Officer Leslie G. Lane, Jr.

It's been almost 51 years since you hugged myself and our 3 year old son and left for your shift. Neither you nor I or our precious son knew you would not be returning home at the end of your shift. When you called to check on us at home around midnight as you usually did, you said you did not foresee having to be late after this shift. Our son was sleeping and as always I was waiting up for you. It has passed 3am and was getting later than you usually took to get home. I started to see if I should call the dispatcher and ask had you left work. About that time I heard a knock on our front door. I did not hear the motor turning as you do on the new Volkswagen bug you had just purchased turning into our driveway. I did not answer the voices outside our door around 4 am. The knocking keep getting lower and voices of several people asking me to open our door. I called our friends and another dpd officer Murphy who lived a few blocks away if he would come and see why these people were talking and almost demanding I unlock our front door. Officer Murphy arrived a few minutes at our home and he spoke to the people outside and he then came to our door and ask if I would let him in our home. At his request I opened our home and allowed him inside. He said I should allow them inside and hear what they had to say. Well the news of your shooting made me weak kneed and I was requested to let them drive me to parkland hospital and that's when it hit me, you were dead. I felt that I had died too at that moment knowing you were in heaven and we could not say goodbye. I wondered how would I raise our 3 year old son and how would he ever grasp and understand his father was not coming home again.
Fast forward 51 years today and our son's almost 54 years old and I was 22 years old then and now I'm 73. Years has passed by slowly but not a day has passed that you were not thought of and yes we took one day at a time, but our longing and missing you had not lessened. Your love you gave to us in your life time has...lasted us our lifetime and has never faltered. On 3-2-2025 your EOW is now upon us again. You are forever loved and missed. I know you have saw from heavens view that officer Red Barber, officer Millard,and officer Denny hix, and officer Ronnie Harper and several other of your coworkers has remained our closest friends all these years. They watched our son grow up into the man he is today and are a phone call away always. These our heros forever that is unsung and un noticed by the world. However to your wife and son we see them as our heros and our hearts are full knowing your short life made a life time impact upon these co workers. Until we meet in heaven as your family know that you made a difference in our life as a husband and a father. God bless. Connie and Leslie Lane.

Connie Lester
Spouse, survivor

January 4, 2025