Sacramento Sheriff's Helicopter Pictures

This photo, without a doubt, is the most poignant photo of all in this series. As STAR rides off into the sunset so do our two fallen brothers. My deepest sympathies goes out to all of the family and friends of Deputy Joseph Kievernagel and Deputy Kevin Blount. Their sacrafice will never be forgotten.
Posted by Sean Barry on 07/19 at 04:09 PM
What an awesome picture. My heart goes out to the family and friends of the two officers. Though I did not know them or the families..I know what it feels like to lose someone in a tragic accident... You lose something you can never regain...Be strong. The pain never goes away but in time the days do get easier to get through. My dad was an officer for the LAPD. The sacrafices you guys make each and every day will never be forgotten.
Posted 7/20, 8:00 am
Posted by Kerri Lueth on 07/20 at 07:02 AM
To the officers,family, and friends we are sorry to have such a tragic accident happen in our own backyard.Stay positive and stay strong.Rancho Cordova misses you guys.
Posted by Adam and Sarah Gardenhire on 07/20 at 08:44 AM
To the officer's families, friends and to the Sheriff's Department and all affiliated, our hearts and prayers are with you. We have all lost two very good men. I only knew of them professionally as I have trained with them for SAR Operations. I hope everyone heals quickly but never forgets. We will think of them often.

Valerie Myers
SACSAR
Posted by Valerie Myers on 07/20 at 10:59 AM
To the Family & Friends of our two fallen officers: May God be with you and take care of you all. Not only have we lost two precious people but we have also gained two very precious Angels. Peace and Love to you all. Sonja Smith
Posted by Sonja J. Smith on 07/20 at 12:55 PM
As I sit here trying to put into words my thoughts for the families of our two fallen Heros, the only thing I can say is Thank You for letting us into their lives and them into ours. We are truly going to miss them. May God Bless Them and Watch Over Them. Rest in Peace my Heros of the Sky, Joe and Kevin...... Fly on Forever in Heaven.
Posted by Neoma Slaton on 07/20 at 02:03 PM
WE SEND OUR LOVE AND PRAYERS TO THE FAMILIES OF THE OFFICERS AND THE DEPTARTMENT FOR THERE LOSS.

YOU WILL BE IN OUR PRAYERS ALWAY'S.
Posted by DAVID & PAM LIDDELL on 07/20 at 02:22 PM
To the families, officers and friends of the Sacramento Sheriff's Department:

On so many occassions I have witnessed you soaring over the roof tops of Citrus Heights. . . be it in search of a suspect or to provide the description of a missing person. The services that you provide often appear on the surface to be unappreciated. Yet, whenever a citizen is in crisis, the first number that comes to mind is 911 and eagerly you respond without hesitation upon receiving that call for service.

I have been employed with the Oakland Police Department for the last fifteen years and have unfortunately felt your pain on eight seperate occassions with officers dying in the line of duty. Nothing that I can say will ease your pain at this time but I can say that "time heals a broken heart."

On each of those tragic occassions our department was strengthened by the overwhelming support of citizens, as well as fellow law enforcement agencies from abroad which often included your department.

On behalf of the entire Oakland Police Department, we offer our deepest sympathy and extend our prayers to you.
Posted by Belinda Calvin-Adlao on 07/20 at 05:35 PM
This photograph was taken by me during my time as the video specialties manager for the department. I thought it should be known that at the time this photograph (and the other pictures of Star at Folsom Lake) were taken, Joe Kievernagel was flying.
Posted by Josh Telliano on 07/21 at 12:16 AM
I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of the deputies killed in the recent helicopter crash. I share your pain and know your loss as I have experienced the same. Draw strength and comfort from your friends, community and faith. I know you will be well cared for in the future - the Sheriff's will always be there for you.
Posted by Dana Fisk Morel on 07/21 at 05:28 AM
My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the Joe and Kevin. This is a really really great picture. I am a photographer and this picture is just amazing.
Posted by Judi Leazer on 07/21 at 06:40 PM
Kiev, it's taken me this long to write because it's been so hard for me to believe that you're really gone. I was honored the day you asked me to be the best man at your wedding. There aren't very many people that I would stand in 110 degree heat for, in a tuxedo. For you Joe, I would have gladly done it no matter how hot it was.

