Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Special Agent Robert Russell Hardesty

United States Department of Justice - Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Government

End of Watch Thursday, June 2, 2005

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Reflections for Special Agent Robert Russell Hardesty

Dear Rob,
I met your sisters this weekend at the siblings retreat. They are such wonderful people and spoke so highly of you. It took a lot of courage for them to come since your death has been so recent. I filled them in on what Washington, D.C. will be like and can't wait to see them there. I will be praying for you and your family. You made the ultimate sacrifice as did my brother and hope that you two will be looking over all of those that you love!

Andrea ZImmerman Lomas
Sister of New Jersey State Trooper Bertram T. Zimmerman 111

September 14, 2005

May God bless you brother and your family.


Huntsville, AL PD

September 3, 2005

Rob, as I was reading some of the memorials here dedicated to you, Toni and the girls, I realize that I was not the only person who thought the world of you; as an officer, a parent, a spouse and a friend. You were so easy to laugh with and the first one willing to help anyone in need; someone to look up to. I can only hope God has saved a bit of Heaven that needs some organizing, some cleaning, some rearranging, some spots that need special attention by a man driven by detail and the willingness to put everything in its place. May you get the freedom and space to run until your heart’s content. You are greatly missed and forever remembered!

Sheri
Family Friend

September 2, 2005

Dear Rob, Toni, & girls....I recently had the honor of meeting your beautiful wife & daughters at the Kids COPS camp. I was quite skeptical about going 'so soon' but after the first day, realized that it was the BEST thing I could have ever done for my children...my son going out to Colorado to OUTWARD BOUND WEST-'alone' while I had to accompany my 13 year old daughter to Camp in Wisconsin. They BOTH want to go back next year & that was enough for me. My fears turned to bliss knowing I had done something right because their want to return said it all. Your beautiful wife Toni & 2 beautiful daughters showed strength WELL BEYOND mine.I could see the dazed look of exhaustion on Toni's face each day & had the blessing of being given the opportunity to sit alone with her towards the end of the week...& found there was a strange & strong resemblence in many ways to your & my husband Tom's accident & the outcome.
I know you are so proud of Toni's strength which was shown to be quite PHENOMINAL! She is truly one hell of a woman. I came to like her right away, could feel the hurt within me all over again in watching her struggle through these early days of devastation....yet she managed to pick herself & your daughters up by their boots & make this trip to COPS Kids Camp & if like me....left feeling like she had finally done something significant to help those 2 beautiful girls. Toni is absolutely enduring endless heartbreak...I know because I feel it everyday right with her since my husband passed.....but unlike me, shs has found the strength within her to carry on...even if in a 'facad'...for the sake of those little girls. THAT is the strength of a woman unmatched by many as she is only 2 months into this gutwrenching grief she feels. In the brief time I had the pleasure to spend with her, I felt a bond & friendship form & also know that WE BOTH have a long way to go. We've lost our life's partner..a part of ourselves...a hole is in our chest & can never be filled. But to honor my husband & keep his memory alive always with ONLY Dignity & Respect....I hope to find even some of the strength that Toni has displayed.
Rob...you chose a WONDERFUL capable wife to raise your daughters. She, I know, won't let you down...just as I won't let Tom down. You watch out for Tom in heaven...& I'll watch out for Toni. She truly is special as you know & I am blessed to have met her with so many other special ladies that I question if I can uphold the dignity the show. I LOVE my husband just as Toni dearly LOVES you...her pain won't go away anytime soon but together we'll help one another. I will be sending her pictures she requested....she knows what they are, along with some camp pix for her to enjoy. I felt compelled to tell you that this will be the hardest thing we endure....ever....so you & Tom watch over us & let us know you're O.K. once in awhile. Toni is amazing & pulls her strength from the love you shared just as I do with my husband. Rest in peace Rob. Thanks for your bravery & integrity....that...along with compassion best sums up my husband & I believe from what I've read & shared with Toni...pretty much sums you up as well. Such a loss. Until we meet again.
Sincerely,
Jo'Nee Cochran
Spouse of Det/Sgt Thomas Cochran
EOW: 01-26-05

Jo'Nee Cochran/Spouse
Det/Sgt Thomas Cochran-Lawrenceburg PD

August 22, 2005

You are in good hands Special Agent Hardesty. look over your family as we will until you are all together again. I am Line of Duty Disabled. I am also the President and Founder of Public Safety Officers Fund We are at www.psof.org We are hosting a softball event in your honor and 2 other officers on Sunday 21 August Thank you for serving Nothing but good is said of you

P.O. Jack DeHeer
Chicago Police Dept.

August 16, 2005

Rob,
I just got the news today from Jeff. I am crushed. I couldn't believe what he was saying for I had just spoke to you. I have many great memories from Indiana State, & what a great relief I felt when I walked into the Academy on the cold January morning back in 1989 & saw your grin coming from behind the crowd of other recruits! Rest now, my brother, your duty is complete. God will protect Toni & the girls.

J B Hamblin
ILEA 89-95
Seymour PD 1988-2004

CSO J B Hamblin
Fed Ex Express Security

August 11, 2005

We in our faith believe that Saint Michael is fighting gods war against evil while we fight gods war against evil on earth. Our loss is Saint Michael's gain as I know in my heart you are now standing silently at his side lending him your strength and courage. Your quite, confident support, courage and enthusiasm can not be replaced. We will continue on here, until we too are called to join in your fight......

SWAT TEAM LEADER
FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION

August 11, 2005

This country is great because we have people such as you. Thank you for protecting the Holy Kingdom of God.

