On Monday April 18th, 2011, an officer from the city of Kalamazoo was killed in the line of duty. His name was Eric Zapata, he was 35 years old and a 10 year veteran of Kalamazoo Department of Public safety. He responded to a call of shots fired. When arriving, and taking a position in an alley, the assailant meet Eric with a long gun and shot him. Although Officer Zapata was wearing his body armor, it did not stop the high powered rifle round which struck him in the chest. Eric leaves behind 3 children Alexis, Eric,and Jacob. A donation fund has been set up to help pay for funeral expenses. If inclined to make a contribution donations can be mailed to P.O. Box 325, Schoolcraft, Michigan 49087, care of "the PSO Zapata Memorial Fund".

I attended the funeral, to represent all of us from the Michigan Sheriff's Mounted Association, who could not attend. There was several other Mounted units with-in our state who also attended. This is the biggest and most moving funeral service I have ever attended. There were departments from all over the United States and Canada. It did not matter what branch of service you represented or if you were full time, reserve or Mounted officer. The grieving officers of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, brothers and sisters, were overcome with gratitude knowing that they were all loved by those in attendance. It was quite apparent when we noticed all those who stood in cold and rain for a long time, to show their respect, not only Eric Zapata, but to all the Public safety officers from Kalamazoo and all the EMS personnel, law enforcement, ambulance, and fire department personnel.

The Kalamazoo county Sheriff's Mounted unit was in attendance and gave a heart felt ceremony of the fallen officer, and led a horse with no rider with their boots placed on backwards as is the custom. It was amazing how many individual did not know what that stood for. The Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Mounted unit is headed up by Captain Grant Solomon. He and his members, especially the ones on horse back, who stood in the rain and cold for 7-8 hours did make every member of our association feel proud on the job they performed. The casket for Eric Zapata was placed on a fire truck. There was a 21 gun solute for him and taps were played. Every horse from the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's Mounted units honor guard, stood perfectly still, but I cannot say that about the rest of us standing in line for this ceremony. When the 21 gun solute and taps were over the Kalamazoo Mounted unit led the casket and fire truck to the main exit point for the procession. Once again this was a 2 plus hour long procession, which the horse and rider stood still in the rain and cold temperatures. I hope Captain Grant Solomon, Liaison officer Sergeant Ward Lawrence of the Kalamazoo County Sheriff's office are as proud of their unit as I was just observing them. Although I do not belong to the Kalamazoo Mounted Unit, I am proud they belong to our State Association.

Daryl Luedecking

Commander of the Michigan Sheriff's Mounted Association.