Officer Down Memorial Page

It's only taken four years for me to be able to leave one of these. It is still tough when I remember all of the fun we used to have. Most only knew you as Deputy Gilstrap. I knew David. You always will be my friend and my brother. Rest in peace.

Lt. Frank Brooks (ret.)
April 19, 2012

Rest in Peace, Deputy Gilstrap. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169
April 1, 2012

Your heroism and service is honored today, the first anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Rest In Peace

Phyllis Loya

Anonymous
October 9, 2009

To Deputy Daivd Gilstrap Jr., his family and his fellow officers with the Oconee County Sheriff's Office:

Our heartfelt thoughts are with you on the anniversary of Deputy Gilstrap’s tragic death and we honor him for his valor and sacrifice to the community. Rest in Peace, Deputy Gilstrap and thank you for your service.

Wives Behind The Badge, Inc
Members and Staff
October 9, 2009

The wicked fleee where no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28:1

May God be with you and all who mourn you. May he give them the strength to carry on. You are in my thoughts and prayers

To his kids: Hi, you probably already know all, this, but I just want to make sure you do. Your dad is a hero, now and forever, he will never be forgotten. He loves you now and forever. Never forget that. You are in the thoughts and prayers of many.

Friend of Off. Kris Fairbanks RIP 9-20-08

K.L.
March 6, 2009

ASCENSION

And if I go,
While you’re still here---
Know that I live on,
Vibrating to a different measure
--behind a thin veil you cannot see through.
You will not see me,
So you must have faith.
I wait for the time when we can soar together again,
--both aware of each other.
Until then, live your life to its fullest,
And when you need me,
Just whisper my name in your heart,
…I will be there.

By Colleen Hitchcock

Lisa Schultz
wife of Don Schultz, Phx. P.D., E.O.W. 5-12-2004
October 30, 2008

God speed brother...

My thoughts and prayers are with your family and friends.

Sister in Blue

DFC Angela Crocker
Forsyth County SO
October 30, 2008

I never met you and I don't even know Sheriff Scott Berry, but my wife is a friend of his. Her high regards for him tell me that he would only employ quality deputies, and from his reflection about you, you cared about the public's safety. I occasionally travel on the Hog Mountain Road going to Winder. Thank you, sir, for your dedication to your community and your department!

PSO CW Edwards
North Augusta Dept. of Public Safety (SC)
October 26, 2008

Rest in peace, Sir! You will never be forgotten.

Police Officer
October 23, 2008

DEPUTY GILSTRAP, MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. YOU HAVE SERVED WELL. A HERO FOR SURE. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THOSE WHO MOURN YOUR LOSS.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RET.
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.
October 21, 2008

Rest in peace DEPUTY your tour is complete, THANK YOU and MAY GOD BE BY YOU SIDE AND YOUR FAMILY.

P/O
Philadelphia
October 18, 2008

My prayers and thoughts are with your family,
friends, and with the brothers and sisters
with the Oconee County Sheriff's Office, Georgia,

I know and feel your pain, It's been four years
sence I lost my partner,best friend in the line
of duty today,

Rest in peace Deputy David Gilstrap, You will
never be forgoten,
May God comfort your family and love ones,

Mother of a Deputy Sheriff,
Maryland,

Anonymous
October 17, 2008

You were a true hero! Thank you for serving!!

Civilian
October 17, 2008

May God lay his healing hand upon the family of Deputy Gilstrap and may they know he will never be forgotten. Thank you Deputy Gilstrap for your dedicated service to the people of Georgia and the United States.

James Sheppard
Father of Jason L. Sheppard EOW 12/7/06
October 17, 2008

Dear Family, Friends, and Co-Workers of Deputy Sheriff David Gilstrap,

We are so sorry to here about your tragic loss of Deputy Sheriff David Gilstrap. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you in support during this very difficult time. We know that sometimes there is little comfort that comes from words. Keep focused as you can on the memories and joyous times for these things may bring you comfort. Rely heavily on family, friends, and other law enforcement for support. Honor your fallen loved one, for their sacrifice will not be forgotten. Deputy Sheriff David Gilstrap is a hero.

Respectfully,

Alissa Scott
Widow of Beryl Wayne Scott
E.O.W. 09-10-02

Lisa Schultz
Widow of Don Schultz
E.O.W. 05-12-04

Co-Founders of Survivor Help Network

Anonymous
October 15, 2008

you and your family are in my prayers. God Bless, Deputy Spielman.

Deputy Jason Spielman
Peach County Sheriff's Office
October 15, 2008

Godspeed Sir...Go in Peace

Ptn. R. Murphy
October 15, 2008

My thoughts & prayers are with you. Rest Easy.

Cindy, Arkansas
Sister of slain Officer Randy Basnett, EOW 9-24-1976
October 15, 2008

Family and Friends,

My sincere empathy to those suffering the lose of Deputy Gilstrap on behave of my family and department.

Respectfully,
Jeremy Hoffman
Patrolman, Madison Police Department
Madison, Georgia

Patrolman Jeremy Hoffman
Madison Police Department
October 15, 2008

God bless you and keep you always. You are in our prayers.

DE
St. Louis City Police
October 15, 2008

Rest in peace. We are praying for your family and thank you for your service.

Michelle Milam
Richmond Police Department, Crime Prevention Specialist
October 15, 2008

To the family of Deputy Gilstrap I'm very sorry for your lost. I never had a chance to meet him but reading his refelection that Deputy Jeremy Wasdin left he sounds like he was a good man and deputy. Rest in Peace we have it from hear.

Deputy Terry J. Surgick, Sr.
Greene County Sheriff's Office
October 15, 2008

My thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and co-workers of Deputy Gilstrap. Another Hero taken too soon. May God comfort you and your Family.
You will never be forgotten. God Speed and God Bless. Rest in Peace Sir.

VIPS Jeff Claybern
Alexandria Kentucky Police Department
October 15, 2008

Rest in peace Deputy Gilstrap...

Lieutenant
Genesee County, Michigan
October 15, 2008

I have started to write this several times over the past few days, and I have struggled with how to describe David. He is absolutely the hardest working man I have known in my 32 years on the job. He absolutely loved his family, and totally loved working traffic. In the 4 years he was with me, he wrote 11,000 traffic citations. He gave 19 over before he took enforcement action, but at 20 over, you were his. He was firm but fair. He had a glovebox full of fake ID's and drivers licenses, and he was always anxious to add another to his collection.
David didn't linger around the office, he didn't want to be promoted and he certainly didn't vie for the attention of his supervisors. He just worked hard....it was his mission in life to eliminate traffic fatalities in Oconee County, even if he had to do it alone. The irony of his losing his life to a car is not lost on me, or any of us at the Sheriff's Office.
I miss David.

Sheriff Scott Berry
Sheriff, Oconee County Georgia
October 14, 2008