An excerpt from the book, “Some Gave All,” available on Amazon
By Mike Simmons
In the late summer of 1968, he showed up on the football field found on Burgess Road, behind Woodham High School. Brown hair, and full of muscle, he walked on the field like he owned it. Steve Bolyard was 5’ 10” 165 and had a personality that attracted everyone – girls especially.
Steve was born on November 12, 1952, in San Diego County, California, in the town of La Jolla[1]. In his teenage years, his father and mother, William and Ellen Bolyard, moved to Florida, settling at first in Panama City. William was a successful FBI agent. In 1968, they resettled in Pensacola and the 16-year-old gifted athlete began his high school football career. His rivals soon found out that not only was Steve good-looking and charismatic, but he was as strong as a bull and could hit like a train!
After high school, he continued with athletics when he began playing in men’s softball leagues. His opponents hated to see him come to bat as much as teammates loved it because everyone knew there would probably be a home run coming up!
As a young man, he found his niche when he joined the Pensacola Police Department. He was a perfect fit; he was muscular and athletic, had a great personality, and could think on his feet…it was his career. He also found that he was good at it.
On March 17, 1975, Steve was assigned to the Tactical Unit[2]. The “Tac Squad,” as it was called, consisted of highly motivated officers who wore plain clothes and targeted street criminals. On this night, just after midnight, Steve and his partner, Clayton Ard, were working on foot in downtown Pensacola around one of the major intersections – Palafox and Main Streets – near the historic sailor bar, Trader Jon’s, when they were approached by a guy who wanted to sell them frozen food. That seemed odd, so they watched the man as he contacted two associates near the “Waterfront Rescue Mission.” The plain-clothes officers sat down next to the mission to see better. Soon, one of the men approached them and asked them to move because they were interfering with their burglary. They went to jail.
After five years with the Pensacola Police Department, Steve took advantage of the opportunity to become an investigator with the State Attorney’s Office. He thrived in this position and had a great future waiting for him.
In 1990, Steve had been working at the State Attorney’s office for 10 years. He had arrested a suspect for theft, who was also suspected of committing a murder. While investigating a related crime involving the same victim and suspect, Steve contacted the victim, Charlotte Blevins. The suspect showed up and started to beat on the front door. When he couldn’t enter, he went to the rear of the home and opened fire through a window. Two rounds struck Steve, both in the head.
Despite suffering serious wounds, Steve retreated from the house but was shot again in the back. He was able to make it to a neighbor’s home where he collapsed and died before emergency medical technicians could arrive[3].
The suspect, Patrick Salgat, was the 37-year-old ex-boyfriend of Charlotte Blevins. The Pensacola Beach resident had at least two earlier arrests, one for offenses against Charlotte Blevins. After he took the cowardly shots at Bolyard, he fled. He was arrested 12 hours later in Navarre. He showed no resistance as he was arrested about 10:40 AM and interviewed. Then he was booked into the Santa Rosa County Jail.
The funeral took place on Thursday, June 22, 1990. The beautiful, peaceful Rose Lawn Funeral Home is situated east of Gulf Breeze on Highway 98. The chapel was ready that morning, but no one expected the crowd of 800 that showed up for the service.
Pensacola Police Officers in long sleeves, ties and the old eight-point police hats stood guard over the closed casket in honor of the fallen officer. Nancy Newland, who was one of Steve’s best friends, had been a Pensacola Police Officer with him and was now also an investigator for the State Attorney’s Office. She gave a moving eulogy, encouraging the officers present to learn from the murder and get on with life. Reverend Paul Mathison presided over the service.
On May 23, 1991, Salgat and five other inmates in the Santa Rosa County Jail were caught with a hacksaw and escape plan. A hole had already been cut into the ceiling in the cell of one of the groups. Salgat had scratches on his arms from crawling around in the jail attic. When Salgat was moved, he took an overdose of 30-50 anti-depressants to commit suicide.
On Tuesday, May 28, 1991, the jury was chosen, and the opening statements began the next morning. Salgat, who had been court-ordered to stay away from Blevins, came around anyway. He became jealous when he saw Bolyard through the window. He accused Bolyard and Blevins of being friendly beyond professionalism. So, he shot the investigator through the window.
The case was given to the jury to deliberate on June 5. At 10:45 AM on June 6, Steve’s birthday, the jury came back with a verdict…guilty on seven counts.
Patrick Salgat got a life term for the murder[4].
Besides Nancy, Steve was close to Carolyn Lynch and Violet Howie. He also left behind his parents and his three brothers – Gary, Jeffrey and David. But he especially left a void in the life of his young daughter, Ellen Nicole Bolyard.
[1] Ancestry.com. Steve Bolyard. https://www.ancestry.com/search/?name=Steve_Bolyard&event=_pensacola-escambia-florida-usa_16498&birth=1949&count=50
[2] Pensacola Police Department records
[3] Pensacola News Journal. https://www.newspapers.com/image/267426463/?terms=%22Steve%20Bolyard%22&match=1
[4] Pensacola News Journal. https://www.newspapers.com/image/267661770/?terms=%22Steve%20Bolyard%22&match=1