Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Yesterday, 4-12-02, I attended the first phase of our annual firearms qualifications course. The training began with a 34 minute tape of the murder of Deputy Dinkheller.

I first began my career in law enforcement over 22 years ago and have witnessed more than my share of senseless, cruel violence. I've also observed it in training such as the Caliber Press Street Survival seminars that show horrific tapes involving the assault and murders of police officers. However, I have never observed anything as evil as the murder of Deputy Dinkheller.

I found myself overwhelemed, and still am as I write this e-mail the day after viewing the tape. I know that nothing can ease your pain and suffering, but I have to at least express my sincerest, heartfelt condolences to Deputy Dinkhellers family, co-workers, and friends.

From observing the room full of other deputies, most younger than me with limited experience, I believe they left training that day with a different attitude, one that will hopefully help to keep them safe from the same kind of evil that Kyle encountered that day in January.

Sincerely Yours,

Sgt. Terry Saylor
Montgomery Co. Sheriff's Office, Dayton, Ohio.

Sergeant Terry Saylor
Montgomery Co. Sheriff's Office Dayton Ohio

Kyle,

I am a CJ student, at a local community college in michigan. A week before our final in one of my classes the professor showed us your car's tape. It was all I could do not to cry.

To your family I am so very sorry about Kyle's death. Thank you for protecting everyone that day.

Anonymous

I have watched the video during some recent training. It stays with me every day I will never forget your sacrifice and will keep you in my thoughts, every time I go on patrol. God bless your family and may you rest in peace brother.

Anonymous

Kyle, I watched a copy of your traffic stop, and the horrible way in which you were murdered. God Bless you and your family. I will not forget you.

Lt. Mark Farmer
Aiken Department Public Safety

I had training today with the sheriffs office and part of this was on officer survival. When I watched that video on Deputy Dinkheller I just couldn't imagine what was going through his mind,It must have been real terrifying for him. I wanted to jump through that tv and do anything I could to help him. I would like to express my deepest sincere sympathy for his wife, children and parents. I'm glad that there is still a justice system and it did prevail by finding the person who did this guilty. Again my deepest sympathys to family. Deputy Todd Newgren.

Deputy Todd Newgren
Black Hawk County Sheriffs Office

I just watched the tape of that fateful day this past week. I am a dispatcher and we were shown the tape in briefing before we went in to sit down to work our 12 hours that night. The first words out of anybody's mouth was "I feel sick". Watching that tape...thinking what you must have been feeling...it's something that I will never forget. It's been a week since we watched that tape, and I can still hear it in my head. I just thank God that they caught the guy who did this to you and that he WILL pay for what he has done. You will never be forgotten!!!

Anonymous

I graduated mandate in october 2001, watching Kyles tape in mandate school was one of the hardest things i have ever had to watch. Deputy Dinkheller was a hero and should always be remembered and loved.

OFC. EDDIE KNOTT
IVEY POLICE DEPT.

I'm the training officer and a firearms instructor for our department. The Chief of Police for our department has asked me to put a class on for Police Administrators in our area. The class was about the reasons for having a progressive firearms curriculum. The Chief showed me the video of your traffic stop about a month ago. I could not talk after watching the tape. It is still hard to talk about it when I think of the tape. I started the class with your tape. I want other Police Department Administrators to understand the importance of having a progressive firearms curriculum. There is liability in everything we do. But an officers life outways any amount of liability. To any agency that has preclusion, please rethink your views.
When I teach officers at the range, most listen and try to learn. Others act like I'm being hard on them and being a jerk. I want them to learn and maybe get something out of the class that may save their life someday. Many officers say, "It won't happen to me." I say watch this tape of Ofc. Dinkheller. It can happen to any of us. As part of training all officers should attend a funeral. I'm over a hundred miles from your county. A fellow officer and I attended your funeral. I am so sorry. I think of you when I teach. I don't want this to happen to anyone. After I taught the class I didn't think many of the students got anything out of it. I'm not a very good instructor. I've since been asked for additional information on Progressive Training and I've been asked for copies of your tape. They want to take it back and use it for a training video for their officers. To show them what could happen to any of us....at any time. You taught that class, not me. I think by your tape the student's have learned how important it is. Some have gone back and are in the process of having their policy and curriclum changed. Through your death I honestly believe you are saving other officers lives. Those that see your tape will never forget.

