The following e-mails say it all....Gary

-----Original Message-----
   From: Frank Zangar <fzangar@lojack.com>
     Sent: Thursday, May 12, 2005 3:27 PM
Subject: Jerry Boyer

It is with great sadness that I am forwarding on the news that Jerry Boyer passed away this morning after a long battle with cancer.

Following his retirement as a Seattle PD auto theft detective in the 70s, Jerry became the area's National Auto Theft Bureau (predecessor of NICB) agent.

After years in that position, he worked as the Western US security manager for Mannheim Auto Auctions.

Among the numerous accomplishments that Jerry will be remembered for:

     A founding member of WSATI-NW chapter
     He and Lee Cole literally wrote the book about auto theft investigations;
     A pioneer in the identification of vehicles;
     Enthusiastically teaching his skills to thousands of other officers.

Most importantly, Jerry was a resource for everyone and a friend to all.

On a personal note, he taught me everything I know about auto theft and was a very close personal friend.

Frank Zangar
Law Enforcement Liaison
Lo~Jack Corporation
P.O. Box 8179
Lacey, WA 98509
Phone: (206) 255-6248
Pager: (360) 866-3489
Fax: (360) 455-8754

-----Original Message-----
Subject: FW: Jerry Boyer
    Date: Thu, 12 May 2005 20:59:40 -0700
   From: Mike Miller <mmiller@lojack.com>
       To: webmaster@wsati.org

Gary,

Got this email this afternoon. Not much more to say.  This guy was the best and one of the original WSATI members.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
   From: Gary Labb [mailto:webmaster@wsati.org]
    Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 7:46 AM
      To: Bill Lovold; Dave Dempsey; Dave Randolph; Gary Labb (home); Joan Pitts; Lou Koven (home); Marianne Finney; Randy Ballin; Terry Cramer; Bud Hood (home); Frank Graber; Phil Macklin; Richard O. Knapp; Pat Sheets; Jim Williams; Rick Greenwood (home); Labb, Gary ; Dennis Frias (CHP); Steve Torres (home); Thrasher, Joe ; Mike Miller; FrankZangar
Subject: The Passing of Jerry Boyer

Joanie called me about this yesterday and I was waiting for Darrel Ehlers to send me some info... looks like Frank Zangar sent it to the LoJack guys...

Frank, something needs to be said at the WSATI meeting on Thursday.

For most of us "older folks," we actually took the classes that Lee and Jerry taught.  Not only that, both Lee and Jerry continued to not only be instructors, but friends of their students, and kept in contact with
most of us over the years.

Jerry didn't want it known at the time, but Jerry, a long time friend of Fritz Grimsley, called me two days before Fritz' funeral, very emotional.  He wanted to come to the funeral but his doctor would not let him.  He was going through Chemo and his doctor said he had to be treated the day of Fritz' funeral and could not miss the treatment.  At that time his condition was only known to a few of us.

The last time I had seen Jerry this saddened was on 9/11/01 when he was with us at OCATT and visiting Fritz.  It was the combination of what took place that day, as well as the tear in his eye for his friend Lee
S. Cole who was also battling a losing battle with lung cancer that led to his death on 9/16/01.

When Jerry showed up at the 2004 WSATI Seminar in San Diego he pretty much knew it was going to be his last one and really enjoyed seeing all his many WSATI friends.  When he called me prior to Fritz' funeral, he told me that he only hoped he would be able to be in San Diego for WSATI.

Another gunfighter has left us.

Gary

-----Original Message-----
   From: Thrasher, Joe [mailto:Joe.Thrasher@da.ocgov.com]
     Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 08:01
       To: Gary Labb
Subject: RE: The Passing of Jerry Boyer

Thanks for info Gary.  Jerry was one of the best!!

-----Original Message-----
    From: Frank Graber [mailto:fgraber@wsati.org]
     Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 08:15
        To: Gary Labb
Subject: Re: The Passing of Jerry Boyer

Gary,
I got the email notification from Darrell Ehlers yesterday. Already have announcement on the agenda for Thursday. Thanks for getting the word out.
Frank

-----Original Message-----
   From: Frank Zangar [mailto:FZangar@lojack.com]
     Sent: Friday, May 13, 2005 08:44
        To: Gary Labb
Subject: RE: The Passing of Jerry Boyer

Gary,

Thanks for your kind words and comments.  This leaves a very big void in a lot of people's lives.  Back in the early 70's he brought us all out of the dark ages regarding vehicle identification.  We had people that
could investigate, but they didn't know a damn thing about vehicle ID.

Jerry, Lee Cole and Dick Smith from NATB changed all of that.

His methods and dedication to training really impacted me.  He made sure everyone understood the basics and then moved on from there.  I have never listened to a more enthusiastic, dedicated instructor.   I modeled my training methods after his.

I visited with him in March in El Mirage, AZ where they have their winter home.  He was very weak and on full-time oxygen.  He told me then he was on borrowed time and should have been dead six months ago. 
My wife and I left with a heavy heart, knowing we would probably not see him again.

Just last weekend, Darrel Ehlers visited with him at his home in Mukilteo, Washington.  He was very weak, but didn't hesitate to ask how the WSATI Auto Theft School went the previous week in Renton.

We announced his passing at the WSATI meeting yesterday in Renton and had a few moments of silence in his honor.

Frank Zangar
Law Enforcement Liaison
LoJack Corporation
P.O. Box 8179
Lacey, WA 98509
Phone: (206) 255-6248
Pager: (360) 866-3489
Fax: (360) 455-8754