Officer Down Memorial Page

An Angel in the Sky Must Leave His Place of Rest.Gently Tucking His Wings Beneath His Armored Vest. For Duty has called, There is much work to do. Little did he know, This One is Dressed in Blue. Arriving on the Scene, He Knows Just What to Say,Follow me Fallen Brother, I'll Show you the Way,"Your Duty has Ended, Your Work is now Through,"Come Hang Your Hat Beside mine,I'm A Cop Too.

God bless the Koscelnick family

Rocky Geppert
August 15, 2009

An Angel in the Sky Must Leave His Place of Rest. Gently Tucking His Wings Beneath His Armored Vest. For Duty has called, There is much work to do. Little did he know, This One is Dressed in Blue. Arriving on the Scene, He Knows Just What to Say,Follow me Fallen Brother, I'll Show you the Way,"Your Duty has Ended, Your Work is now Through,"Come Hang Your Hat Beside mine,I'm A Cop Too.

God bless the Koscelnick family

Rocky Geppert
August 15, 2009

"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
January 23, 2008

To a dedicated fellow civil servant and brother,

Your sacrifice in the line of duty continues to be deeply felt. Thirty years has not dimmed the memories of how you lived and how proud you were to serve and wear the uniform for the PSP.

Sister, D J Koscelnick
Sister
August 19, 2007

Never forgotten.

Cpl/1 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police
August 15, 2007

Corporal Koscelnick,
Today is the 30th. anniversary of your EOW. You will continue to be remembered for your courage and dedication. Thank you, sir.

Pennsylvania citizen
August 15, 2007

From your brother and sister Trooper's to the South, you'll never be forgotten.

Cpl/1 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police
August 11, 2006

I am a Pennsylvania State Trooper. A soldier of the law. To me is entrusted the honor of the force. I must serve honestly, faithfully, and if need be, lay down my life as others have done before me, rather than swerve from the path of duty. It is my duty to obey the law and to enforce it without any consideration of class, color, creed, or condition. It is also my duty to be of service to anyone who may be in danger or distress, and at all times so conduct myself that the honor of the force may be upheld.

My brother, your memory goes on with the fellow Troopers who recite and live these words.

The Pennsylvania State Police