Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Dan, it's Easter Day 2005. You are in my thoughts as always, but especially today. I love you,and I miss the comfort you gave me. I miss everything about you. I have you with me in my heart and my soul,and now thats where I find my comfort. You took the boys and me with you in your heart and in your soul. Thank you for doing that for us.

I love you very much and you are missed more and more everyday.

Janice
Wife

March 27, 2005

Honey, I passed by your memorial this morning as I do everyday, the early morning sunlight was reflecting upon the cross, reflecting such beauty, such silence,the cross stands tall just like you did on June 14, 2001.
I love you and miss you very much. I know you are with me today, tomorrow and always.

You are a hero and hero's NEVER die.

Janice
wife

March 14, 2005

Dan,

No special reason, no special day.
Just wanted to let you know, I was thinking about you today.

Robin
Sister-in-Law
2-24-05

February 24, 2005

Dan, It's Christmas Day- I look to heaven as you look down here to earth/I felt your strength, warmth & then saw your beautiful smile/I knew you were still with me eventhough its been a long, long while..../I turned on my blue lights, lit my candle of blue/closed my eyes for a moment & continued to reflect about you/I felt your angel wings wrap around me to keep me safe/ & I knew I'd be ok/I will see you again one day.

You will always be with me.

Love you,
wife, Janice

December 24, 2004

Dan,

Thinking of you on your 50th birthday....and wishing you were here.

Please continue to watch over Janice, Dustin and Ryan. You are their guardian angel.

You will NEVER be forgotten.

Love,

Robin (sister-in-law)

August 31, 2004

Dan, we held the Battle of the Badges Blood drive in your honor. Its the first one for the county and it was very successful. This year the blood drive was especially for your 50th birthday which is August 31, 2004. It was comforting to see the different colored uniforms,the firefighters, emts, and yes the citizens come to give the gift of life in your honor.

Always in my heart and in my soul.
Always I will love you.

Janice
wife

August 14, 2004

Dear Dan,
I know that you dont know me but I am friend of your son Ryan. Me, Sam, Doug, Jeremy, John and April are all looking after Ryan. You are a great guy from everything I have been told. I just want to tell you to look after Ryan and Dustin and protect them. They are great Police Officers. You are in a better place now and please just watch over them and protect them because you are a guardian angel.

Kelly Garrett

July 15, 2004

Dan, 3 years ago today you lost your battle of struggling to survive after being shot 5 times. I know you tried, but what we all wanted was not to be. Instead of coming home to me, you went home to the place I keep being told is where you'd now rather be.

Not a day goes by that I don't think of you. Sometimes it's the time on the clock that reminds me of your fire dept. unit number, or a drive past your dept. seeing the entry to what used to be your office;or even a quiet moment at I when see your smile, feel your warmth, understand your heart. Within my soul I feel your comfort. Forever I will love you. Always will I be thankful to have been your wife.

Janice
wife

July 10, 2004

In loving memory of Sgt. Starnes:
It was 3 years ago today that you died
but sweet memories of you still remain. I wish I could have had you
for a Dad or at least known you as a
friend. It is so sad to come to this site and see all the officers down.
According to these reflections, you knew Jesus personally and that blesses me greatly as I know I will meet you face to face one day and be able to thank you for your sacrifice. There is none greater than
Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. We don't get to Heaven based on what we do, but by the sacrifice He made on the cross for our sins.
AMEN! Thank you for your fine
example to those that worked with you and knew you. There is now a huge void that cannot be filled, but as you are remembered, thoughts will
turn to your exemplary life and we will be filled with pride and respect and love for the man you became. You were a wonderful testimony to the Lord you served. God be with all those who mourn and may His promises lift all those with heavy hearts for many years to come. May
God bless Janice, Dustin and Ryan.
I wish I could erase your pain. Until
the day we meet in person, may the
love of your Heavenly Father and your
earthly husband and Father surround you with peace, comfort and joy in the midst of your sadness of missing and longing for Sgt. Starnes.

Lynn Kole
Bellingham, WA

July 10, 2004

Dan, Today is June 14th. 3 years ago today you & Ryan were shot. It's hard to believe 3 years..sometimes it seems like 20 years without you, but days like today make it feel like it all happened today. On that day a little before noon you walked out of our back door wearing your uniform preparing for just another "regular" day in the line of duty. At 12:16p.m. both you & Ryan were shot within seeing distance from our home. You never came back through our back door ever again. I miss you honey, very much. I know everytime I open the back door you are with me.I know you watch over our boys & I am comforted in knowing you love us all. Always in my heart and in my soul. Thank you babe for all you did the short time you were given to me, to the boys, to us, to the community. Always a part of me, always loved, never forgotten.

