Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

YOU ARE REMEMBERED TODAY THANK ANDYOU SIR FOR YOUR SERVICE

Pat Van Den Berghe
MANCHESTER, NH

April 9, 2008

It is amazing it has been 9 years since we lost you. You sat in front of me for 26 weeks in patrol school but we never got to talk much since they had us locked down most of the time. You were well liked and respected by every one. Rest in peace and I hope we will see each other again.

Sgt BK Henline
NCSHP

April 4, 2008

"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

December 27, 2007

David,

I think of you often when us old timers talk about the good times we us to have here at the beach when you were here. I miss you and will never forget you and your family.

Sergeant Joel Johnson
Kitty Hawk Police Department

November 7, 2007

Everytime I go past that bridge I say a prayer.

Dean Chrismon

October 28, 2007

As a retired trooper in NY, now residing in Southport NC, I reflect on the service of Troopers throughout our great country as I pass the overpass dedicated to you on I-40. As a survivor of a near fatal shooting in NY my rememberance of your service further enforces the brotherhood of law enforcement which continues to protect us today. Thank you for your service, may you rest in peace for eternity.

Trooper W. H. Bender
New York State Police

July 28, 2007

Trooper! Long time, no talk. I was a child when we met, around 14, 15 or so if I remember correctly. You were still working for the Dare County Sheriff's Office in A-District out of the Duck Dire Department when the district office was barely a closet and had the patch painted on the outside door on the deck. I don't know why, but I remember your old boxy Crown Vic with nothing but a star on the door and "Sheriff Patrol" on the trunk, with one of the first Edge lightbars ever manufactured. Ha. You made a huge impression upon me that day upstairs in the meeting room, talking about what wearing a uniform represented; and for the first time I realized, through your eyes, the responsibility that goes along with it.

I never really thought at that time that I would end up a cop. Six years later I was working for the same agency wearing the same brown. So much has changed since then, A-District grew, the closet became a real office, we long the office and they incorporated. But that's a whole different story!

Another six years later I've come and gone from the fire service, EMS and law enforcement, but every time I iron a uniform shirt, attach the shirt stays, carefully place the leather gear or make sure my name plate is perfectly straight, I remember you. Your contagious pride cannot die.

Adam-Two-Six, A-338...David, see you next time. God bless.

PO CJ Rusk
Shelby Police Department (NC)

June 7, 2007

Drove across your bridge yesterday. Rest in peace brother you will not be forgotten.

nc game warden

May 24, 2007

Trooper Dees.
It has been 8 years and time has not diminished your
sacrifice. According to these reflections you were a
special person who was appreciated for his character
and work ethic. So sad you left a loving family behind
who misses you dearly. "May the Lord's face radiate
with joy because of you. May the Lord bless and protect
you, may He be gracious to you, show you His favor and
give you peace." Numbers 6:24-26. God bless!
Lynn Kole
Washington State

April 4, 2007

I was on vacation this week and crossed a bridge dedicated in the memory of Trooper Dees. I jotted down his name so I could learn his story. It is just a small way I can pay respect to those who have gone on before me.
Trooper Dees, thank you for your dedication and service. May God bless your family left on this earth.

PO2 R. J. Johnson
Salisbury Police Department

October 15, 2006

I have a friend that is an E5 Sgt. in the marine corp & he is interested in going to the NCSHP Basic School. He was telling me of this trooper that came to Camp Lejeune to do a safety class and what an impact he had on he and the others marines that attended. He was very impressed with the pride and professinalism shown by this trooper. I then sent him a link to this site because of the similarity of Trp. Dees being killed so soon after conducting a safety class. God Bless The Troopers that have died and those that serve today.

Don High
New Hanover County NC

Don High

September 12, 2006

I just found this website and I remembered Trooper Dees from when I was stationed in the Coast Guard in Elizabeth City. Around Christmas 1998, Trooper Dees came to the base and we all had to sit through a safe driving seminar because it was the holidays. Trooper Dees gave us this presentation about DUI and driving carelessly told us how important it is to be safe around the holidays.

Well I was 19 then, and three days after I met Trooper Dees, I was on my home to Philadelphia for Christmas and guess what? Trooper Dees pulled me right over out there on Rt. 17 doing about 80 mph. I handed him my military ID and told him I had just met him at the seminar, he says to me, "Well then, you should no better". He gave me a ticket. I couldn't believe it. I was so mad at him, giving me a ticket right before Christmas. I never saw Trooper Dees again after that day. I remember when I heard he had passed away and I was saddened.

I am a cop now and I think about Trooper Dees a lot while I'm in my patrol car late at night. I laugh about the ticket he gave me and now I know where he was coming from. You know what, he was right, I did know better!!

Rest in peace brother, I'm happy that you touched my life, if only for an instant.

Patrol Officer Tom Sokolis
Upper Moreland Township

June 12, 2006

DAVID,
WE SPENT ALOT OF HARD BUT GREAT TIMES TOGETHER IN THE 96TH BASIC SCHOOL, HERE YOU GET TO KNOW THE REAL PERSON AND THERE WAS NO FINER THAN DAVID DEES!! ALWAYS A SMILE ON YOUR FACE AND A GOOD WORD FOR SOMEONE. I THINK OF YOU OFTEN AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE IN HEAVEN MAKING EVERYONE LAUGH.

shawn moore former trooper
town of forest city commisoner

April 7, 2006

To Trooper David Dees and his loved ones:

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

My heart goes out to your family. You’re in our thoughts and our prayers.
Reading the loving reflections about your beloved David gives us some understanding of what a kind and honorable man he was, and how many good times he shared with his family members and friends.

Rest in Peace, Trooper Dees. I am humbled by your valor, courage, and dedication.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the distinquished service David gave to his community and the citizens of North Carolina, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on April 4, 1999.

