Tuxedo Park Police
Officer Jason D. Conklin,22, 
died in the line of duty on
August 21, 1997 in an automobile accident while chasing a speeder.  The Ford Expedition patrol truck he was driving flipped over and Jason was thrown through the open driver's side window and pinned underneath.  Jason had just graduated from the Rockland County Police Academy in June (1997) and had been with the Tuxedo Park Police for about a year, having started out as a part-time police dispatcher.  He was originally from Monroe, but lived in Sloatsburg at the time of his death.

It may be six or seven years
Or twenty-two or three.
But will you, till I call him back,
Take care of him for me?

He'll bring his charms to gladden you
And shall his stay be brief,
You'll have his lovely memories
As solace for your grief. 

I cannot promise he will stay
Since all from earth return,
But there are lessons taught down there
I want this child to learn. 

I've looked the wide world over
In my search for teachers true.
And from the throngs that crowd life's lane
I have selected you. 

Now will you give him all your love,
Nor think the labor vain,
Nor hate me when I come to call
To take him back again.

I fancied that I heard them say,
Dear Lord thy will be done
For all the joy thy child shall bring,
The risk of grief we'll run. 

We'll shelter him with tenderness
We'll love him while we may
And for the happiness we've known
Forever grateful stay.

But shall the angels call for him
Much sooner than we've planned.
We'll brave the bitter grief that comes
And try to understand.

-Author Edgar Guest