Cpl David Wooldridge
Woodstock

Just finished watching the video, being used as a training film...I was so deeply saddened by this loss to the law enforcement community. I am a 12 year veteran but it is still sobering to know this could have been any one of us.
My prayers are still with his family...somehow, may God allow him to help the rest of us watch our backs.

Sgt. G. Barlow
Mt. Juliet P.D. Mt. Juliet, TN

Kyle,

To my son, my first born. It's so hard to write my feelings because even though time has gone by, it seems like just yesterday. The love in my heart for you is so strong and I'm so thankful for all the memories. September 11, has brought back so much of the pain and the sorrow. I feel for the families of other officers. Recently there have been officers killed in the line of duty right here in Utah and it brings the pain so close to home again. Now that our government has called armed forces to duty, the pain and heartache I feel at the thought of your little brother going to serve his country is so real. He is in the National Guard here in Cedar City, Utah. Your little brother has a beautiful wife and an adorable daughter who just turned one.

Kyle please be a guarding angel to your brother and the rest of us. A day has not gone by since you were killed, that I haven't worn, with great pride, your badge number and a guarding angel pin on my chest. I wear these to let you know how proud I am of you and all you had to endure.

I LOVE YOU SO MUCH
LOVE MOM
Cedar City, Utah

Why a Police Officer?

Why a police officer,you may ask,

Why did you choose this line of work?

Surely you knew as even I do,

You’d encounter many a " jerk!"



Didn’t know the hours would be long,

And your pay be relatively small.

Why you’ll be accused of excessive force,

And often receive no respect at all!



Every day you’ll lay your precious life on the line.

You’ll see things that will cause you to weep.

Why the very one for which you give sacrifice,

More often than not, is a creep!



Without doubt, you are the glue,

That keeps society intact.

There is no price I could ever give,

Sufficient enough to pay you back.


So when you get up tomorrow,

And face that gorgeous Georgia sun,

Look to Heaven with much earned pride,

Whisper a prayer that God will be there,

And take Him along for the ride!

Rosemary Duvall
‘ 2000’
This poem came from Cpl. Duvall Mom
Cpl Duvall works for the East Dublin Police Department.
Laurens County, Georgia.

Anonymous

Why a Police Officer?

Why a police officer,you may ask,

Why did you choose this line of work?

Surely you knew as even I do,

You’d encounter many a " jerk!"



Didn’t know the hours would be long,

And your pay be relatively small.

Why you’ll be accused of excessive force,

And often receive no respect at all!



Every day you’ll lay your precious life on the line.

You’ll see things that will cause you to weep.

Why the very one for which you give sacrifice,

More often than not, is a creep!



Without doubt, you are the glue,

That keeps society intact.

There is no price I could ever give,

Sufficient enough to pay you back.


So when you get up tomorrow,

And face that gorgeous Georgia sun,

Look to Heaven with much earned pride,

Whisper a prayer that God will be there,

And take Him along for the ride!

Rosemary Duvall
‘ 2000’
This poem came from Cpl. Duvall Mom
Cpl Duvall works for the East Dublin Police Department.
Laurens County, Georgia.

Anonymous

Kyle,
I am a criminal justice student, only two years younger than you were at the time of your passing. It has been my lifelong dream to be a police officer. I have recently gotten married and, for this reason, changed my major to computer science. But soon afterwards changed back to criminal justice because I couldn't see myself doing anything else. Tonight in class we watched the video tape from your squad car. My heart was pounding, I was breathing hard, and it was all I could do to keep from walking out. But I stayed, and forced myself to watch as they showed it over and over it seems. Somewhere in the middle of this I caught myself thinking, "I should do something else," but not half a minute later, was back to telling myself, "This is what I have to do." I can't explain why I want to be in law enforcement, especially after what I saw tonight. But now I'm scared of what I feel I have to do. Not only that, I feel more dedicated to my goal of completing school, getting in the best possible shape, and thinking more seriously about real life. After class was dismissed, I made my way to my truck where I cried, the sounds of the video still fresh in my mind. I know that I will never forget that, or the way I felt in class tonight. I know in my heart that it is my calling, and know that your family's decision to allow the tape to be shown will only strengthen me. I pray and know that your family will make it, and that you will watch over them. It may sound a little selfish, but could you watch over me too?

J. Murphy

THANK YOU FOR THE SACRIFICE THAT YOU MADE. MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. REST IN PEACE MY BROTHER.