Phyllis Loya, mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05
(Larry was born in Durham, N.C.)

April 4, 2006

I was a North Carolina State Trooper for six years and I am also a Duplin County, NC native, just like Trooper Dees. David, your sacrifice to the citizens of North Carolina will never be forgotten. God bless you and our fellow Troopers and law enforcement officers worldwide.

Special Agent John G. Ludlum II
U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration/Miami, FL

February 24, 2006

David, it has been slightly over 6 years since we last spoke. I can remember you coming into Pasquotank/Camden Central Communications (dispatch) to see all of us. You were always full of laughter,good spirit and cheer. Everytime, I visit Elizabeth City and pass Trinkelow Rd, I think of you and can remember going to work that April morning and hearing of your death. Rest in peace David, you are in a better place!!!

tonya ingram
colorado springs police department

July 31, 2005

David - you are still such a presence in our home and in our hearts - we have your gun cabinet full of your belongings illuminated in our living room - it has been there with it's blue light burning steady for so long now - thanks to your brother. He keeps his candle burning for you - he loves you so much and is so proud of the man you had become. I wonder if you ever knew how much he loved you - he believed that you did!!

His life has changed so much since you died - he is still a COP inside and struggles to let go of that dream - the dream you both shared. He left law enforcement after you died - he struggles with that decision. I can see that in him - he has never been the same since that choice. He is the president of North Carolina COPS now and struggles to do you proud.

I saw Chris, Holly & Bradley a couple of weeks ago and they are gorgeous!!!! Chris stopped me in my tracks - he is the picture perfect image of you as a young man - John kept asking me "does he look like David" and then HAPPILY he got to see him @ Halloween - I thought John would pass out or squeeze the life out of him!

I just wanted you to know . . . . you are in our daily thoughts and prayers - you are proudly represented and loved in our home - through pictures, your uniform, your medal, replicas of your car, your gun cabinet filled with the precious childhood memories you & John shared, etc.

We will keep our blue light burning for you brother - FOREVER - we love you!!!!!!

John, Stephanie,
Erica, Jessi, Stephan,
Savannah & Amanda

Stephanie

December 28, 2004

I played little leauge baseball with your brother John. Your little sister use to come to our house to spend the night with my sister, and I still see your mom every now and then. I remember seeing you at the ball games cheering us on, and although you are gone...we shall never forget the day you slipped these sorly bonds of earth...to touch the face of GOD.
Your brother in LAW

Stephen B
NC BLET Student Currently

September 10, 2004

On angels ...
"The wings ain't anything but a uniform, that's all. When they are in the field so to speak, they always wear them."
Taken from Tom Saywer by Mark Twain

David ... you're not forgotten
April 5, 2004

Anonymous

April 5, 2004

I stop by this website often after the death of two dear friends with the NCSHP (Troopers Calvin Taylor E.O.W. October 3, 2001 and Anthony Cogdill E.O.W. May 30, 2003).

We all grieve over the lives lost in the line of duty. I hope you can find some comfort knowing that there are countless prayers that go out for your family.

These are senseless tragedies that never seem to stop. God Bless the men and women who continue to serve their communities in our great Nation.

...Gone, but never Forgotten....

Marti (EMT-Paramedic)
Haywood Co EMS (NC)

April 4, 2004

David, we only knew each other for a short period of time, but somehow you seemed close to me. At the time my new girlfriend, now wife, was a volunteer for E.M.S., she was on duty the night of your accident and we saw you a short time before your accident, you had a violator stoppped in front of the Hospital, as we saw you she was telling me that now that she is dating a Law Enforcement Officer she worried more, not knowing when she was responding to a call if it was going to be me hurt, or one of my friends, then she pointed at your car and said who is that, I responded that's David Dees, he's a cool dude, as I was telling her not to worry about it, what was I thinking, just a few hours after that she was at the scene of your accident trying to revive you. I think about you often and the memories we have, just a few weeks before you passed, we were working a checkpoint together and I gave you a drunk driver and I also arrested the guy for drug violations. Ill never forget the look on the guys face on the day of court when the D.A. told him that the Impairment charge against him was going to be dropped, he seemed relieved, but I seemed hurt. I had heard up to this point of several Officers being killed in the line of duty, but when you died it really hit home.

Deputy Sheriff John A. Forbes
Pasquotank County Sheriff's Office

January 27, 2004

David,
The tree that the four H club planted in memory of you!
The Japanese Maple is growing just like your three children.
Guard heaven's gates until we meet.

Mom & Dad

Peter C. Dees, Jr. Chaplin
Wallace E.M.S.

November 17, 2003

I breifly got to know David,before we lost him on that lonely strip of highway.Rest in peace david.We will all miss you.

CPL E.A.GRISSOM
DARE COUNTY DETENTION CENTER

November 2, 2003

THANKS FOR ALL THE LAUGHS AND GOOD TIMES. FRANKIE JOINED YOU JANUARY 14TH 2000. WE SPEAK OF YOU OFTEN AND MISS YOU DEEPLY. YOUR FAMILIES ARE TAKEN CARE OF. REST EASY TROOPER YOU WORKED HARD AND EARNED YOUR KEEP.

DEPUTY GEORGE H. BOWMAN
DARE CO. SHERIFFS OFFICE

I remember the endless days from Dec 9, 1995 until June 7, 1996 when we were patrol school brothers. You learn alot about a person when you spend that much time with them. I learned that David Dees loved his family and like me was realizing a dream of being a NC State Trooper. That dream was ended way to soon on a lonely road near Elizabeth City. Your 96th Patrol School Brothers will never forget.

Trooper JC Manning
North Carolina State Highway Patrol