Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT ) - February 26, 1994
Deceased Name: GUN LAWS WOULDN'T HAVE SAVED DEPUTY'S LIFE
Gun control laws wouldn't have saved deputy Michael Welcker 's life.
The gun a 25-year-old man used to kill him Thursday was stolen in a residential burglary almost three months ago.
Welcker , 38, and Sgt. Larry Marx, 39, were shot with a 9mm Ruger handgun as they backed up officers who were trying to pick the lock of the Taylorsville apartment Thursday morning.
Marx, Welcker and three other deputies went to the apartment looking for a man involved in a domestic assault earlier that morning. Without warning, Mike Post opened fire on the deputies, hitting Welcker in the heart and Marx in the abdomen.
Deputies returned about 30 shots through the closed door but later discovered Post had shot himself in the head in one of the apartment's back bedrooms.
The gun Post used to kill himself had a serial number that matched that of a P85 Ruger stolen in a residential burglary Dec. 7. The gun, $250 in cash and a video camera were taken from a home in Salt Lake County.
One of the detectives involved in the investigation of that burglary was with Welcker and Marx when they were shot. That burglary was never solved, and county officials say there's no evidence tying Post to the burglary.
Senate Minority Leader Scott Howell, D-Sandy, used the shooting to revive a bill allowing local governments to control firearms sales. The bill had been killed by the Senate earlier that day by a narrow margin. It now goes to the House for debate.
Welcker is the first Salt Lake County deputy to die in the line of duty in 21 years. He was a 4 1/2-year veteran of the department. His funeral is scheduled for noon Tuesday.
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT )
Date: February 26, 1994
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT ) - March 2, 1994
Deceased Name: THOUSANDS HELP LAY SLAIN OFFICER TO REST
Children at Magna Elementary played with abandon during a Tuesday recess, unaware of the outpouring of grief and sorrow by peace officers next door.
Deputy Mike Welcker probably would have wanted it that way.
Described as an ''overgrown kid'' himself, Welcker was honored during Tuesday services as a compassionate role model who touched children at their level and challenged them to do well.
The Salt Lake County deputy sheriff was fatally shot and Sgt. Larry Marx injured Thursday by a parolee who had barricaded himself in a Taylorsville apartment and shot at officers when they tried to enter.
Peace officers from at least six states gathered in the Magna church to pay their last respects. Among them was the deputy's superior, Sheriff Aaron Kennard, who likened his officers to ''freedom fighters.''
'' Mike died heroically in service to his community,'' Kennard said. ''With Mike 's passing comes questions. Could it have been prevented? Could they have done something different? Why Mike and not another? Why now?''
But the questions were answered by God, Kennard said.
''None of those present at the time Mike was killed could have foreseen the tragedy lying ahead,'' he said. ''I say now to Sgt. Larry Marx, detectives Mike Morgan and Mike Judd, deputy Henry Beltran, sergeants John Barker and Dennis Harwood and the other officers at the scene - there is nothing you could have done differently.''
Kennard lauded Judd and Morgan for their efforts to save Welcker . To another deputy, whose shift Welcker was covering, the sheriff said to let go of any guilt.
''At times in our lives, sometimes we must say, 'It was God's will,' '' Kennard said. During his 23 years in law enforcement, 24 peace officers have died in the line of duty.
''The color of our uniform or design of the badge we wear may differ, but our oath of office, our pledge, and our commitment are the same,'' Kennard said.
''When one in our ranks makes the ultimate sacrifice, we mourn and whisper in our pillows that night, 'It might have been me, it might have been me,' '' he said. ''Then we rise up in the morning . . . and carry on.''
William Sadler, a lifelong friend of Welcker , recounted how as boys they ''struggled through piano lessons together,'' at age 19 drove round-trip to San Francisco ''so we could experience the big city,'' and hiked in Arches National Park.
''I shall always miss his laugh,'' Sadler said. ''What are we to make of his senseless death?''
