Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Heavenly Father, I come before You today grieved in heart over the divisions in our country; the United States of America. I grieve for every life lost to violence, regardless of color or creed. And I especially grieve this day over the senseless deaths of America’s Peace Officers whose sworn duty is to protect us from harm. Please grant comfort and hope to their families. I know from the Holy Scriptures in Romans 13 that Peace Officers have a sacred task, to enforce laws that protect the innocent and punish the guilty. I pray that You will protect them as they serve us. Give them wisdom, discernment, and a deep desire to serve You. Please surround every Peace Officer in our nation, the United States of America, with battalions of warring angels to protect them from harm. I stand in the powerful and mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ against every work of Satan intended to inflict injury and death on our Protectors. May Satan’s power be thwarted, in Your mighty and holy name, and his plans exposed by Your Light. In the mighty and holy name of the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Redeemer, and the Mediator between us, Heavenly Father, in prayer, and by His authority, I pray! Amen.

Please find Encouragement, Comfort, Support, and Hope from God's Word:

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
[Matthew 5:9 ESV];

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." [Psalm 23:4 ESV];

"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."
[John 15:13 ESV];

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." [Matthew 5:4 ESV];

"And he [Jesus] said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise." [Luke 23:43 ESV], and;

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." [John 3:16 ESV].

Chaplain Steven R. Closs, DDiv, MSBS, NACM, NCCA
Ordained Independent NACM Minister
The Badge 183 Peacemakers Prayer Ministry
Member: Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers - USA

Captain Steven R. Closs (Retired)
Nashua NH Police Department (1974-1998)

June 28, 2025

GOD Bless You Captain Bernal. We Remember.

MDS. Rich Reeves (Retired) Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office

June 28, 2025

Rest Easy Brother

Officer/EMT Shannon Yates
Collins Police Department (MS)

June 28, 2024

GOD Bless You Brother. We Remember

MDS. Rich Reeves (Retired)
Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office

June 28, 2024

Tom. I think about you often. It has hit me hard over the last few years. I never really let myself grieve over what had happened that day. 2 years ago I was involved in another on duty incident which did not bother me but the day of your crash really came back and hit me hard. I got the help I needed and can deal with things a little better now. I truly enjoyed working for you from me being a prehire at the academy until having you on the board when I put in for motors. I will always remember us talking in the OSB parking lot about the boys and us wanting to do a trip to the Harley factory in Pa. Miss ya Tom.

Retired MPO CJ Wolfert
Fairfax County Police

June 27, 2023

GOD Bless You Captain. We Remember.

MDS. Rich Reeves (Retired) Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office

June 28, 2021

Rest in peace Captain Bernal.

Rabbi Lewis S. Davis

November 30, 2020

Thank you for your service and please know that your sacrifice is one that will never, ever be forgotten. Rest in peace always.

Detective Cpl/3 Steven Rizzo
Delaware State Police (Retired)

June 28, 2020

You came to mind today, RIP my friend

Detective Greg Holloway (ret.)
Fairfax Co. Police (ret.) now Sarasota Co. Sheriffs office

October 14, 2018

Met with Marlys, Tony Melissa and John at the Cemetery today on the 17th anniversary. Always good stories. Never Forgotten

MOO CJ Wolfert
Fairfax County PD

June 28, 2018

Rest in peace.

Lieutenant Ray Flores
N.Y.P.D. (retired)

June 28, 2017

15 years. Felt like yesterday. Met with Marlys and the boys at cemetery then had BBQ at the office with them. Never forgotten

PFC C J Wolfert
Fairfax county

June 28, 2016

Time may have passed but you are not forgotten. I believe as long as someone remembers you or speaks your name, you are still with us.
Thank you for your heroism.
GOD Bless

Detention Officer A.Zambito
Texas

July 4, 2015

To fully appreciate the heroes of the present, we must recognize our heroes of the past. Your heroism and service is honored today, the 11th anniversary year of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered. Rest In Peace

I pray for solace for all those that love and remember you. I thank your friends for shring their devotion to you through their reflections.

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

December 9, 2012

I was unable to go to the cemetery this year with everyone but you were in my thoughts along with yor family.

vPFC CJ Wolfert
Fairfax County Police Motor Squad

July 1, 2012

Capt. Bernal,
On today, the 11th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of Fairfax County. And to your family and loved ones, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy.

R.I.P.
USBP

Anonymous
U.S. Border Patrol

June 28, 2012

Tommy,
I knew you from the street. What a great guy, unchanged by making rank. You loved police work, the people and your "bikes". You are surely one person that left us too soon. I still cry when I think of you being gone!

Tokar
retired

June 28, 2011

10 years today,I remember that ride like it was yesterday. Today we we will meet at the cemetery with your family and then return back to OSB for a memorial dedication infront of OSB.

C J Wolfert
Fairfax county motors

June 28, 2011

Capt. Bernal,

Happy Police Week 2011! The sacrifices made by you and your family have not been forgotten!

Annonymous
FCPD

May 13, 2011

9 YEARS,,,WAY TO FAST..MOTORS MET WITH MARLYS AND TONY UP AT THE CEMETERY ON THE 28TH..ALL ARE DOING WELL. YOU ARE MISSED.

PFC CJ WOLFERT
FFX MOTORS

July 13, 2010

Hard to believe it ahs been 9 years. You are still missed.

Anonymous

June 28, 2010

8 years today..we will never forget.always in our thoughts

pfc cj wolfert
ffx county motor squad

June 28, 2009

Tommy,

It has been a quick seven years since the accident. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of you or the events of that day. I was a Deputy Sheriff with Spotsylvania Sheriffs Office and a trainee in the Fairfax P.D. Motorcycle School that was part of the training class that day in June. I did not know you except for the weeks that I had been in the class, but your fellow officers had a great deal of respect for you as a friend and supervisor. I have that same respect for you. I keep a copy of the pamphlet that was given at your funeral on the top shelf of my toolbox to remind me of how precious life is. I look at it every day before I go to work or ride my bike. My heart goes out to your family. As I rode my Harley today and looked to the sky I could remember all of us sitting at the table eating lunch and the jokes that we told at the table just before the accident. I know that you are looking down at all of us with that same smile. Keep patrolling heaven and remember that we will never forget you.

Robbie Sprouse
Former Spotsylvania Sherifss Office Motorman

June 28, 2008

7 YEARS HAVE GONE BY WAY TO FAST...I WAS UNABLE TO GO BY THE CEMETARY TODAY BUT I KNOW A FEW OF THE GUYS DID GO WITH YOUR FAMILY..I DID GO THROUGH FRONT ROYAL TODAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM WEST VA. AND IT FELT LIKE ONLY YESTERDAY.THE WHOLE DAY PLAYED OUT IN MY HEAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING..REMEMBER, MARLYS AND THE BOYS WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS

PFC CJ WOLFERT
FFX CO POLICE MOTOR SQUAD

June 28, 2008

I met you a 100 years ago down on the Rte 50 corridor between McLean and Mason. When you made rank you never forgot where you came from, I loved working with you and I loved working for you. When it’s time for me to come “home” I’m looking forward to a long eternal friendship. I'll bet there are so great rides in Heaven.

Bob "Tokar" Tokarchic
Northern Va. Criminal Justice Academy

June 27, 2008