SEATTLE - Officer Antonio Terry never returned home from work on June 4, 1994.
He had stopped to help who he thought was a stranded motorist on a Seattle off ramp when a gunman open fire, killing the plainclothes police officer.
"You know it takes awhile, there's steps forward and many steps back," said his widow, Cheryl.
Cheryl and her family endured an emotional battle and a years-long legal process for the man who eventually pleaded guilty to Terry's killing.
She says the process helped her heal, and will help the family of the officer killed Saturday night.
"Hopefully they'll be able find the person who committed this terrible crime, and she'll get some closure from that person being sent to jail," she said.
Cheryl says wives or husbands and children are not the only ones to suffer. She believes the officers still on the street and their families bear another burden.
"There was no rhyme or reason or reason for this attack, so now that anytime any of them are on the streets, they kind of have to have their guard up, and their families are going to be worried even more so," she said.
She feels the Seattle Police Department is an extended family, a family to which she still belongs. And in times of grieving, she still wants to help.
"I hope that someday I'll have the opportunity to talk to his widow, and you know hopefully offer any kind of support I can," she said.
karnie said on November 1, 2009 at 6:14 PM
Even though it was 15 years ago please accept my condolences and commend your for reaching out.
lksproodle said on November 1, 2009 at 11:46 PM
My Brother was killed in the line of duty in the prime of his life.I understand! My prayers are with you and your family.
sara41 said on November 3, 2009 at 8:41 AM
Mrs. Terry states "...there was no rhyme or reason for the attack..." Are you kidding me? I'm not black and even I know the struggles they face growing up, living in the Central District, being stopped by police, living with crime around them, gangs in their neighborhood, tazing, shooting, jail, prison, lack of jobs. DUH, do you really think they aren't going to retaliate some day? I think Mrs. Terry is living in a dream world. She has black children, she is black herself, she serves (or once served) on the WA State Parole and Pardons Board), no matter what their race turns out to be some carry anger and can't get beyond it so they retaliate. This case isn't anything like her husbands, he wasn't in uniform or in a marked police car, these police officers were in uniform and in a marked police car. Very clear, they wanted to harm or kill a police officer.