Salt Lake County Capt. Paul Cunningham said Welcker still took time to shovel snowy sidewalks for his elderly parents and changed the lives of many students with his work as a SAY officer at Granite School District.
''We have the ability to positively affect many students - and Mike did that,'' Cunningham said.
Troops of Welcker 's students turned out for the funeral and graveside services, joining more than 2,500 others who paid their respects - including peace officers from throughout the West and as far east as Washington, D.C.
A cortege more than 6 miles long of officers and family members accompanied the body to its resting place in the Valley View Memorial Park in West Valley City where Welcker was honored with taps and a 21-gun salute.
'Someone Killed a Policeman Today'
Someone killed a policeman today,
and a part of our country died.
A piece of our country he swore to protect,
Will be buried with him at his side.
The beat he patrolled was a battlefield, too,
Just as if he had gone off to war.
Though the flag of our country won't fly at half mast,
To his name they will add a gold star.
-Part of a poem read by Sheriff Aaron Kennard. The poem's author is unknown.
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT )
Date: March 2, 1994
Deceased Name: GUN LAWS WOULDN'T HAVE SAVED DEPUTY'S LIFE
Gun control laws wouldn't have saved deputy Michael Welcker 's life.
The gun a 25-year-old man used to kill him Thursday was stolen in a residential burglary almost three months ago.
Welcker , 38, and Sgt. Larry Marx, 39, were shot with a 9mm Ruger handgun as they backed up officers who were trying to pick the lock of the Taylorsville apartment Thursday morning.
Marx, Welcker and three other deputies went to the apartment looking for a man involved in a domestic assault earlier that morning. Without warning, Mike Post opened fire on the deputies, hitting Welcker in the heart and Marx in the abdomen.
Deputies returned about 30 shots through the closed door but later discovered Post had shot himself in the head in one of the apartment's back bedrooms.
The gun Post used to kill himself had a serial number that matched that of a P85 Ruger stolen in a residential burglary Dec. 7. The gun, $250 in cash and a video camera were taken from a home in Salt Lake County.
One of the detectives involved in the investigation of that burglary was with Welcker and Marx when they were shot. That burglary was never solved, and county officials say there's no evidence tying Post to the burglary.
Senate Minority Leader Scott Howell, D-Sandy, used the shooting to revive a bill allowing local governments to control firearms sales. The bill had been killed by the Senate earlier that day by a narrow margin. It now goes to the House for debate.
Welcker is the first Salt Lake County deputy to die in the line of duty in 21 years. He was a 4 1/2-year veteran of the department. His funeral is scheduled for noon Tuesday.
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT )
Date: February 26, 1994
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT ) - March 2, 1994
Deceased Name: THOUSANDS HELP LAY SLAIN OFFICER TO REST
Children at Magna Elementary played with abandon during a Tuesday recess, unaware of the outpouring of grief and sorrow by peace officers next door.
Deputy Mike Welcker probably would have wanted it that way.
Described as an ''overgrown kid'' himself, Welcker was honored during Tuesday services as a compassionate role model who touched children at their level and challenged them to do well.
The Salt Lake County deputy sheriff was fatally shot and Sgt. Larry Marx injured Thursday by a parolee who had barricaded himself in a Taylorsville apartment and shot at officers when they tried to enter.
Peace officers from at least six states gathered in the Magna church to pay their last respects. Among them was the deputy's superior, Sheriff Aaron Kennard, who likened his officers to ''freedom fighters.''
'' Mike died heroically in service to his community,'' Kennard said. ''With Mike 's passing comes questions. Could it have been prevented? Could they have done something different? Why Mike and not another? Why now?''
But the questions were answered by God, Kennard said.
''None of those present at the time Mike was killed could have foreseen the tragedy lying ahead,'' he said. ''I say now to Sgt. Larry Marx, detectives Mike Morgan and Mike Judd, deputy Henry Beltran, sergeants John Barker and Dennis Harwood and the other officers at the scene - there is nothing you could have done differently.''
