Officer Down Memorial Page

Hey Tony you know it's kind of crazy,but I did put a kink in my book that I"m writing in which I tell your story. I pray that as I finish the book that evreyone will read your story and come to know you as a true friend. I see that Monte wrote on your wall. I remember him as he may not remember me ,but that's Okay.
You use to sing the song "If God is dead, then who is this living in my soul". That song really moved me. I am so glad to have known you. I also enjoyed singing with you in the choir of New Mount Sinai Missionary Bapist Church. I think about you from time to time and I hope when people read about you in my book the will truly see the Gift you gave.
Love Duane E. Moore Life long Friend

Duane Moore - Friend for Life
Good friend
March 9, 2012

Tony

My friend, I'm sorry it took me so long to post on this site. I miss you and I think of you often. I'm still in touch with your family, although I've moved around a bit in the last few years.

We, you and I, rode to the state police training academy every Sunday evening and rode home together every Friday night after training. Even in snow storms where the state police closed I-96 Fwy (our only route) but we were still expected to be there. Do you remember the night we got stuck in the snow in the driveway of the academy with classmates driving past us and not stopping to help? We were able to get unstuck and made it iside before 7pm. Those troopers n training had us all so afraid and scared.

We were roommates, classmates, and lined up together alphabetically next to each other in line. We're pictured together on the Mighty 97th Recruit School Class picture too. You still hold the record for the most chin-ups by a recruit school class at the MSP Academy after all these years.

We were only a year removed from the academy when you were taken suddenly from us. You were visiting your mother that very weekend, we were together at your mother's house earlier that evening, just kicking it. We were assigned different worksites out of the academy. But we still talked, about our training officers, our progress, our hopes and dreams.

We were talking about the future, about how things were for you at your post (Jackson) and how things were for me at my post (Erie). We both had other plans for later that evening. We said goodby, talk at you later, we said we'd work together at MSP #29 in a year or two. ...then it was good night, be safe.

I heard the horrible news early the next morning and was totally crushed as we were just together, just talking at your mother's house!

I retired from the Michigan State Police on March 30, 2007. At my retirement celebration in November 2007 you and I were together again, your mother and sister were there and several of your brothers. You and I came into the Michigan State Police together and we retired together that night.

I know you watched over me my entire MSP career and that includes the five months we spent in the Michigan State Police Training Academy, the Mighty 97th Recruit School.

Thank you Tony for everything you did and for all the lives you touched in the very short time that we had you. It seemed like a life time that I knew you when in reality it was only a year and a half. You had 'it' and everyone who met you knew you had 'it'. The young are always taken from us way too soon. I want to thank you for everythingyou did for me from the bottom of my heart!

Your friend always, in this life and the next...

D/F/Lt. Jerome Solomon (Retired)
Michigan Department of State Police
January 5, 2012

Merry Christmas, Trooper Thames, to you and your family.
Thank you for your sacrifice.

May God's peace be with you this holiday season!

Trooper
Michigan State Police
December 14, 2010

"The Badge"
He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.
He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.
Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.
He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.
His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.
He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.
And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.
But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.
Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.
Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.
So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.
In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.
Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.
Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC
November 15, 2007

Tony, I want to thank you for all that you taught me during our short time together. It is because of you that I am the man that I am today. I will never forget the time we had spent together (riding in the car;my visit where you were stationed; tossing the ball around etc..) I decided to follow in your footsteps right after the incident. As you know my Mother, Granny and you brothers had a fit once I started receivng mail from different agencies (but all was well) as to joing there department. Long in short, there is not a day that goes by I don't think of you. Right now I'm working with alot of MSP guys that knew you and it is so funny to look in there faces and they can't beleive that I'm still punching and kicking in your footsteps. Man, again I love you; respect you and I hope I am making you proud of me. You have always been my "HERO" and 4-EVER will be my "HERO" !!! Much love to you and can't wait to see you and catch up on things. PEACE!!!
-Monte

Cpl. M. Holliday
Wayne County Sheriff / VCTF /Nephew
October 31, 2006

You are a true hero my friend and will never ever be forgotten.

Cpl/1 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police
September 10, 2006

Tony,

Man I knew you were gone, but you crossed my mind today. I thank God for being your buddy in high school. I know you are watching over us all still today. I know to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, so rest in eternal peace - my brother, my friend.....

Elder Reginald Thompson
Relationship in Christ Ministries
June 21, 2006

I pray that you are still resting peacefully and hope that you are watching over us down here.

Cpl. Egendoerfer
Mishawaka PD
June 12, 2006

Rest in Peace and watch over your relatives. You shall always be remembered as a good man.

Boone County Sheriff Dept (Indiana)
March 24, 2005

Came across your memorial while browsing the pages of the ODMP. God bless you, hero! May you continue your eternal peaceful rest in the Kingdom of God. Your sacrifice will be remembered by all. Your heroic efforts certainly made many very proud of you. Thank you.

Up North Michigan
March 12, 2005

Officer Thames---

~~~Touch the sky and kiss the sun~~~
Let me see you smile…

Touch the sky and kiss the sun,
Soar up high just for a while.

Touch the sky and kiss the sun,
Let your soul be free…

Touch the sky and kiss the sun,
Love someone unconditionally.

Touch the sky and kiss the sun,
Let me take your hand…

Touch the sky and kiss the sun,
In time you’ll understand.

January 2, 2005

On duty or off, Trooper Thames rose to the occasion! Your memory is honored.

SA Darin L. Paul
FBI Detroit