Officer Down Memorial Page

To PSO Zapata's Family:
There are no words, knowing you are and never will be alone might be of some comfort I hope. He was taken so young and in a terrible way. There has been way too much of this lately and it makes me embarrassed to be a human being at times. I sit here in tears. Please try to get thru this as a family, everyone goes thru their grief differently as I know being a young woman whos experienced loss of a husband. You all ARE NOT AND NEVER WILL BE ALONE. I am so incredibly sorry for your loss.

To PSO Zapata:
Please keep the watch on your family now, as they need
you the most. Make your presence known. I know you can do it!! I salute you and am so very sorry you were taken in such a way at such a young age. GodSpeed Sir...........

Lisa from Western Ma
Caring Supporter of all Hero's and their Families
April 20, 2011

My thoughts & prayers are with Officer Zapota's family as well as his & brother's & sister's. I am so very sorry for your loss. Eric is a HERO and we are all very proud of him! Take care of each other....

Dispatcher Marcia Johnson
Portage Police
April 20, 2011

EZ,
What can I say that hasn't already been said about a wonderful, hilarious, courageous, loving man. Your laughter was contagious and your smile could fill a building not just a room. I will never forget our UC operations and all our practical jokes. I know you will always be watching over me and all your brothers and sisters in blue. You may be physically gone, but your soul will always be there. Thank you EZ for being my partner and my friend.

PSO Scott Brooks
Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety
April 20, 2011

R.I.P. Brother!!! Thank you for your service...

Officer G. Lauren
Lowell Police Dept. (Michigan)
April 20, 2011

Officer Zapata, you will not be forgotten! R.I.P.

Deputy Sheriff
Livingston County (Il) Sheriff's Ofc.
April 20, 2011

Sending deepest sympathies to Officer Zapata's family and co-workers for the loss of this heroic man who made the greatest sacrifice possible. God bless!

Teresa Madsen
South Dakota Women's Prison
April 20, 2011

My thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and co-workers of Public Safety Officer Eric Zapata. Another Hero taken too soon. R.I.P Sir!

Wm Jean-Paul Rochat
Swiss Army, MP-Service, Traffic Unit
April 20, 2011

REST IN PEACE.

CHIEF E.J. MORRIS
RANDOLPH MO P.D.
April 20, 2011

Dear Zapata family and KDPS family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. My sincere condolences to your family, friends, and all those who loved and knew Eric. It's very difficult to be the spouse of a police officer, and you, Mrs. Zapata, are a very special lady. To you and myself, our husbands are just regular guys and we just expect our husbands to come home when their shift is over. Please know that there are several law enforcement wives who grieve with you and are praying for you. All of you.

C. Lewis
Michigan State Police (Trooper's wife)
April 20, 2011

Rest in Peace fellow LEO brother. May GOD be with your family and friends during this difficult time.

Anonymous
April 20, 2011

His Judgment Day:
The officer stood and faced his God, Which must always come to pass. He hoped his shoes were shinning, Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, Officer, How shall I deal with you? Have you always turned the other cheek To my church have you been true?"
The officer squared his shoulder and said, "No, Lord, I guess I aint, Because those of us who carry badges can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays, And at times my talk was rough, And sometimes I've been violent Because the streets are tough.
But I never took a penny That wasn't mine to keep.. Though I worked a lot of overtime, when the bills got too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help Though at times I shook with fear. And sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept an unmanly tear.
I know I don't deserve a place among the people here. They never wanted me around except to calm their fear.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, it needn't be so grand. I never expected or had too much, But if you don't...I'll understand.
There was silence all around the throne, where the saints often trod. As the officer waited quietly for the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, Officer. You've borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on heaven's streets, You've done your time in hell"

Author unknown

May God be with everyone

Motor Officer Terry Pauley
Plano PD Plano, TX
April 20, 2011

My thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Zapata, his family, friends, and the entire Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety. Thank you for your service Officer Zapata. We've got the watch from here.

Sergeant
Fredericksburg Police Department(VA)
April 20, 2011

R.I.P. my brother, your work here is done. May God bless and keep your family, friends and brothers and sisters in law enforcement. It is with great sadness that I read of this senseless killing and pray that our God will help us to better guard our heroes; whether Police, Fire or EMS.

