaping from the Hungerford Hotel where he had taken a guard’s revolver. Dan VanMill #2894 was shot at first and the suspect re-entered the apartment on the second story. Dennis Behrend #2781 was shot at from the closet the suspect was hiding in, Jerry, Dennis Zimnisky #2245 and Dennis “Pat” Kelly #3160 were all stationed on the rooftop adjacent to the suspect. There was a hut on the roof. Jerry carefully opened and closed the door of the hut and stuck his head around the opening when the suspect shot and narrowly missed him. Jerry jumped back and the suspect ran out of the hut while all three officers were returning fire. Jerry, along with Pat and Dennis, fired four shots and Dennis Nixdorf #2778 fired the shot that killed the suspect.
In March 1972, around 10:00 PM, Officers Clay McDonald #1458, and Ernest Shreve #3247, parked their car in the Bush Hotel parking lot to patrol the area on foot. While they were getting out of their car, a tenant on the fourth floor leaned out of a window and shouted “I’m going to kill you” right before he began firing a shotgun out the window. Officer McDonald was shot, but both officers returned fire and called for backup. This was the start of a 25-minute shootout, during which five officers were shot. Officer Larry Laxton #2758 reported that Sgt. Vern "Don" Adams #2153, went to his aid but was struck in the back as he was pulling Laxton out of the line of fire. Laxton had facial wounds, one of which narrowly missed his eye. Sgt. Adams suffered a back wound. Dale Eggers #2979 and Officer McDonald both had wounds to their face and chest while Lee Libby #3437 had superficial wounds that did not require hospitalization. Other officers made it to the fourth floor where the suspect was located. After firing through the door, the officers entered the room and found the suspect unconscious. The suspect had suffered with PTSD for years from the Korean War.
From 1976 to 1980, Jerry was assigned to the Academy as an instructor where he taught mock scenes, criminal law, and patrol procedures. During his tenure, Jerry updated and created lesson plans. On January 1, 1980, Jerry was promoted to Detective and assigned to the Pawnshop. During this time Jerry was starting to struggle with PTSD from Vietnam. Additionally, he was assisting his close family friends by managing a foundation. Jerry was kind and empathetic, he understood the immense pain and struggle that PTSD is. Jerry knew that it was a difficult journey, but he was determined to face it head-on. Jerry felt a deep sense of responsibility to help others who were dealing with similar traumatic experiences. He encouraged others to seek help so they could heal.
In 1990, Jerry retired from the Coast Guard Reserves as a Lieutenant Commander; he then retired, after 22 years from Seattle on April 22, 1991. Jerry stayed busy in his retirement. He continued to manage the foundation. He built a large home in Port Angeles which they resided in for 20 years. He owned his own plumbing company. Jerry arranged reunions with his fellow military service members. This reunion initiative started when he stumbled upon a photograph that his fellow Coasties had signed in Vietnam, pledging to reunite. He and his wife also enjoyed travelling throughout the US in their motor home alongside his partner, Pat, and his wife Sam. Jerry and Louise loved the beauty in Green Valley, Arizona, so they made their home there. Always giving, Jerry was a ham radio operator. Every Wednesday he would talk with the people stationed in Antarctica. Jerry would patch them through to their families so they could visit free of charge.
In 2004, Jerry received a direct commission from the Coast Guard Reserves. He was tasked with the training to welcome and safely escort the first nuclear submarine, named "Ohio", through hundreds of protestors to Bangor, on the Olympic Peninsula. Jerry was accompanied by (USCG Command Master Chief) Dave Malland #2553, (USCG Lt. Commander) Tom Witkowski #2318, and (USCG Commander) Roy Wedlund #2154. The Ohio was the first submarine to go to the new missile subbase, and protesters from all over the world threatened to block its passage. On the day of the mission, protesters in large and small boats attempted to block and board the submarine. Coast Guard boats were ready, and when the protesters tried to block and board the Ohio. They were hosed down, sending them into Puget Sound. Ships from Australia and Canada were impounded, and their crews arrested. The Ohio was completely secure and safe during the transit. The successful mission made national news.
In 2005, Jerry was interviewed by the Library of Congress for "The Vietnam Project" in which he shared his experiences of serving in Vietnam with the Coast Guard. Additionally, a documentary titled "Coast Guard at War" was made for the Discovery Military Channel.
The foundation Jerry ran continues to this day and plays an important role in supporting several charitable organizations, including Children's Hospital, the Coast Guard Stockings for children, the DESC, and the Ballard Food Bank. This foundation also has a 90% success rate in helping homeless women and children break the cycle of poverty by achieving self-sufficiency and independence.
Jerry once said that he wouldn't change anything he experienced in life, whether it was good or bad. When asked what advice he would give to others, he encouraged them to keep moving forward, persist in the face of obstacles, never accept "no" for an answer, and to always keep trying, no matter what. Jerry's words of wisdom are a reminder that life is a journey full of ups and downs, but it is our determination and resilience that ultimately define our success.
Jerry is survived by his wife of 54 years, Louise; his son Joseph; daughter Teresa and her husband Lynn, three grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. Jerry was predeceased by his son Mike.
Written by:
Stephanie Coleman
Police Pension
Stephanie.Coleman@seattle.gov