Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

To the friends (both known and unknown) and family of Melissa: Remember that Melissa awoke everyday knowing that she was making a difference and doing something that she loved. She wanted to make a difference in this world and that's just what she did. Although her life has been sacrificed, know that the many good deeds she has done for the public, her country and her family and friends will always be remembered. She was the supporting actor in the lives of others. Now, as we grieve her loss, let us remember that she would want us to carry on and remember her as someone who made a differnece. Although it is sure some things have gone unsaid - remember what you know in your heart about what she has said and know it to be true. Melissa, you are in a better place now. For the many lives you touched, both directly and indirectly, may you rest in peace as we carry on in your legacy. See you on the other side of the rainbow!

Emily

Emily

On behalf of the Minneapolis Division of the FBI, our thoughts and prayers are with Officer Schmidt's family, friends and fellow MPD Officers.

Special Agent Paul McCabe
FBI - MInneapolis Division

I want to send my deepest sympathy to Officer's Schmidt's loved ones. Melissa, you are my hero! Thanks for looking out for the people in Minneapolis. Rest in Peace Melissa.

Sam

Another great hero taken from us.
God Bless Melissa and Her Family.

Detective JC Johnson
Danville PD VA.

When God Made Police Officers

When the Lord was creating peace officers, He was into His sixth day of overtime, when an angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."
And the Lord said, "Have you read the specs on this order?"
"A peace officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn't touch, and not wrinkle his uniform."
"He has to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide that night, canvass the neighbor hood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day."
"He has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals. And, he has to have six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said "Six pairs of hands ... no way."
"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord. "It's the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have."
"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before he asks, "may I see what's in there, sir?" (when he already knows and wishes he'd taken the accounting job.) Another pair here in the side of his head for his partners' safety, and another pair in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say "you'll be all right ma'am", when he knows it isn't so."
"Lord" said the angel, touching His sleeve, "rest and work on this tomorrow"
"I can't", said the Lord "I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck"
The angel circled the model of the peace officer very slowly, "Can it think?" she asked.
"You be the judge," said the Lord. "It can tell you the elements of a hundred crimes; recite Miranda warnings in it's sleep; detain; investigate, search and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five judges to debate the legality of the stop ... and still it keeps its sense of humor."
"This officer also has phenomenal personal control. He can deal with crimes scenes painted in hell, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim's family, and then read in the daily paper how Law Enforcement isn't sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects."
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her fingers across the cheek of the peace officer. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model."
"That's not a leak," said the Lord, "it's a tear"
"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.
"It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, for justice."
"You're a genius," said the angel.
The Lord looked somber and said "I didn't put it there."

Sister of one of Mpls' FINEST

Everytime I write to the family and friends left behind I can't help but realize that we are all victims when an officer is killed. Our whole country is minus one "good guy". Officer Schmidt, thank you for your service, you are now a valued member of the elite heavenly patrol. To her family, find solace in the fact that she died doing what she loved, and she is in a much better place.In memory: Billy Ray Walls JCSO E.O.W. 11-13-01
Isaiah 40:31

One of Melissa's friends is an officer here and I wanted to express my deepest sympathies to her friends and family.

Jennifer McConaghy, spouse
Stillwater, OK PD

Melissa was a great person as well as police officer. I was fortunate enough to work on the same shift as her for over a year. She was always pleasant and had a smile on her face, she truly cared. She will be missed by many. Melissa, we love you, and know that you are sitting up at the great roll call in the sky.

P.S. If you get the chance, we can always use a roll by.

Officer Joseph Will
Minneapolis P.D.

Semper Fi., Warrior. God Bless.

Sgt. Mike Ritchie
Winchester Police Department, Winchester Va.

To My Hero and fellow marine and police sister,

When I get to heaven to St. Peter I will say,
another Marine reporting sir, I served my time in hell.
1944 UNKNOWN

Sempi Fi Marine I'll see you at the gate.

Trooper JE.Blanco (FHP)disabled in the line of duty 5-2-92.

Trooper J.E. BLANCO RET.
FHP

God keep you safe, as you now walk freely w/out the worry of anything happening to you in heaven. Semper Fi.

Police Officer John Pagan
Chicago Police Dept.

I am saddened to hear of this officer's death. God Bless Officer Schmidt and her family that she leaves behind.

