<i> During 1990, many Orange County residents wrote about their thoughts and feelings in articles for Orange County opinion pages. As we look back on the year, some of those thoughts are recalled.</i> : Sgt. Joe Klein on a Police Officer’s Death

On June 21 (Fullerton Police Narcotics Detective Tommy) De La Rosa was fatally wounded during an undercover narcotic transaction. He left behind a beautiful wife, three precious daughters, and a group of partners who loved him as a brother.

De La Rosa’s death saddens me, but it also angers me because of the complacency of the American public to take a stand against narcotics in the community. This is not just a problem that can be solved in Washington; it must be addressed in our own neighborhoods.

While you sleep in comfort tonight, please remember Tommy De La Rosa, and the thousands of peace officers who are out on the streets willing to die for you each and every day. When somebody kills a police officer, he kills a piece of America.