Kevin Kelly

August 3, 2005

#51, YOU MY FRIEND WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN! I WILL SPEAK OF YOU OFTEN MY BROTHER! STRENGTH AND HONOR! #33

(IT'S A COURAGE THAT IS BORN OF LOYALTY TO ALL THAT IS NOBLE AND WORTHY AND KNOWS NO FEAR WHEN TRUTH AND RIGHT ARE IN JEOPARDY! FROM CPT. COLIN P. KELLY JR.)

LT. STEVE FORD
PORTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT.

July 30, 2005

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE
OFFICERS SEND OUR CONDOLENCES. OUR
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH SPL./AGENT
HARDESTY, HIS FAMILY AND CO-WORKERS.

GOD BLESS...

PO ERNEST G. PENN
DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE - BUFFALO, NEW YORK

June 26, 2005

dearly Rob,,,, that is so sad about officers death.. god care of you.. and you are in heaven with jesus.. also jesus will talk and hear your voice.. which those god say rob is bad or good man.. but special rob is best love his family and friend.. i know it is hard time officer has careless an accident but no matter of this fault as i understand it could be happen to you.. may god bless with you and support with us pray for you

m.m

June 25, 2005

Rest in Peace.

Explorer Chris Chappell
Maryland State Police

June 22, 2005

It would be impossible task to capsulate how much I thought of you as a person and as a police officer. You will be forever missed.

Det. David Reynolds, II
Porter County Sheriff's Dept.

June 22, 2005

There are no words that could possibly comfort you enough; I know this first hand. I just wanted to let you know that you are never alone, not now, not ever...May God be your peace in this time of sadness. You will make it through this I promise.

Shani Lake former ADOC and fiance of CPL
of FAYETTE ALABAMA POLICE DEPARMENT

June 22, 2005

My regards to family and friends of Rob. Godspeed through the doors that count!

Senior Officer
NJDOC Special Operations Group (SOG)

June 20, 2005

When God Made Peace Officers

When God made Peace Officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, 'You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.' And the Lord said, ' Have you read the spec on this order?

A peace officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn't touch, and not wrinkle his uniform. ' He has to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day. 'He has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals. And he has to have six pairs of hands. '

The angel shook her head slowly and said, 'Six pairs of hands ... no way.' 'It's not the hands that are causing me problems,' said the Lord, 'it's the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have.' 'That's on the standard model?' asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before he asks, 'May I see what's in there, sir?' (When he already knows and wishes he'd taken that accounting job.) ' Another pair here in the side of his head for his partners' safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, 'You'll be all right ma'am, when he knows it isn't so. '

'Lord,' said the angel, touching his sleeve, 'rest and work on this tomorrow.' 'I can't,' said the Lord, 'I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck.'

The angel circled the model of the peace officer very slowly, 'Can it think?' she asked. 'You bet,' said the Lord. ' It can tell you the elements of a hundred crimes; recite Miranda warnings in its sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five learned judges to debate the legality of the stop ... and still it keeps its sense of humor.

This officer also has phenomenal personal control. He can deal with crime scenes painted in hell, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim's family, and then read in the daily paper how law enforcement isn't sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects. '

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the peace officer. 'There's a leak,' she pronounced. 'I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model.' 'That's not a leak,' said the lord, 'it's a tear.' 'What's the tear for?' asked the angel. 'It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, for justice.'

'You're a genius,' said the angel.

The Lord looked somber. 'I didn't put it there,' he said.

- Unknown

Officer M.D. Click
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

June 19, 2005

This is a very sad end to a life spent serving the citizenry of the U.S. My deepest thoughts go to your friends, family, and co-workers during this difficult time. Salute.

P.O.-Michigan

June 19, 2005

Agent Hardesty,
You and your family are in our prayers. Rest Easy Brother !

Dep. Paul Sperandeo, Off. Amy Sperandeo
Jefferson Parish Sheriffs OFfice, Gretna Police Dept. LA

June 18, 2005

Rest in Peace Brother. We thank you for your dedication to duty and service. Be assured your loved ones are not alone for we are but a phone call away.

Bob Johnson VA-VI

Bob Johnson U.S. Marshal's (Ret'd)
Blue Knights International Police Assn.

June 16, 2005

Rob and I were in the same recruit class for the Indiana State Excise Police and later the Basic course at ILEA. We had opportinuties to work together some after being assigned to our districts. Rob was always first to laugh, cut up and have fun, but his work ethic is what I remember most. Dedicated, Willing and Able. The Law Enforcement community lost one of our Finest. God Speed my Friend.

Deputy James Cowan
Shelby Co. Sheriff Department

June 15, 2005

Rob-
You will be sorely missed. We will carry on in your memory. Godspeed. Your friends from NAC 02-01.

Special Agent
FBI-

June 14, 2005

Rob, #51
You were not only the finest police officer I ever met, you were also a terrific father and husband. I have been through many doors with you; My only hope is that you protect me from above as well as you did at my side. Say hello to #47 for me, I miss you both.

Your friend, and biggest fan,

#27

Major Doug Snider
Porter County Sheriff's Department

June 13, 2005

Thank you Rob for protecting all of us. You will never be forgotten. My thoughts and prayers go out to all who have know such a kind and just spirit, a friend, a Hero, an angel.

Old Neighbor from Portage, Indiana, Jenn

June 13, 2005

Rest in peace brother, God be with you.

Detective L. Perez
Miami Dade Police Dept. Miami, Fl.

June 13, 2005

To the family, friends and collegues of Special Agent Rob Hardesty you are all in my thoughts and prayers. May God hold you all in his precious hands during this very difficult time.

Rocky Varnadore
Sister-In-Law of Florida Hwy Patrol State Trooper

June 13, 2005

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