Janice Proud Wife of a Selfless Hero

June 14, 2004

Dan,

It was 3 years ago today that you were gunned down in the line of duty -- doing a job that you loved so much -- protecting and serving the citizens of Morgan County, IN. Not a day goes by that I don't think of you, Janice, Dustin and Ryan.

Please continue to watch over them, protect them and make them stronger -- you are their guardian angel.

God bless you, Dan. You will never be forgotten.

Love,

Robin (sister-in-law)
6-14-04

June 14, 2004

Dear Dad, please protect those of us who follow in your lead. Everyday I get on this web site and read more about the hate we have in our communities. I think about those officers gunned down, and it makes me think of my brother and I - both serving the citizens of Indiana as Police Officers. Every time I put on my uniform or see my brother in his, I think of the risks we take, but I know you are standing there beside us protecting us from harm. My brother and I are two-man units; you are always there. Should one of us fall, Dad, carry us to the Gate. Serve the warrant, Dad, if we are unable to. You are a symbol of bravery, and the reflection of you shines on those officers who make the same sacifices you made. I pray that I can one day be a fraction of the man that you were. I love you, Dad. You have not served your final warrant.

Ryan Starnes
Son and fellow officer.

June 5, 2004

To Mrs. Starnes and family,

I come to this site often to pay my respects, often with just a prayer and not a reflection. However I've been so moved by your continual thoughts, that I had to.

As I write this reflection, in tears, it is obvious to me that you are such a strong woman and that Dan is looking over you. I wish there were something that could take your pain away, but of course, there's not.

I do hope that you find comfort that 2000 miles away, a young police officer in New Jersey will pray for you and your family often. Please stay strong and reach out to your extended family. It is obvious how much they care for you.

Dan Starnes did NOT die in vain, and he will NOT be forgotten....even by those who had never met him.

Ptl.
Glassboro PD, NJ

May 20, 2004

Sgt. Starnes,

Rest in Peace my Brother......To Janice, Ryan and Dustin, I have visited this site often, but after reading your reflections my heart is broken all over again. I know your husband and father was a wonderful person and is now walking the beat in Heaven. GOD BLESS YOU ALL....

Officer
NC

April 18, 2004

Dan, today is Sunday morning March 28, 2004, you've been on my mind a lot lately. I spent some time at the cemetery with you this week, more than usual because you are heavy in my heart and close to my soul. I'm thankful that you continue to be with me. I placed those blue flowers for you, changing the flowers with the changing season and making sure you had a flag like always. I miss you very much. At the most difficult & lonely times you are right there with me as you always are, but such strength I get from you...letting me lean on your shoulders, giving me your strength, allowing me the comfort of you telling me "it's going to be ok honey.."

I love you Dan. Thank you babe for giving me such a content life, a happy life, and our 2 sons, who are just like you.

I love your beautiful smile ~ and I miss you so, so much ~

Janice
Wife of Sgt. Dan Starnes EOW July 10, 2001

March 28, 2004

Dan, we never me but somehow I know that if we had....we'd be good friends and I'd be proud to call you a friend. You & my husband are "friends" now....for eternity. I want you to know that I will be Jan's friend for as long as she wants me to...you have a special lady and wife....along with your beautiful sons who have carried on your legacy. You must be proud of them both and know that YOU are in their hearts and souls for always. You are in the hearts and souls of many whom you've never known...God Bless You dear friend, be with Tom and your other brothers.

Norma Williams
Wife-LAPD Det. Tom Williams EOW: 10-31-85

February 25, 2004

Dan,

I have not and will not forget your unselfish sacrifice on July 10th. You will always be an example to me. Your family, while always deeply missing you, serves as a living testimony of service and love. You must be so proud when you look down and see how they all serve and help others during times of need. Obviously you planted some very special seeds in a family garden, for others to enjoy...its just another unselfish sacrifice you gave us. Thank you.

Deputy Bryan Wolfe
Johnson County Sheriff's Office, Indiana

January 24, 2004

You gave the ultimate sacrifice on my birthday. May God bless you and your family.

