Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest in Peace, Officer Hesterberg. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

November 2, 2006

It is coming up on four years since Officer Hesterberg died. He will not be forgotten. God Bless his family and friends.

Retired Officer
Charlotte Mecklenburg Police, Charlotte, NC

October 8, 2006

You are my brother by choice, I love and miss you.

Joe Galster Retired
Alaska DOC

July 25, 2006

I never meet James. But I have meet other correctional officers and they have all been verry cool people.




~ Robert Dederick
Kenai Police Explorer poast #460

Robert Dederick Police Explorer
Kenai Police department.

May 27, 2006

Hi Jamie:
Still think about you, and know that you are not forgotten by your DOC family. It's hard to imagine that it's been 3 yrs. since you were taken from us. Thank-you for being a role model and doing your job so well. We'll carry on and will remember your sacrifice. We'll meet again someday, when it's our turn. Light the way for us!
God Bless
Sgt. Roy Smith
Wildwood Pre-Trial Facility

Sgt. Roy Smith
Alaska Dept. of Corrections-Wildwood Pre-Trial Facility

November 29, 2005

To Correctional Officer James Hesterberg, his family and friends, and fellow officers.

On this the third anniversary of your tragic death, please know that you are not forgotten. Your valor and dedication will be forever honored.
Rest In Peace, Correctional Officer Hesterberg.

May your family continue to be cared for by their law enforcment family and other police survivors.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the many years of distinquished service CO Hesterberg gave to his community and the citizens of Alaska, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on November 19, 2002.

Phyllis Loya, mother of Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD eow 4/24/05

November 20, 2005

Rest in Peace

Officer
Michigan Dept.of Corrections

February 27, 2005

THIS JOB IS A THANKLESS JOB, BUT EVERYDAY WE PLACE ON THE BADGE AND DO OUR BEST TO PROTECT THE COMMUNITY. OFFICER HESTERBERG YOU DID JUST THAT AND YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED FOR THE JOB AND SERVICE. MY PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF OFFICER J. HESTERBERG. REST IN PEACE BROTHER.

DEPUTY FLORIDA

DEPUTY
FLORIDA

July 3, 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....

(Formerly of Seward Alaska)

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

April 6, 2004

Hi Jamie: It's been a year since you were taken from us. You were a true brother in blue. Always quick with a smile and laugh, in spite of your job and enviroment. Just wanted you to know that I still think of you and miss you, as do all you co-workers in the DOC family. But you are where we all want to be, and someday we'll all end our "shifts", and be together once again.
God bless...

Sgt. Roy Smith
Ak. DOC Wildwood Correctional Center

November 24, 2003

To the wife of Officer James Hesterberg,

I attended police week 2002 and met one of the correction officers who worked w/your husband. I did not get his name but I believe he may have been in charge of the dept. We shared w/each other our loss and the hurt he feels as well as the other co-workers in the dept. They hold a lot of guilt for something they can not change and something they are not responsible for.
He also was holding back tears as he told me your pain and how they want to badly to reach out to you. He personally is grieving as I'm sure his department is also. Please know they are hurting too, not in the same way as you but they too lost a brother, you lost your husband. Your loss is much more than theirs, but their loss can't be unnoticed. I know because I've been there.
As a wife of an officer Killed In The Line of Duty in 2001, I know where you are coming from. I know a little of your pain and I know the anger you feel. I hope you will reach a point of understanding your husbands coworkers pain and reach to them like they so badly want to reach for you. Your husband loved his coworkers, please remember that when you feel you can.
This gentleman shared with me that as he saw the 2002 families walk to their seats on the capital lawn and looked at them, it was the widows who he noticed the most and thier pain he felt the most.
Maybe the time will come when you can reach to them, one at a time and allow them to share their stories of your husband with you. These officers are hurting, and need that family connection with you like they had with your husband.
God Bless you during this time as its very difficult for you and as I said I know..

Janice Starnes WIDOW OF
SGT. DAN R. STARNES
KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY
JULY 10, 2001

Survivor
Morgan County Sheriff, Indiana

It's not often that the "clientele" that we serve have good things to say about us. But in the days after his death the prisoners here had only good things to say about Ofc Hesterberg. They spoke of his professionalism in his duties and that, at the same time, he treated them as people, with as much courtesy as the job permitted. One prisoner went so far as to say that the prisoners that died in the accident had an "Honor Guard" to escort them thru the Pearly Gates. I think Ofc Hesterberg would have been honored to have known that.

John Klapproth, CO-II
AK DOC, Spring Creek Correctional Center

PTO Hesterberg was simply the BEST. I feel honored to have known him over 10 years. He was one of those rare people that made you feel at ease immediately upon meeting him. I always looked forward to working with him whenever the chance arose. I will miss his booming laugh and sense of humor. My heart goes out to his children and wife, and hope they live the dream he so wanted them to have.