Kennard lauded Judd and Morgan for their efforts to save Welcker . To another deputy, whose shift Welcker was covering, the sheriff said to let go of any guilt.
''At times in our lives, sometimes we must say, 'It was God's will,' '' Kennard said. During his 23 years in law enforcement, 24 peace officers have died in the line of duty.
''The color of our uniform or design of the badge we wear may differ, but our oath of office, our pledge, and our commitment are the same,'' Kennard said.
''When one in our ranks makes the ultimate sacrifice, we mourn and whisper in our pillows that night, 'It might have been me, it might have been me,' '' he said. ''Then we rise up in the morning . . . and carry on.''
William Sadler, a lifelong friend of Welcker , recounted how as boys they ''struggled through piano lessons together,'' at age 19 drove round-trip to San Francisco ''so we could experience the big city,'' and hiked in Arches National Park.
''I shall always miss his laugh,'' Sadler said. ''What are we to make of his senseless death?''
Salt Lake County Capt. Paul Cunningham said Welcker still took time to shovel snowy sidewalks for his elderly parents and changed the lives of many students with his work as a SAY officer at Granite School District.
''We have the ability to positively affect many students - and Mike did that,'' Cunningham said.
Troops of Welcker 's students turned out for the funeral and graveside services, joining more than 2,500 others who paid their respects - including peace officers from throughout the West and as far east as Washington, D.C.
A cortege more than 6 miles long of officers and family members accompanied the body to its resting place in the Valley View Memorial Park in West Valley City where Welcker was honored with taps and a 21-gun salute.
'Someone Killed a Policeman Today'
Someone killed a policeman today,
and a part of our country died.
A piece of our country he swore to protect,
Will be buried with him at his side.
The beat he patrolled was a battlefield, too,
Just as if he had gone off to war.
Though the flag of our country won't fly at half mast,
To his name they will add a gold star.
-Part of a poem read by Sheriff Aaron Kennard. The poem's author is unknown.
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT )
Date: March 2, 1994
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT ) - February 26, 1994
Deceased Name: GUN LAWS WOULDN'T HAVE SAVED DEPUTY'S LIFE
Gun control laws wouldn't have saved deputy Michael Welcker 's life.
The gun a 25-year-old man used to kill him Thursday was stolen in a residential burglary almost three months ago.
Welcker , 38, and Sgt. Larry Marx, 39, were shot with a 9mm Ruger handgun as they backed up officers who were trying to pick the lock of the Taylorsville apartment Thursday morning.
Marx, Welcker and three other deputies went to the apartment looking for a man involved in a domestic assault earlier that morning. Without warning, Mike Post opened fire on the deputies, hitting Welcker in the heart and Marx in the abdomen.
Deputies returned about 30 shots through the closed door but later discovered Post had shot himself in the head in one of the apartment's back bedrooms.
The gun Post used to kill himself had a serial number that matched that of a P85 Ruger stolen in a residential burglary Dec. 7. The gun, $250 in cash and a video camera were taken from a home in Salt Lake County.
One of the detectives involved in the investigation of that burglary was with Welcker and Marx when they were shot. That burglary was never solved, and county officials say there's no evidence tying Post to the burglary.
Senate Minority Leader Scott Howell, D-Sandy, used the shooting to revive a bill allowing local governments to control firearms sales. The bill had been killed by the Senate earlier that day by a narrow margin. It now goes to the House for debate.
Welcker is the first Salt Lake County deputy to die in the line of duty in 21 years. He was a 4 1/2-year veteran of the department. His funeral is scheduled for noon Tuesday.
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT )
Date: February 26, 1994
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT ) - March 2, 1994
Deceased Name: THOUSANDS HELP LAY SLAIN OFFICER TO REST
Children at Magna Elementary played with abandon during a Tuesday recess, unaware of the outpouring of grief and sorrow by peace officers next door.
Deputy Mike Welcker probably would have wanted it that way.
Described as an ''overgrown kid'' himself, Welcker was honored during Tuesday services as a compassionate role model who touched children at their level and challenged them to do well.
