Family, Friends, and All Others Remember . . .

Patch image: Des Moines Police Department, Iowa

Police Officer Sean Wissink
Des Moines Police Department
Iowa
Sunday, February 11, 2007

Sean, I have not written to you like this before, but i felt that I needed to say that we all really missed you on your b-day. I know you were with us and with your wife doing those shots of crown but it still had an emptiness in my heart. I know now you have grandpa and grandma with you and you are having those wonderful cookies-remember to share. I just wanted to let you know that we love and miss you. Your family.

Anonymous

2009-09-10

Happy Birthday man, just wanted to say hey and let you know we are still thinking about you.

Anonymous

2009-09-08

Hey again bro,

Not to be a pest, but our little girl was born Wednesday morning, a it later than planned but all is well now. I am sure you already knew about it, but as things got a little interesting, you popped into my head again with the relax and breathe bit and I passed that along to her at a tough time like you did to me once. I am so glad you got to meet my wife, seemed so fitting that us being friends for so long that you two got to meet. Not much else, baby and mom are doing great...home now. Just wanted to thank you for a bunch of stuff, I think you know what I mean.

Still miss you brother,
R

R
polk county sheriff
2009-05-22

Hey bro,

Just got to thinking about you. I am sorry but up until tonight I had never visited the site, I guess I just could not bring myself to go there until now.
Your dad has been helping me out a bunch, and the more I am around him I can see where you got it. We talk about you, and both seem to have some "stories", I bet we have both heard them many times before, but I guess it just feels better telling them and hearing them again.
Not much else new....it is about that time, and I hope I can be as good a daddy as you.
Anyway, it is a pretty quiet night out here and I just wanted to say hey....let you know we all still miss you.

Take care man,
R

R
Brother
2009-04-30

The tragedy in Oakland,CA over the past weekend has really brought back the feelings of finding out you were taken from your family too soon also. Some people say, it was your time, but I cant believe that. It was not your time! Your time was not supposed to come until we were old and our kids were raised and we had both met our grandbabies and you could throw them in the air and make them smile and laugh like you did our babies. It was not the officers in Oaklands time either! They were ripped from their families too soon as well thanks to some A$$hole.

Anyway, we miss you very much and I am picturing you with all of your fallen brothers sitting around laughing and having a drink or two. Hopefully you can show them around up there and show them how to help their families be patient while they are waiting to be with them once again, as you have done for us.

I love you always and forever, patiently waiting to see you again...m

wife

2009-03-23

Sean, we stumbled upon a tape, I think it was an attempt to make a hunting video or something (we must have just gotten a new video camera). Anyway, at first we had no idea where the tape was from or where the shots were taken, but then you can hear, "ok, you two can shoot these geese." Then it hit us. It was a hunting trip out by our house with you. It's a short little tape, but we actually got to see you and Grandpa Lyle on it - and we get to hear your little chuckle and both of your voices. It was not your big belly laugh we all still miss, but at least it was something, it was still your laugh! We all still miss that so much.
I think it was bitter sweet for my husband to get to see both you and his dad and recall the fond memories you all had together. Yet he still misses you both so very much.

I know you are watching over us all and I can just hear what you are saying about the kids. They are all growing up so quickly - it is scary. Mine still talk about you and continue to miss you too, so I appreciate you continuing to watch over them and thank you for the fond memories you left them with. Although we were not family by blood, we were family and to my kids you will always be uncle Sean and to my husband (and I) you will always be brother.
We love you -

Shelly Bean
Friend
2009-03-18

Officer Wissink,

I can't believe it's been 2 years since your passing. I only met you once when you responded to a complaint on my street. You were very professional, and caring. I hope you and Officer Hildreth are watching over the men and women in blue in Des Moines, God Bless you and those you left behind.

Private Citizen, Tonya Stephenson
Former Des Moines, IA Resident
2009-03-05

Officer Wissink,

You and your family are still in my memories, thoughts and prayers. Thank you for your service to Des Moines. They lost a fine Officer. You will never be forgotten. Rest In Peace Brother.

Officer D. Abbott
Peterborough Police Dept. (NH) (DMPD Explorer 02'-05')
2009-02-27

I am really missing you right now.

wife

2009-02-21

Forgive me for missing the anniversary of your E.O.W., but I felt as though I could not continue to read about so many tragedies. I now realize the visit each day to leave a word of encouragement and hope to the loved ones of others, helps me to remember that I am not alone with my pain and heartbreak. So may I say to your friends and loved ones that my thoughts and prayers are with them now and always. Continue to keep watch over them and those still out on patrol and may they know you will never be forgotten.

