Officer Noah Mack Merrill Jr. Arizona Department of Public Safety Arizona Monday, December 11, 1978  Leave a Reflection  Return to Memorial  Print This Page  Continue Building Book  Page: 1 of 1

Operation Blue Light

Just one twinkling blue light can be your way to let police officers know you're thinking of them.

If you tie a blue ribbon to the antenna of your car or put one blue light in a window of your house or in your Christmas lights, officers will know you're remembering them this season. It's a tradition started 31 years ago by the mother of a Philadelphia police officer who was killed in the line of duty.

Baby Bear
daughter
2009-01-01

Known as Little Bear, Husband, Brother, Mack, Officer Merrill, Daddy and friend. I was very young when Daddy was taken from us all. But thanks to everyone around me, I've still managed to gain a sort of "memory" of him. He loved bologna and ketchup sandwiches; he was very proud of his handsome appearance; he often stopped truckers just to share a cup of coffee; he was surrounded by people who loved him and who miss him dearly. He is remembered in Texas Canyon, at The National Law Enforcement Officers' Memorial in Washington D.C., the cemetary in Benson where he is buried and in our hearts and minds. Thank you so very much to all who supported my mother Susie and thus the three of us kids during those times of loss. And I am always excited to hear new stories about the man I missed out on. So please feel free to e-mail me. And thank you for remembering.

Baby Bear
daughter
2009-01-01

RIP you and all the fallen officers were taken too soon from your loved ones.

Anonymous

2008-10-03

This is my brother, Mack, whom I adored. He was and will always remain my Guardian Angel. He inspired me in life, and that inspiration continues to this day. He took his job very seriously..."Greater Love Hath No Man but that He Lay His Life Down For a Friend"....that was Mack. He made the ultimate sacrifice, and left his family and friends devasted. It was his job.

I remember him with all the love my heart can hold. He was always my Hero and will always be my Hero.

Thank You DPS for having this site. My Mother would be so pleased.

Margaret Merrill Rutigliano
Sister of Officer
2008-05-16

I periodically check AZ. memorial pages and I've been to this site a lot. This time I found the "reflection page". It's a joy to see how many people were fond of my uncle. I read every entry and find myself in tears. It was a HORRIBLE time in our lives. My uncle was the closest person to my mom and he was my favorite uncle. We still miss him terribly. The world was definately cheated when he left it.
Now, I'm married to a COP and this incident is always in the back of my mind.

I remember all the stories of how nice my uncle was to the truckers and how they'd have coffee together. He would let me ride in his patrol vechile when we went to see him. He was always funny. THANK YOU everyone for the wonderful memories.

He'd be so proud of his 3 children's accomplishments and ALL of his gradnchildren.

Thank you Arizon Department of Public Safety Department for having this site.

Renee Rutigliano-Proffitt
Wyoming

Campbell County Attorney's Office WY
Niece of "Uncle Mack"
2008-05-15

You are remembered today and thank you Sir for your service

Pat Van Den Berghe, Manchester, NH
Neighbors for a Better Manchester, NH
2007-12-06

"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
2007-11-14

Rest in Peace, Officer Merrill. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

2007-03-14

Mack:

We only met once, at that crisis intervention class in Tucson. You told me some great stories about working Highway 77 in the Salt River Canyon, and how your radio didn't work in the canyon and what a problem that could be. After the class you asked me if I knew of a place to work out - so I took you over to the Tucson PD and snuck you into our gym via the back door. Of course for liability purposes they didn't want outsiders working out in the weight room - but the greatest thing about being a cop is bending the rules. We had a great laugh about that one.

I was so grieved to hear of your untimely fate. It was a great loss to the Benson community and to Arizona DPS. God speed my friend.

Dave Johnson

2007-02-25

I was coming back from a search warrant service in the Willcox area the other day Noah and I stopped at the rest area to say Hi, and visit with you a little bit.
Someone left you some flowers, and I thought how nice that was for someone to do that.
I'll try and remember the next time I'm over that way and I'll bring you some flowers.
It's the least I can do.

Angel Gonzalez
C.S.I. Cochise County Sheriff.
2006-03-24

Well Noah, it's been over a year since I left a reflection for you and it's going on 27 years since we lost you.
It's hard to believe all the years that have gone by and to this day I still think of you, and I can't help but wonder where you'd be right now if you had finished out your career.
A tragic event took you from us, cheated law enforcement of a damn good cop, and denied young officers of a mentor that they would have been proud to follow.
Keep watching over us from up there, rest easy and remember you are missed.

A. Gonzalez C.S.I.
Cochise County Sheriff.
2005-07-26

When a police officer dies, it is not just the agency who loses an officer but the entire nation as well. And all of law enforcement mourns.

I salute you for your service and honor you for your sacrifice.

2005-04-12

During the early years of my career I had the good fortune to work with "little bear" as he was called by the truck drivers that drove through District 9, Benson and Willcox areas.
We recovered a stolen vehicle out of Phoenix together in my area of patrol which was Willcox, and I still remember what a professional and considerate person he was.
It was an honor and privilege to have known and worked with him and I still think of him from time to time and of his family that suffered a terrible loss.

A.Gonzalez C.S.I.
Cochise County Sheriff.
2004-04-29

I was a youth when Officer Merrill was killed, but it left an impression even then. Benson is a small town and we all knew each other. Officer Merrill was well liked and the community felt his loss.

Years later fate would have me writing citations, investigating wrecks, and making arrests in the very same area which he was killed, occasionally at the very spot. A stone monument has been placed in the westbound Texas Canyon rest area and I stop and pay my respects anytime I happen to be there. It is difficult to describe, but it has always giving me a sense of reverence and feeling of kinship. Reverence because of his sacrifice for his family and our State, and because of his family's strength to carry on. Kinship because I was just a sandy haired boy, who would get stars in his eyes anytime one of those white cars with the blue stars drove by. Now I see those same stars in other little boys eyes when I drive past and I realize I would be calling him "Mac", as the others did. As I said, It's difficult to describe, but its an emotion I try to feel from time to time.

God bless you Mac, and God bless and keep your family.

Fellow Officer
Arizona Department of Public Safety