Anonymous

KYLE AND I WERE CLASSMATES AND FRIENDS DURING MOST OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL YEARS. I DID NOT KNOW OF HIS PASSING UNTIL I BECAME A DEPUTY MYSELF, AND ONE DAY HAD BEEN LOOKING AT A NATIONAL PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL PAGE. KYLE, LIKE MYSELF, WAS A "CLASS CLOWN" IN HIGH SCHOOL, ALWAYS LOOKING TO MAKE SOMEONE ELSE LAUGH OR JUST CRACK A SMILE. I'M SURE HE TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN BEING A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, AND KEPT AN UNWAVERING LOVE FOR HIS WIFE AND CHILDREN. I HAVE ONLY BEEN AN OFFICER FOR 9 MONTHS AT THIS TIME AND HAVE YET TO GO TO THE STREETS....BUT WHEN I DO I HOPE I CAN BE HALF THE DEPUTY I'M SURE KYLE WAS.

DEPUTY, JOSEPH FENDER
LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPT.

I only knew you for a very short time before you were killed. What I remember the most was you driving thru my drive thru window at Fazoli's in Dublin for a Dr. Pepper which we did not have, but you always settled for a Mr. Pibb after a humorious comment and a half cocked smile.

Since that time I have been introduced to your father and I have fallen in love with him and will be married to him at the end of this year. He talks about you daily and he misses you so much. He keeps your memory alive by your pictures and the pictures of your children.

I know in heaven you are looking down and you have seen your handsome son that was born after your death. He looks so much like you. Your daughter is so sweet and growing up so fast. Those two kids of yours and Angela's are the one link that your wife, father and family still have and will always have to you. You are missed so very much and even though with each day it seems easier for your family to go on the heavy heart and emptyness will always be there.

I cannot wait until the day I also carry the Dinkheller name, because it belongs to one of the greatest heros of law enforcement. Keep your angel wings and armor of gold around us all. We love and miss you.
Marie Fulghum (Dinkheller)

Marie Fulghum

Kyle,

I have no words to express my pain and sorrow for you, your family, and Department. Yesterday I attended the APCO convention being hosted by the city I work in, Salt Lake. I attended a lecture there about officer involved shootings, and our instructor, a Deputy from another agency played that horrific video. In that lecture Kyle were approx 250 people. Not a dry eye was left, not a soul stirred. We are the Dispatchers who look after you and your fellow officers. We are the other voice on that radio scrambling to get you help, while at the same time trying to keep it together and not fall apart on the air. We are the men and women who strive everyday to keep you safe and never lose track of you. We can only serve the community by first and foremost serving you Kyle. We put you first because only by doing that, can we serve the citizens needing help.

All my love to you, your wife and children, your parents and brothers and sisters, and to your fellow Deputies. I will never forget you Kyle and will always keep what happened to you in the back of my mind while taking care of my Officers.

-Barbra Fronckowiak
Salt Lake City Police

Dispatcher Barbra Fronckowiak
Salt Lake City Police

KYLE YOU ARE SO MISSED...ASHLEY AND CODY SPEAK OF YOU OFTEN
YOU ARE LOVED....NO WORDS COULD EVER EXPRESS LOSING YOU AND
WE WILL JUST NEVER NEVER UNDERSTAND

CAROL BAMONTE

July 07, 2001 -

I am currently finishing up the last few weeks of training at the Law Enforcement Training Center in Savannah, Ga. The class president and I were in a discussion based on both of our years of law enforcement experience before coming to Georgia. We both felt that several of our classmates did not fully understand what they would be facing out on the street. The class president went to a member of the training staff and asked if they had any videos that could be shown to the class.

Neither one of us was prepared for what we were about to see. As the tape was rolling, it was almost as if I was there. I felt the panic. My hands were shaking uncontrollably. My heart was beating so hard and fast I could hear it. I felt the confusion, "what the hell is happening? What do I do?" But there was one big difference: At the end of the tape, I got up and walked out of the classroom. But not before Deputy Kyle Dinkheller was indelibly etched in my mind and heart.

After viewing the tape, you can second guess all you want too. You can say, "I would have done this or that", and in a way, I feel Deputy Dinkheller would have wanted you to use it anyway you could to survive. But in the end, REALITY may say different. If you never want to face what Deputy Dinkheller faced, and be prepared to give the ULTIMATE SACRIFICE, then don't pin that badge on.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES DEPUTY KYLE DINKHELLER A TRUE HERO.

D. Osborn
Blackshear P.D.