I never worried about you Joe, you never ran into calls for service without cover, and you never did the crazy stuff that alot of younger officers do. You were safe and cautious and you looked out for those who weren't as safe as they should be. I never saw you get mad at anyone, not at suspects or complaintants (except maybe that night those 2 handcuffed kids ran away with your cuffs, you were a little mad that night).

You were everything that I could ask for in a partner. The perfect blend of humor, hard work, dedication, and level headedness. You were always there to crack a joke when things got a little tense, you mellowed me out when I really needed it. You were a great friend Kiev, and I'm sorry that I wasn't as good a friend to you, as you were to me.

Our assignments took us apart, and I didn't stay in touch as much as I should have. "I need to get together with Joe and Iris. Maybe next week, no rush there's always time right." Now what Joe? Who's going to give me a hard time about my public school education, who's going to tell me jokes that take actual thought to completely understand. I can't believe you're gone. I have not met one single person who disliked you Kiev. Sure there were people who didn't really know you, but nobody disliked you, how many people can you say that about? More than anyone else, you were the reason that I came to work everyday for 16 years, you made every night fun. You are one of the smartest people I have ever met!

Some people say that everything happens for a reason, I'm not sure I believe that. I can not think of a reason good enough for you to be taken away from those of us who love you so much.

Well Kiev, take lots of pictures up there, and save me a seat near you (you may have to do some lobbying, I'm not sure I'm currently on the guest list). I need to see you again bro. You will be missed every single day.

You friend, who misses you dearly
From N-Pat 29A1 from S-Pat 62A1 and now N21
Erin O. McAtee
Posted by Erin O. McAtee on 07/25 at 12:02 PM
This is the most amazing photo. It's like Heaven opened up.
Posted by K. Harbert on 07/26 at 12:12 PM
High Flight

Oh! I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings;
Sunward I've climbed, and joined the tumbling mirth
Of sun-split clouds, — and done a hundred things
You have not dreamed of — wheeled and soared and swung
High in the sunlit silence. Hov'ring there,
I've chased the shouting wind along, and flung
My eager craft through footless halls of air. . . .

Up, up the long, delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or ever eagle flew —
And, while with silent, lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God.

— John Gillespie Magee, Jr
Posted by Alexander A. Lawrence on 07/26 at 12:58 PM
Although I never had the great pleasure of meeting these 2 fine, young men, Deputies Joe Kievernagel & Kevin Blount, I TOO feel the sense of loss & grief. My father was an employee of the Sacramento Sheriff's Department & I know that there IS a Brotherhood amongst these brave men & women who risk their lives day in & day out, to make sure that their fellow officers are safe & to keep all of US safe everyday. I always felt safer when I would hear them overhead, protecting us. We have ALL lost 2 very fine & couragous brothers. They were good friends & partners & will always be in our hearts, our thoughts & prayers, as will their family & friends. I was very moved by the enormous outpouring of love & emotion Sheriff Blanas, friends, coworkers & families as well as the Sacramento residents who paid great homage to these 2 fallen Deputies, at the Memorial Service & all along the way of the freeways that day. God Bless the Kievernagel family & loved ones, the Blount family & loved ones & to the Sacramento Sheriff's Department. May God be with you all in your time of loss, may He keep you all safe & strong, be comforted in the knowledge that we have not really ' lost ' Joe & Kevin, they will ALWAYS be up there, watching down over all of us & being our " Heroes in the Sky ". May God keep watch over Joe & Kevin. May we ALL continue to keep our thoughts & strong prayers also going for Deputy Eric Henrikson who still remains hospitalized, fighting for his life, our prayers go out to his family & loved ones. These pictures & stories of Joe & Kevin are all so very touching, they seem to help us all in our time of grief.