JR
North Catasauqua Police Department, Northampton County, PA.

Time is too slow for those who wait,
Too swift for those who fear,
Too long for those who grieve,
Too short for those who rejoice,
But for those who love, time is eternity.
Henry van Dyke

Words can't say what a privilege it was to know you and dispatch for you, Melissa. Know that you are loved and will be very missed!

Police Dispatcher Jo R.
Univ of Minn PD (formerly Mpls PD Dispatcher)

To the family and friends of Officer Schmidt,

Just yesterday I watched as the State of Michigan laid rest to one of my close friends who was killed in the line of duty. Although it may be part of the job it never becomes something easy to deal with. The comforting thing is that Melissa died doing what she loved to do and that she died a hero. She will be in all of our prayers and my heart goes out to you and your family for I know what you feel. May God Bless You and may he bless Melissa for her years of service.

Brian Zylstra
Grand Rapids, MI

Training Officer

Our prayers go out to the family and officers of the department over the loss of a fellow sister in blue. May God be with you all. Rest in peace Officer Schmidt, you have served your time. May you walk the streets of heaven and watch over us all.

Patrolman D.R. Jones
Lexington, KY Metro Police

When I heard about Melissa Schmidt's death, i was told I should know her. She went to Police Recruit Training about a year behind me. I am sorry to say I don't. No matter, as Police Officers, we are one family. When one of us suffers a serious injury or even dies, it affects us all. My deepest sympathies to Melissa's family and co-workers.
God Bless and keep you.

Patrolman Wayne Boos
Oconto, WI Police Dept

Rest in Peace............SEMPER FI Sister

Anonymous

Officer Schmidt, I only received the news today about the horrific tragedy that took place in Minneapolis. May God look over you and your family during this time. I know firsthand that Minneapolis is not an easy assignment to keep the peace in. As a former resident, and co-worker, thank you for all your service. Rest in peace.

God bless my sister in blue.

In Valor There Is Hope.

Officer Farrell
Mount Pleasant Police Department
Racine, Wisconsin
Former Park Agent
Minneapolis Park Police Department

Police Officer Farrell
Mount Pleasant Police Department

Semper Fi! Devil Dog! You have done your time in Hell. You will be missed.

Anonymous

Melissa
Sorry we had to lose you. The way I see it, you are now walking a beat in Heaven where the streets are guarded by United States Marines. I am sure you are watching over everyone down here as we speak.

S.R.
Haltom City Texas

TO THE FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND OFFICERS OF OFC. SCHMIDT'S DEPARTMENT..OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS.

Shift B-Grand Haven Public Safety
Grand Haven Public Safety

TO THE FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND OFFICERS OF OFC. SCHMIDT'S DEPARTMENT..OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU. GOD BLESS.

Shift B-Grand Haven Public Safety
Grand Haven public Safety

We try on to think about the possibility of one of our own appearing on this page, but we also know that it can happen. The city of Minneapolis and the State of Minnesota has lost one of our own, but more important, someone has lost a daughter and a friend. To all my comrades in blue in Minneapolis and to the family of Melissa, I extend my deepest sympathy. May God walk with you in these most difficult times.

Lt. Dan M. Vickmark
Minnesota State Patrol

To the family, friends and colleagues of Officer Schmidt, the International Association of Women Police extends our most sincere condolences on this tragic line-of-duty death. We salute Melissa for putting on the uniform and going out to do the job every day. Though I did not know her, plenty of people in our organization did. I am certain that she was a source of pride to her family and the city for which she worked. She will now, and forever more, be known as a hero whose life was senselessly taken by a coward. As the NLEOMF quote states, "It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it how they lived."
I can only imagine the pain that her family is experiencing, as well as the anguish of her partner who was on the call with her. You all will be in our prayers and in the prayers of a grateful nation that now knows how fragile the thin blue line has become. All of us in law enforcement must take from this event the knowledge that every call has the potential to become a fight for one’s life. You'll now walk your beat on Heaven's streets. Godspeed Melissa.

Officer Donna C. Hillier
Purdue University Calumet Police Department - Hammond, IN

GOD bless you Melissa, your family, friends, and coworkers. Rest in peace for no more harm can come to you now.

D/S Barry Hill
Polk County Sheriff's Office, Florida