Day of Remembrance: Sept 25
The National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims takes place on September 25 of each year. The day marks an opportunity to remember and pay tribute to the lives lost in the United States as a result of violence. It is a sobering fact that tragedies still happen every day in our world. Even worse, there are many murders which go unsolved for decades and others never get solved. This is even true for our lakeshore community.
On October 5th, 1926, Two Rivers Police Officer Leo Rocque, 48, reported for his first night shift. Rocque, a five year veteran of the Police Department, was killed by someone who activated the station’s door bell. As the Manitowoc Herald-News reported on October 5 “One of the most deliberate and cold blooded murders in the history of Manitowoc County occurred at Two Rivers at an early hour today when Leo Rocque, a city patrolman on night duty at headquarters, was called to the back door of the combined fire and police station as he peered through the door to see who had summoned him, fell back as the report of a rifle rang out, with a bullet hole through his throat, dying almost instantly.”
The Manitowoc Herald-News stated, “He was a day patrolman and a familiar figure on the streets of Two Rivers, known to everyone. He was absolutely fearless in performance of his duty and while his official capacity made him some enemies there is no one who was known as a sworn enemy or who had a grievance that would culminate in a desire to take the officer’s life.”
The newspaper went on to say that this was a working theory and there was a $500 reward for any information leading to an arrest in the case. Rocque left behind a wife, children, parents, and siblings. The murder of Officer Rocque remains unsolved. A Reedsville area tragedy made the headline of the Manitowoc Herald-Times on Saturday, January 2, 1971 with “Reedsville Boy, 18, Dies After Beating.” The death of Jeffrey D. Csida, an honor roll student and recent Reedsville High School graduate, made front page news in many Wisconsin papers following his death. Csida’s car was discovered at the Grove Bar, Route 1, Reedsville and his death was ruled a homicide.
At the time Sheriff George F. Wanish issued the following statement to the Manitowoc Herald News on January 20, 1971: “We will continue relentlessly to do everything within our power to bring the person or persons involved in the death of Jeffrey Csida to court. I personally appeal to anyone who may have any information whatsoever which could be of value to our investigation to please confide in me. This matter should be of grave concern to every one of us.”
At the time of his death Csida was attending Lakeshore Technical College and working at Ariens Company in Brillion. He was survived by his parents, Jerome and Ruth (Karstaedt) Csida and his sister Cheryl. No one was charged in the homicide.
On September 25 please take the time to remember Officer Rocque, Jeffrey Csida, and many others whose stories remain unsolved. This National Day of Remembrance for Murder Victims is not only a day to recall and honor the many lives lost to violence, but it also serves to promote support for their families and survivors. This is a day to envision the time when all murders are solved, justice is served and closure is given to families of the victims.