Ret. Sgt. Thomas A. Schalkofski, T.C.P.D
April 20, 2011

God bless and comfort your loved ones and fellow officers as they grieve your loss. Thank you for your service.

Sgt Phil Cook
Toledo Police Dept.
April 20, 2011

R.I.P. Officer Eric Zapata. May God watch over your family in this difficult time and in the future. You will be missed by many and thank you so much for your years of service. I used to live in the Washington Square area and always appreciated the presence of the police there. God bless you and your family.

Brenda Berner
Citizen
April 20, 2011

I would just like to say that it is not easy for a police officers family...never knowing what is going to happen to them while they are on shift. I would just like to point out that I drive an old police car, and I kind of have a sense of the police officers that have drove the car in the past. I have a sticker on the window for police officers. They are never alone. I can also point out that from what I heard on tv, he loved doing his job. Rest In Peace Eric Zapata...God Speed

Nate Toppen
April 20, 2011

I am so sorry for the loss of PSO Zapata. His true sacrifice is an example of the brave men and women that protect this nation everyday. PSO Zapata is a true HERO to the people of Kalamazoo, and my prayers go to this family, friends, and fellow officers.

LPL Terry Myers
Sears, Cumberland, Md
April 20, 2011

May god be with your family and department during this difficult time.

Anonymous
April 20, 2011

Our hearts ache. But God's goodness and mercy never fail. We are weak, but He is strong!

Job 29:11-17

Officer P. Burnham
Kalamazoo Twp PD
April 20, 2011

Dear Brother in Arms, it's a sad day for sure in our world of guiding and helping people. So many thoughts of officers go through our minds at times like these. Remember this great officer and his family. My prayers and thoughts go out to Officer Eric Zapata and his family. I pray for his family of blue and those in his community, that they will remain strong and never forget the contributions made by the Eric who gave the ultimate sacrifice for is fellow man.

Marty Munger, Sgt
Marquette Police Dept., K-9 Unit
April 20, 2011

RIP Brother

Frm PO Matt Morton
TCPD
April 20, 2011

Our prayers are with Officer Zapata's personal and professional families. Since both our daughter and son-in-law are law enforcement officers, we are aware of the many sacrifices made to keep citizens safe. He has made the ultimate sacrifice in his efforts to do so. God bless and keep you at this time and always.

Anonymous
April 20, 2011

Eric, I think back to the academy. You were one of the first to get a job. I still remember you walking into the cafeteria, and pulling that badge out of your pocket and showing us all. I remember looking at that badge, and seeing the pride in your face, knowing that you did it, you were now a police officer. There were many times over the last 10 years when I would look at my own badge and still remember that moment. From this day forward, I will still feel pride when I look at my badge, and I will still think of that day. But from now on, that badge will be a little heavier. Rest in peace, brother. We will take it from here.

Sgt. Jon Paasch
Walker Police Department
April 20, 2011

My thoughts are with you, your family and police family.

Brother of Jeremy Chambers
EOW 04-24-2006

Chris Chambers
Saint Louis Co Police Dept
April 20, 2011

Eric,

Eric had a few nicknames, "Z", and "EZ" are a couple. I always called him EZ (easy) because that's what he was, easy going. EZ ALWAYS greeted you with a big smile and loved to joke and laugh. He was funny and could always lift your spirits.

EZ was also a GREAT COP. We worked many nights together on the night shift and you could always depend on him. This was evidenced by what happened Monday night. He was coming to the aid of one of his fellow officers. I cried as I wrote my report because I couldn't believe I had to put your name in that kind of report.

Each night when I put my son to bed we always say this to finish our prayers: "God bless all the policemen, firemen, and soldiers who keep us safe. And Dear Jesus, if you should call one of them home tonight, give them eternal peace. Grant their family the strength and courage to carry on. Amen" Monday night my wife put our son to bed and thankfully he said his prayers all the way through. Little did we know, our prayers Monday night would be for my friend EZ.

Please pray for EZ's three children and the rest of his family. We as adults will make it through this, we have to. But, his children...I have no idea what pain they must have. Please Lord, give them "the strength and courage to carry on."

The world lost a great father, son, brother, friend and polcie officer Monday night.

EZ, your friends will never forget you!!!

Det. Mike Treu
Kalamazoo Dept. of Public Safety
April 20, 2011