LEAP Executive Director Diane Goldstein has shared the following personal tribute to Steve’s legacy:

My father died in December of 2002 at 76 years old, leaving a void in my heart that I believed could never be filled. Then, in October 2010, I met Steve Downing when I was recruited into what was then Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP).

Steve had just turned 72 years old and was working tirelessly during the Proposition 19 campaign in California to sensibly regulate the adult consumption of cannabis. He was close in age to my dad and quickly took me under his wing. In ways I hadn’t expected, he filled a part of the space in my heart my father had left behind.

Steve became my mentor and my friend. As his son Michael noted, he was fiercely loyal to the policing profession, to his abiding sense of justice, and to those fortunate enough to call themselves his family and friends. I have countless memories of Steve and Adrienne, his wife of 67 years. Their friendship and support made my life immeasurably richer. Steve was a modern-day Renaissance man: a writer, producer, police officer, and reform advocate devoted to everyone who moved within his orbit. A natural leader, he epitomized a life well-led, filled with purpose, passion, curiosity, and joy.

Through our friendship, Steve helped me find clarity and reinforced my belief in what the policing profession can and should aspire to be: peace officers in service to others. This past August, I sent Steve an article of mine that had been published by the Southern California News Group. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more honored than when he not only highlighted it but shared it in its entirety on his personal Substack. Knowing that he found genuine value in my words—and that he wholeheartedly agreed—meant more to me than I can fully express.

Throughout my years with LEAP, Steve’s support has guided me, strengthened my resolve, and kept me grounded. His intellect, values, and principles pushed me to question assumptions, analyze and scrutinize policy, and to further align my own core beliefs and values with LEAP’s commitment to creating a criminal justice system that is not only fair but truly equitable. Even in his passing, I remain humbled by his fierce loyalty to LEAP, to me, and to our shared mission to protect the most marginalized communities we serve.

It may feel a bit ironic to invoke a children’s author when speaking about a man of such stature, but there is a line from Dr. Seuss that has stuck with me. “Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened.” Thank you, Steve, for your time, your wisdom, and your friendship. The world is truly diminished without your presence.

Vaya con Dios ~ Go with God, Steve.

Lieutenant Diane M. Goldstein (Ret.)

We are honored to also share brief video remembrances from LEAP Executive Director Lt. Diane Goldstein (Ret.) and LEAP Former Executive Director Major Neill Franklin (Ret.), both of whom knew Steve not only as a leader, but as a mentor and a dear friend. Their reflections speak to the profound impact Steve had on their lives, their work, and the values that continue to guide LEAP today.

LEAP’s Executive Director, Lt. Diane Goldstein (Ret.), shares deeply personal thoughts of Steve’s influence on her life and leadership.

LEAP’s former Executive Director, Major Neill Franklin (Ret.), reflects on Steve as a confidant, mentor, and unwavering force for integrity, someone whose words and actions could not be ignored, and whose impact reached far beyond any one moment.