James Sheppard
Father of Sgt. Jason L. Sheppard EOW 12/7/06
2009-02-19

Thinking of you and all of your loved ones today and every day. May God continue to watch over you. I know the daily struggles you face without you and the terrible pain within their hearts. God, wrap your loving arms around them and help them with their grief and let them feel your presence .
Your sacrifice has not been forgotten.
Brenda Lucas
Mother of Chief Anthony D. Lucas, EOW 2-4-2005

Anonymous

2009-02-11

To Officer Sean Wissink, his wife, children and other loved ones, and his fellow officers with Des Moines Police Department:

On this the second anniversary of your tragic death, please know that your memory is honored and revered today.

My heart is with all family members and friends who call you beloved. They are all in my thoughts and prayers today. I can see from the loving reflections left by your wife and soulmate, your children, and your loyal friends that you were an amazing man who is loved and missed by all those whose lives you touched.

Sean, I know that you rescued us, saved our lives and our families. You are one of the rare heroes among us. You were always there for us in the most traumatic moments of our lives. No matter when we called, we just expected that you would come and do whatever it took to help us, and you always met our expectations. Your selflessness and dedication are awe-inspiring.

This world, this country, your community truly are better places because of you. To have lost you is a great tragedy, an irreplaceable, immeasurable loss for society. We are grateful for and to you, and honor you for all you did for us day in and day out whether you received a word of thanks or praise.

Rest in Peace, Sean. I am so humbled by your valor and service.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the distinquished service Sean gave to his community and the citizens of Iowa, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on February 11, 2007.

Phyllis Loya, mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

Phyllis Loya
mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater
2009-02-11

Hi honey, I still miss you everyday. It’s coming up on 2 years since you left to go on a trip for work and never came home. I still think about that day more often than I would like, more often than I am sure you would like me too, but I can’t help it. Hunter has been driving a lot lately and can’t quite understand why I am so jumpy. He’s a great driver for a 14 year old, but you were an exceptional driver too. Please protect him and Madi for me; I couldn’t bear to loose one of them too.

Both kids are on the honor roll again, you would be so proud of how they are growing up. Our "baby" is now babysitting other children, can you believe that? Cooper is still hunting with the best of them and Hunter actually shot a buck that would make you jealous as hell! Sone and Grandpa were so proud of him, but I couldn’t help but think how proud you would have been too. I think when he’s hunting he feels closer to you which is why he would go every single day if I would let him! Madi feels close to you the same way when she cooks with me, she always talks a lot about how you would have done something or shown her how to make things or how you let her sneak up after you got home from working third watch and we were all sleeping and you two would make eggs or something at midnight.

It’s amazing to me the memories that the kids cherish the most about you because it’s really the little things that have made the biggest impression on them. Realizing that has made me a little more confident and forgiving of myself when I am not the best mom I could be, it will be the little things, the wonderful things, the everyday things that they will remember; not the times I yell or don’t buy them something they want or ground them. We did such a great job together as parents; it’s made it a little bit easier to do solo.

Thank you for being a wonderful husband, father, and friend. I love you and miss you more than I can even express!

Until we meet again....pnut

wife

2009-01-16

It's hard to pass the spot on 141 without thinking of you. The memory burned into my mind. I desperatly had hoped for a better outcome. My heart is broken for you and your family.
RIP sir.

EMT and former police officer
Your medic on scene
2009-01-02

Hey Bro,

I can't believe it has been almost 2 years since you were taken from us. You are still brought up or thought about every day in conversation. I am sure you know that your family is doing fine, strong...just like you taught them.
Here lately, all I can seem to do is shake my head....I'm sure you know what I am talking about, nuff said.
I wanted to thank you for everything again, friendships that have been made will last a lifetime, and you were always a huge part of them.
We are expecting coming up this summer, if you have time I would appreiciate it if you could look in on mom to be and baby R from time to time, it would mean a lot to me.
Take care of yourself brother, I miss you.

R

R Brother

2008-12-26

You and your family are still in our hearts.

SPO Mike Fong
DMPD
2008-12-15

Just thinking about you today bro. Five days after my little girl was born I remember getting that call. I cant help but think of your family today as "momma"(as you would say) is due again any day now. Ava will be 2 this febuary and whenever I think of how big she is getting, I think of you. Thanks for the memories.

Entrekin

2008-11-07

RIP.You will never be forgotten by all those that knew and love you.

Anonymous

2008-10-13

To Sean and Friends:

Everyone who knew Sean very well, knew he always wore a Saint Michael necklace. He had it on when he crashed and I took it off of him before they took him away from me for the last time. Hunter's been wearing that necklace for quite a while now and he was playing football in a friends backyard and forgot to take the necklace off. Needless to say, on his way home he felt for it like he always does and panicked when he noticed that the medalian had fallen off the necklace.