Thank You to the families & to the Department for sharing Joe & Kevin with us.

In Memoriam of Deputy Joe Kievernagel
Deputy Kevin Blount
Star VI EOW 7/13/05

Our Heroes in the Sky
Posted by Cathy White on 07/27 at 11:35 PM
For anyone who hasn't had the somber opportunity to visit the place where STAR 6 ended it's final mission, I wanted to share some observations. I went down to the site near sunset this evening, when the lake was quite peacefull. A simple white wooden cross marks the site where tragedy struck the families and the community of Sacramento. Several bouquets were laying at the base of the cross and someone had made another cross out of the river rocks that lay at its base. I was relieved to find little other indication of what had happened here some two weeks ago. The grass will return in the fall and the community will heal as well, but it will never be the same. It is a simple memorial yet it conveys a powerful image, a peacefull, quiet tribute to our fallen heroes in the sky. My thoughts and prayers are for Eric's recovery and to all their families. God speed to Joe and Kevin and may STAR fly again.
Posted by Nikolai Stroiney 04-SBRA-3 on 07/28 at 08:51 PM
It has now been 3 weeks since that terrible day that we lost these 2 fine young Deputies & yet I still find myself looking & listening for them to fly over my house each night at the end of their watch.

Although I never had the opportunity to meet these 2 fine young men, I still am saddened with their loss, as I know we ALL are.

On that terrible day, July 13, 2005, we lost 2 very good Sheriff's Deputies & are still praying for the speedy recovery of another who still lies in the hospital, fighting for his life.

I know that, with the passing of each day, the grief we are all experiencing will ease. I, myself, find comfort & strength in knowing that we have not ' lost ' Joe & Kevin, they are up there, sitting on the right hand of God, watching over all of us, just as they always have.

Deputy Joe Kievernagel & Deputy Kevin Blount were & always shall be our " Heroes in the Sky ". God Bless their families & loved ones as well as the men & women of the Sacramento Sheriff's Department.

My thoughts & prayers are still with Deputy Eric Henrikson & his family that he will recover from his injuries & be able to go on & live a very happy & productive life. God Speed Eric.

May we ALL find comfort & strength in knowing that we have NOT 'lost' Joe & Kevin but, that we now have them as our Angels, watching over us from above.

Deputy Joe Kievernagel
Deputy Kevin Blount
Star VI EOW 7/13/05

Rest in peace my angels
Posted by Cathy White on 07/29 at 10:45 PM
My deepest sympathy's go out to the families of Deputy Joseph Kievernagel and Deputy Kevin Blount. I was a Sacramento County Sheriff's Deputy until I moved away 6 years ago. I have never had the oportunity of working with Joe. I did have the greatest pleasure working with Kevin at the Mail Jail. I have kept in touch with several officer's that had become my friends for life. I will never forget the day almost 4 weeks ago about an hour after the accident I recieved a phone call to tell me about the accident. I just sat there completely in shock and could not believe what I had heard. I immediatley went to my computer and pulled up the news and saw the crash site from helicopter 3 news. I sat there and watched what was happening in utter astonishment. I could not believe that this could happen. I have heard about Joe from other people in the department when I was still working there, about what a great guy and officer he is. Kevin was a great guy with a joke for everyone. He was always cracking jokes and just an all around great guy.
I see these pictures and I chose to write on this one because it defines what these two people were all about. The Hero's in the Sky is defiantly all about who they were. THIS PICTURE SAYS IT ALL. The deartment lost two wonderful guys and it has been felt all across the United States. My thoughts and prayers are with both families. My god bless our Hero's in the Sky.
My thoughts and prayers also go out to Eric's family. Eric keep fighting and don't give up.
On behalf of my new department that I am with now the LaSalle County Sheriff's Department here in Illinois I send out my final farewell to two beloved men, you will never ever be forgotton. Keep flying the sky's.
Posted by Deputy Felecia Hyde- Rasmussen on 07/30 at 07:48 PM