Shannon McCloud, Probation Officer II
Alaska DOC/Probation/Wildwood Correctional Ctr, Kenai, Alaska

Dearest Jamie, Just want you to know what a beautiful memorial all your friends, and people who loved You put together in your remembrance. It was very impressive. Your Best Friend Dale Eberwein was devastated by your loss, and he has done everything you would have wanted him to do. He will always Love and remember all the fun you both shared. Just to let you know, when Dale gets his Hog on his 50th birthday, he is going to have your name painted on it, so he can take you where ever he goes. You are in a most GLORIOUS place now. Enjoy your wings. Baraka-Bashad Jamie, You are forever a HERO :) The Divine Mrs. Eberwein

Flight Attendant Fay Eberwein
Alaska Airlines

In my five years with the Dept. the thing I will remember most is being an honor guard for a fallen brother. You will be missed greatly by all.

Kelly Daniels COII PTO
AK DOC

My thoughts and prayers are with Officer Hesterberg's wife, children, family, friends and co-workers. You will never be alone in your grief and sorrow. Psalm 55:22

Denise Nichols - surviving spouse
Alabama State Trooper Brian Nichols EOW 2/17/2002

It's hard to put your feelings in words at such a tragic time as this. I have only been with the Alaska DOC for 6 months and did not know Jamie personally. I do feel the loss of an outstanding officer and the void his absence will create. As professionals we MUST press on with our duties, but with a heavy heart. My prayers, sympathy and well wishes go out to his family, friends and coworkers. GOD SPEED JAMIE. You will be missed by many.

Jeffrey Reichel COI
Alaska DOC

Condolences go out to all friends and family. Our brother will never be forgotten. We will miss him. Our prayers are with the family, and may you rest in peace.

Sgt. Keith Conlin
Spring Creek Correctional Center

"Heaven called it's hero home"

There is a reason I cried
When I heard an officer died
The reality hit hard in the life that we live
To a job where people are asking you to constantly give
One of our finest paid the ultimate price
And with pride and honor made his greatest sacrifice
My heart goes out to the now widowed wife
It's a knock on the door that every spouse fears
And that is why my eyes are filled with tears.

Our thoughts and prayers are for the families that will be without Officer Hesterberg, a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a friend and a fellow officer who will be missed beyond doubt.

S.Ward
Anchorage Fire Department

I didn't know him well but it seemed at least once a shift our paths would cross when he transported prisoners to SCCC. He was well liked and very much respected despite the thankless job he did. May he rest in peace and god bless his family.

Ofc. Judith Ragusa
Spring Creek Correctional Center

Although I didn't know James well, I know the Department has lost a dedicated professional. It was an honor to serve on the Honor Guard. My prayers go out to the Hesterberg family.

David Beaulieu CO II
Akaska Dept. of Corrections

My thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Hesterberg's family. Though I did not know Jamie personally, his reputation as an outstanding Officer was well known. His passing was a terrible loss to his family, our department, and his many friends. The peace officers left behind salute you Jamie, rest in peace.

Anna Lampley P. O. II
Dept. of Corrections - Probation/Parole

From the day I met him 15 years ago, Jaime was a 'breath of fresh air' in the thankless job we perform day after day. No matter how stressed out Jaime was, he always had a smile and a kind word...he was one of the finest persons I ever met in the Department. Dammit Jaime, you were so close to the end of the J-O-B. Rest in Peace, and God watch over your family! You will be greatly missed by everyone who knew you.

Scott Mitchell COII
Alaska DOC

I didn't know him long enough, I didn't know him well enough, but to know him at all was a pleasure and an honor. I know what he stood for and what he stood against. I knew his generous smile and hearty laugh. He is missed by all. I am sorry for the loss of a friend and co-worker. May God continue to bless his family. Rest in peace Jamie!

Cliff Hillyard CO II
Alaska Department of Corrections

I did not know Officer Hesterberg personally however, every Correctional Officer, Administrator,Parole Officer, Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent, Maintenance Personnel, and a host of others I work with knew him. I hear nothing but a constant litany of an outstanding officer dedicated to serving the State of Alaska and the Department of Corrections. He gave his life in the line of duty wearing the uniform. Judging from my 37 years of personal experience Officer James Hesterberg is considered a true Hero.

Officer Hesterberg was caring out his daily duties supporting the DOC elements of Vigilance, Pride and Dedication. That is no different than any other dedicated officer however, "All Gave Some and Some
Gave All". Officer Hesterberg "Gave All" and that is the ultimate sacrifice for any officer.

God Bless the Hesterberg family and most of all God Bless Officer Hesterberg...

SMSgt R. C. Fisher, USAF Ret
Hiland Mtn Correctional Center