The Salt Lake County deputy sheriff was fatally shot and Sgt. Larry Marx injured Thursday by a parolee who had barricaded himself in a Taylorsville apartment and shot at officers when they tried to enter.
Peace officers from at least six states gathered in the Magna church to pay their last respects. Among them was the deputy's superior, Sheriff Aaron Kennard, who likened his officers to ''freedom fighters.''
'' Mike died heroically in service to his community,'' Kennard said. ''With Mike 's passing comes questions. Could it have been prevented? Could they have done something different? Why Mike and not another? Why now?''
But the questions were answered by God, Kennard said.
''None of those present at the time Mike was killed could have foreseen the tragedy lying ahead,'' he said. ''I say now to Sgt. Larry Marx, detectives Mike Morgan and Mike Judd, deputy Henry Beltran, sergeants John Barker and Dennis Harwood and the other officers at the scene - there is nothing you could have done differently.''
Kennard lauded Judd and Morgan for their efforts to save Welcker . To another deputy, whose shift Welcker was covering, the sheriff said to let go of any guilt.
''At times in our lives, sometimes we must say, 'It was God's will,' '' Kennard said. During his 23 years in law enforcement, 24 peace officers have died in the line of duty.
''The color of our uniform or design of the badge we wear may differ, but our oath of office, our pledge, and our commitment are the same,'' Kennard said.
''When one in our ranks makes the ultimate sacrifice, we mourn and whisper in our pillows that night, 'It might have been me, it might have been me,' '' he said. ''Then we rise up in the morning . . . and carry on.''
William Sadler, a lifelong friend of Welcker , recounted how as boys they ''struggled through piano lessons together,'' at age 19 drove round-trip to San Francisco ''so we could experience the big city,'' and hiked in Arches National Park.
''I shall always miss his laugh,'' Sadler said. ''What are we to make of his senseless death?''
Salt Lake County Capt. Paul Cunningham said Welcker still took time to shovel snowy sidewalks for his elderly parents and changed the lives of many students with his work as a SAY officer at Granite School District.
''We have the ability to positively affect many students - and Mike did that,'' Cunningham said.
Troops of Welcker 's students turned out for the funeral and graveside services, joining more than 2,500 others who paid their respects - including peace officers from throughout the West and as far east as Washington, D.C.
A cortege more than 6 miles long of officers and family members accompanied the body to its resting place in the Valley View Memorial Park in West Valley City where Welcker was honored with taps and a 21-gun salute.
'Someone Killed a Policeman Today'
Someone killed a policeman today,
and a part of our country died.
A piece of our country he swore to protect,
Will be buried with him at his side.
The beat he patrolled was a battlefield, too,
Just as if he had gone off to war.
Though the flag of our country won't fly at half mast,
To his name they will add a gold star.
-Part of a poem read by Sheriff Aaron Kennard. The poem's author is unknown.
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT )
Date: March 2, 1994
Deceased Name: GUN LAWS WOULDN'T HAVE SAVED DEPUTY'S LIFE
Gun control laws wouldn't have saved deputy Michael Welcker 's life.
The gun a 25-year-old man used to kill him Thursday was stolen in a residential burglary almost three months ago.
Welcker , 38, and Sgt. Larry Marx, 39, were shot with a 9mm Ruger handgun as they backed up officers who were trying to pick the lock of the Taylorsville apartment Thursday morning.
Marx, Welcker and three other deputies went to the apartment looking for a man involved in a domestic assault earlier that morning. Without warning, Mike Post opened fire on the deputies, hitting Welcker in the heart and Marx in the abdomen.
Deputies returned about 30 shots through the closed door but later discovered Post had shot himself in the head in one of the apartment's back bedrooms.
The gun Post used to kill himself had a serial number that matched that of a P85 Ruger stolen in a residential burglary Dec. 7. The gun, $250 in cash and a video camera were taken from a home in Salt Lake County.