Ray Zabetta
Richmond Co. Sheriff

December 25, 2003

Dan,
It's Christmas Day 2003 - the boys with their "gals" are coming for dinner. On this Christmas Day just like the last 2 holiday seasons we will have our day remembering you as my husband & our sons' dad. We should be sharing Christmas morning with you, not talking "about" you....

The boys and I will share some of the most dear times we all shared together, but if we do that we'll be talking for days, into months. How much you are loved, how much the boys miss calling out to you and saying "dad" and sitting with you just to "chat" as they both loved to do ~and the loss being your wife and my loss of having you with me as my husband is overwhelming.

Dan we love you, we will always have you in our hearts. We know you watch over us, we know you hear our thoughts. You know our heart & soul & you know you are loved so much by us, your family, your friends and your law enforcement family.

Merry Christmas honey.

Janice
wife

December 25, 2003

Dan,
I was thinking of you as I was leaving Scott Patrick a reflection. I think of you and Janice everyday and I hope that see is staying strong. You were always there and you always made everything seem so much brighter. Things seemed so simple when you were here. I just wanted to say thank you for being so kind to me and you are the best father-n-law anyone could of ever asked for. I am blessed to of had as father-n-law. I will never forget you and I know that you watch over all of your friends and family. love mandy

Amanda (Starnes) Marsh
Daughter-n-law

December 23, 2003

I just wanted to send my support to the family and friends. I had just entered the law enforcement employement when this unfortunate incident occured. I will always remember hearing about this and realizing how close and tight-knit the law enforcement community can be. I also have a brother-in-law that is an officer in KY, and I am proud to have him in my family and I am proud to help protect my officers as a dispatcher. I hope that your family continues to heal and remember their father, husband and friend.
my reagrds

Anonymous

December 14, 2003

I was a juror that was appointed to this case. I sat in the court room for three weeks and listened to all of the evidence. I listened to Dan's son, Ryan, tell us about how his father was gunned down. Gunned down in front of his son. No son should ever have to watch their father killed this way, even if their job is a dangerous one. I listened to both sides of this case and weighed both sides before deciding guilt and punishment. After one month, I still have no regrets on my decison. It was the right decision.
The man who comitted this crime was a very angry man. It took him less than 5 minutes to change the lives of so many people. I feel for all of the families who have suffered from his actions. I suffer most for the Starnes family. Dan was good man. He was truly a person out to give back as much as he could to the people he lived around. But I do still feel for the family who now gets to visit someone on death row.
At least they can still visit him for a while longer. Hopefully the appeal process won't drag out for too long. While a small part of justice has been served, the ultimate justice is still probably years away. Dan died one month after being shot. He wasn't given much time to deal with his circumstances.
This was not a decision based solely on an eye for an eye. It was based on so many things. Too many things.
I hope the Starnes family has some closure now... finally.

Anonymous

December 10, 2003

Dec. 10, 2003
What a sweet man and what a tragedy for all who loved this man,
especially his family! May God comfort all those who are still grieving
your passing. Life is difficult at times and the Lord Jesus wants to help
carry our burdens. He gives us many beautiful promises in His Word to
help us through our valleys. I pray you will feel His presence and know
His peace. I know the holidays are especially painful and I am thinking
of you as you are remembering and missing your loved one.

Lynn Kole
Washington State

December 9, 2003

Today is Thanksgiving Day 2003. As we gathered around the table to share our dinner today. Ryan said a prayer & I took a private moment(s) of silence dedicated to you, honey. We will not forget you, we will never forget the sacrifice you made for your community. We love you very, very much. Things were bittersweet today, reminders of the dinner we cooked together, I love you always.

Janice
wife

November 28, 2003

I never had the pleasure of meeting Dan but have learned a lot about him from my brother, Jim. He must have been a
very special man. I have never met Ryan buth have seen
how he conducts himself during TV interviews. I briefly met
Dustin at the funeral home after Lucia passed away and
was very impressed by the way he handled himself. Janice,
you and Dan raised 2 wonderful, fine young men. You should
be very proud.

You put your pain aside to visit with Lucia so many times and
I thank you for that.

More importantly, I am so happy for you that justice has
been served and hopefully the 3 of you can rest a little.
I'm sure Dan will hold that warrant until he is able to serve
it.

Pat Bryant

November 15, 2003