Fittingly, this tribute to Jim Vogts by CPOMF President Kevin Mickelson was broadcast live by a local news station and delivered to thousands of law enforcement personnel gathered at the State Capitol for the annual California Peace Officers’ Memorial ceremony on May 7.
Sadly, one of the California Peace Officer Memorial Foundation’s original founding fathers, Jim Vogts, is not here with us today. He’s usually seated right here in the front row.
In 1985, Jim Vogts was appointed by Governor Deukmejian as one of nine commissioners tasked with establishing the California Peace Officers’ Memorial monument on State Capitol grounds here in Sacramento. Jim was passionately dedicated to ensuring California’s peace officer heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty are never forgotten and their surviving families left behind always know their loved one is forever honored. Jim served as a foundation director, advisor and family facilitator. His decades of service were instrumental in making this memorial monument and the annual California Peace Officers’ Memorial Ceremony the hallowed grounds and revered event it is today.
Jim recently passed away on April 25. In addition to his contributions to the Peace Officers’ Memorial, Jim served in the U.S. Army, was a retired sergeant from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and served as their association (PPOA) president for over four years. Upon his retirement, he represented many of us as a law enforcement lobbyist at our State Capitol.
Jim will truly be missed by all of us that knew him.
To watch this tribute on video, please visit the Jim Vogts memorial service link here.