One of the detectives involved in the investigation of that burglary was with Welcker and Marx when they were shot. That burglary was never solved, and county officials say there's no evidence tying Post to the burglary.
Senate Minority Leader Scott Howell, D-Sandy, used the shooting to revive a bill allowing local governments to control firearms sales. The bill had been killed by the Senate earlier that day by a narrow margin. It now goes to the House for debate.
Welcker is the first Salt Lake County deputy to die in the line of duty in 21 years. He was a 4 1/2-year veteran of the department. His funeral is scheduled for noon Tuesday.
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT )
Date: February 26, 1994
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT ) - March 2, 1994
Deceased Name: THOUSANDS HELP LAY SLAIN OFFICER TO REST
Children at Magna Elementary played with abandon during a Tuesday recess, unaware of the outpouring of grief and sorrow by peace officers next door.
Deputy Mike Welcker probably would have wanted it that way.
Described as an ''overgrown kid'' himself, Welcker was honored during Tuesday services as a compassionate role model who touched children at their level and challenged them to do well.
The Salt Lake County deputy sheriff was fatally shot and Sgt. Larry Marx injured Thursday by a parolee who had barricaded himself in a Taylorsville apartment and shot at officers when they tried to enter.
Peace officers from at least six states gathered in the Magna church to pay their last respects. Among them was the deputy's superior, Sheriff Aaron Kennard, who likened his officers to ''freedom fighters.''
'' Mike died heroically in service to his community,'' Kennard said. ''With Mike 's passing comes questions. Could it have been prevented? Could they have done something different? Why Mike and not another? Why now?''
But the questions were answered by God, Kennard said.
''None of those present at the time Mike was killed could have foreseen the tragedy lying ahead,'' he said. ''I say now to Sgt. Larry Marx, detectives Mike Morgan and Mike Judd, deputy Henry Beltran, sergeants John Barker and Dennis Harwood and the other officers at the scene - there is nothing you could have done differently.''
Kennard lauded Judd and Morgan for their efforts to save Welcker . To another deputy, whose shift Welcker was covering, the sheriff said to let go of any guilt.
''At times in our lives, sometimes we must say, 'It was God's will,' '' Kennard said. During his 23 years in law enforcement, 24 peace officers have died in the line of duty.
''The color of our uniform or design of the badge we wear may differ, but our oath of office, our pledge, and our commitment are the same,'' Kennard said.
''When one in our ranks makes the ultimate sacrifice, we mourn and whisper in our pillows that night, 'It might have been me, it might have been me,' '' he said. ''Then we rise up in the morning . . . and carry on.''
William Sadler, a lifelong friend of Welcker , recounted how as boys they ''struggled through piano lessons together,'' at age 19 drove round-trip to San Francisco ''so we could experience the big city,'' and hiked in Arches National Park.
''I shall always miss his laugh,'' Sadler said. ''What are we to make of his senseless death?''
Salt Lake County Capt. Paul Cunningham said Welcker still took time to shovel snowy sidewalks for his elderly parents and changed the lives of many students with his work as a SAY officer at Granite School District.
''We have the ability to positively affect many students - and Mike did that,'' Cunningham said.
Troops of Welcker 's students turned out for the funeral and graveside services, joining more than 2,500 others who paid their respects - including peace officers from throughout the West and as far east as Washington, D.C.
A cortege more than 6 miles long of officers and family members accompanied the body to its resting place in the Valley View Memorial Park in West Valley City where Welcker was honored with taps and a 21-gun salute.
'Someone Killed a Policeman Today'
Someone killed a policeman today,
and a part of our country died.
A piece of our country he swore to protect,
Will be buried with him at his side.
The beat he patrolled was a battlefield, too,
Just as if he had gone off to war.
Though the flag of our country won't fly at half mast,
To his name they will add a gold star.
-Part of a poem read by Sheriff Aaron Kennard. The poem's author is unknown.
Deseret News, The (Salt Lake City, UT )
Date: March 2, 1994
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