He went back to his friends yard and started searching for it frantically. He didnt want to loose it, and he didnt want to come home and tell me or Madi that it was gone. Searching for this medalian was like searching for a dime in an acre of grass. For three days we looked, then the story got out to a neighbor/friend who let me borrow his metal detector from work...thanks steve!!!

To make a long story short, on my drive over to look for this medalien I told Sean "if you want us to have this back, you are going to need to help me find it." I got out of the car and started the sweeping motion that is required for a metal detector to work and it kept beeping and beeping at everything. I felt like this was a lost cause. I did about 2 full swipes of the yard covering about 1 percent of the whole ground I needed to cover. Then something told me that I needed to check out the area back by their tree line. I literally walked right over and the machine started going off and I looked down and there it was!!!

It may not see like that big of deal, but that necklace was very special to our family. And we looked very hard for it, thinking it was a snowballs chance in hell that we'd find it. After asking for Seans guidance I walked right to it and found it in about 5 minutes,after looking with others on and off for 3 days. Maybe I just want to think he helped me and maybe he really did. Either way, I will be keeping that medalian in my jewelry box until later for safe keeping.

Just as I asked for your help finding that medalian, I am going to ask for your help once again....please help your daughter feel safer and your son to feel your guidance over these next few months. We could all use your help, but they need it the most.

All my love, Peanut

wife

2008-08-30

Thinking of you again. We all still miss you very much.
Your birthday is coming up soon, so we are going to toast one in your honor! Know you'll be there with us, as you always are.
Just wanted to drop a quick note, to let you know I am thinking of you.

Shelly Bean
Friend
2008-08-27

HEY BROTHER, I FINALY WORKED UP THE GUTS TO TALK TO YOU. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST A YEAR AND A HALF SINCE YOU PASSED AND IT STILL FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY. JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ARE MISSED, NOT ONLY BY ME BUT BY EVERYONE! I WAS JUST OUT AT YOU HOUSE LAST NIGHT AND WAS TALKING TO HUNT, THEN I LOOKED AT THE T.V. AND THEN BACK AT HUNT AND I SWEAR I SAW YOU SITTING THEIR. HE LOOKS MORE AND MORE LIKE YOU EVERYDAY.
I KNOW I NEVER SAID IT TO YOU BUT YOU ARE THE REASON I AM WHO I AM TODAY. I TRIED AND AM STILL TRYING SO HARD TO MODEL MY LIFE AFTER YOURS. IF I COULD BE JUST HALF OF THE MAN THAT YOU ARE I WILL BE HAPPY. I AM STILL TRYING TO GET ON WITH DES MOINES, I WILL BE APPLYING FOR THEIR NEXT CLASS NOW THAT I AM FINALY 21:) I WISH I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH YOU, BUT I AM SURE YOUR BOYS WILL TAKE CARE OF ME:) I WILL SPARE YOU ALL THE OTHER STUFF TAHTS GOIN ON, YOU KNOW ANYWAY. I MISS YOU AND THINK OF YOU EVERYDAY.
SEE YOU SOMEDAY!!
LOVE YA BROTHER..

COUSIN/BROTHER
2008-06-10

Sean,
Just wanted to say hi, and let you know how much you are missed bro. Nicki and I got married last month, but I am sure that you already knew that. I am glad that she got the chance to meet you. You may find this funny, but to me it just reminds me of how much of an influence you were to me, every time I get to thinking of quiting running, working out, or get wound up I can hear your voice telling me to just breathe (like the time you ran back to get me on the PT test). And as wound up as I was just before getting married I heard you again, in the back of my head...telling me to breathe, and somehow feeling you in the area kind had a calming affect on me, like always pushing me to calm down and keep going.
Anyway, I just wanted to say hey, tell you that you are missed very much, and thank you for being yourself. I know you are still keeping an eye on us, and you are still thought of every day.

Take care,
R

R
friend
2008-06-04

Officer Wissink,
I was in DC for the memorial and met your family at a restaurant along with a couple of other guys that I went there with. You have a very nice family.

You will never be forgotten rest in peace my brother.
"In valor there is hope"

K.D. Matlock
Montgomery County Sheriffs Office
2008-05-26

Hi my angel, we are getting ready to celebrate the second mothers day without you and travel to Wash DC to honor you all week. Both of the kids (especially Hunter) need to feel your presence around us during this time.

He could also use a break anytime now on all the things in his life, so if you have someone up there you can talk to about that, we would all appreciate it! :-)

I love you and hope to talk to you soon, maybe June?..?..

missing you more and more everyday....Melisa

Melisa, wife

2008-05-10

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