Obituaries
By: Jim Wheeler, Contributing Editor
The FOP, Lodge Five, dedicates this section of every issue of the “Peace Officer” to honor the brave men and women who have dedicated a good portion of their lives to the vigilant watch protecting the lambs from the lions. Once in a while someone sends a poem or writing that they feel is an appropriate expression of gratitude to our fraternal brothers and sisters who have passed away. Sometimes it is the work of the person who sends it or something they have read that moves even the hardest of souls. We encourage and welcome these submissions. To make it easy, please use the page following the obituaries to help us honor our brothers and sisters. Thank You!
JAMES T. DOWNS DOB:06/18/1947 DOD: 02/13/2022 APPT: 12/08/1969 RET: 07/08/1990 ASSN: 5th
James T. Downs (Jim) passed away surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, February 13, 2022, at the age of 74, from Multiple Myeloma Cancer. James was the beloved husband of Concetta (Connie) Downs (Sepielli) for 50 years. Loving Father of James Downs, PhD., Jeffrey Downs, and Jaclynn (Jaci) Downs, adoring grandfather of Jada Downs. He is also survived by his siblings Patricia O’Neill (Ret. Col. Peter), Joseph (Joan), and John (Beverley); sisters-in-law Lynn Ferrara (Jim) and Sue Pettola (Ray). Jim was predeceased by his parents Joseph and Florence Downs and his brother, Martin Downs (Debbie) and many nieces and nephews. Jim graduated from Father Judge High School and St. Joseph’s University, where he earned a degree in Criminal Justice. In 1966, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and was deployed to Vietnam and throughout the world. He received the Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Rifle Marksmanship Badge,
and Good Conduct Medal (1st Award). When he returned home, he was inducted in the Philadelphia Police Department in 1969. He had a storied career and worked as a Philadelphia Police Officer, serving in some of the most elite squads in the Police Dept, including Stakeout, Highway Patrol, Narcotics, Northeast Detectives, Northwest Detectives, Homicide, North Central Detectives, Organized Crime Intelligence, and Internal Affairs. He was also actively involved in the Fraternal of Order of Police in Philadelphia, and was the Chairman of Legal Committee. Also, he was elected as the National Conductor from 198587. He retired as a Lieutenant Detective in 1992 and then became an entrepreneur. He and his wife, Connie, owned Sir Speedy Printing in Southampton, PA. After selling that business in 2002, he returned to real estate—having earned his license in the 1980s—and was a broker and partner at Keller Williams in Newtown until his death. The family has requested that donations be made in Jim’s name: 1-FOP Survivors Fund: 11630 Caroline Rd, Phila PA 19154, include his name in the memo section or https://www.fop5.org/DonateAmount 2- Veterans Coalition of PA: PO Box 8601 Reading, PA 19603 https://teamvcop.org/#donate 124
JOHN A. SALDUTTI SR. DOB: 02/28/1937 DOD: 04/14/2022 APPT: 02/29/1960 RET:006/04/1986 ASSN: John A. Saldutti Sr., 85, passed away on April 14, 2022, due to medical complications. He was the second eldest son of Anthony and Mary Saldutti (Santoro), born to them on Feb 28, 1937. John was raised in the Nicetown section of Philadelphia by a generation of hard-working immigrants. His learned strong work ethic was evident since his childhood. He was a tremendous help in his parents’ household, cranking grapes twice a day each fall to aid his father and grandmother in making wine, and tending to the coal heater all winter. His early interests included playing with live eels in the basement sink of his grandmother’s corner store, traveling to Lansdale with his Uncle Jerry to visit his beloved cousins Gigi, Reds and the rest of the family on Sundays, and trading comic books with his friends in the neighborhood. He met his wife to be, MaryLinda, a native of Germantown, while attending Saint Michael of the Saints grade school. This early encounter would lead to a lifelong bond, as the two were married on Sept 30, 1961. The couple joyfully
