Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Today is the day you were born.
OUR thoughts and prayers are with YOU ALWAYS. A candle glows in your memory. We miss your smiling face.

LOVE and PRAYERS Dear Michael

B DOM and MaryAnn

friends B Dom and Mary Ann

September 24, 2004

YOU ARE A HERO MAN. I DID NOT KNOW YOU, BUT I WISH I COULD HAVE. I PRAY FOR YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. GOD BLESS YOU

JASON FANTONE
OSP

September 21, 2004

I thought of you a lot last week Mike, and what should have been for the two of you. Life just isn't fair. It seems like everyday I will smile, thinking of some stupid story and all the laughs we all have shared. I'm sure now you are probably laughing at all of the crazy things that have gone on since you left...oh the things you would say!!! You are missed, but we were lucky. I love ya Mike.

September 6, 2004

"A Part of America Died"
Somebody killed a policeman today,
and a part of America died.
A piece of our country he swore to protect,
will be buried with him at his side.

The suspect that shot him will stand up in court,
with counsel demanding his rights.
While a young widowed mother must work for her kids,
and spend many long, lonely nights.

The beat that he walked was a battle field too,
just as if he'd gone off to war.
Though the flag of our nation won't fly at half mast,
to his name they will add a gold star.

Yes, somebody killed a policeman today,
in your hometown or in mine.
While we slept in comfort behind our locked doors,
a cop put his life on the line.

Now his ghost walks a beat on a dark city street,
and he stands at each rookies side.
He answered the call, of himself gave his all,
And A Part Of America Died.

Deputy Sheriff Harry Koch,
Maricopa AZ County Sheriff, Retired

i just posted the pome it not mine.

dep. Zane Stowe
TCSO

June 14, 2004

Hard to believe a year has passed...

"Thinking of the day
When you went away
What a life to take
What a bond to break
We'll be missing you..."

You are just one of those people, Mike. The kind of person that leaves an overwhelming impression upon everyone he meets. You are simply one of a kind.

Your smile, your laugh, and most importantly, your beaming pride to wear blue will never be forgotten.

Paramedic
Rural/Metro Ambulance-Youngstown

May 12, 2004

mike hartzell was one of the good guys.mike always had a smile on his face anytime i delt with him when i was in the bob o`s tow truck or when i saw him out anywhere mike you are missed by all of the people that you made smile god bless you mike.

joe montella

correctional officer
northeast ohio correctional center @bob o`s towing

May 1, 2004

It's hard to believe that it has already been a year since your passing. I just wanted to let you know that everyone at the Struthers police department continues to pray for you and your family everyday.

God bless you Officer Hartzell and continue to watch over your brothers in blue.

Patrolman Mike Faith
Struthers Police

April 30, 2004

One Year Ago....Blue Angel.....Gone but never forgotten...Many thoughts and prayers to your family, fellow officers, and friends...May God grant them the Serenity to Accept the things they cannot change, Courage to Change the things they can...and the Wisdom to Know the difference...

Officer Debra McFall Ross
East Buffalo Twp P.D. Lewisburg, Pa.

April 29, 2004

Remembering you one year ago today. God bless, and God bless all those doing a job no other would do. My thoughts are with you and your family.

PO3 K. McKenna
Montgomery County (MD) Police

April 29, 2004

Hey Mike its been a year just want to say no one here will ever forget you. AF Class of 95

MC

April 29, 2004

Thank you Sir.
Thank you for the bravery and courage you showed in the face of danger. You are a true Hero.

Detective T. Henshaw
Bell Gardens Police Department, CA

April 29, 2004

UNCLE MIKE,
IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE IT'S BEEN A YEAR ALREADY. YOU'RE SADLY MISSED AND WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. I KNOW YOUR WATCHING OVER US, FROM UP ABOVE(BEING OUR GUARDIAN ANGEL).
ALWAYS IN OUR THOUGHTS BOB

PTL. R. DIMAIOLO
YOUNGSTOWN P.D.

April 29, 2004

Can't believe it's been a year. We miss you so much.

Anonymous

April 29, 2004

Today marks the one year anniversary of the day you were taken from us. You are still here though, in our hearts. I think of you everyday, and pray that Stephanie and your family are doing alright.
There is only one thing I know for sure-you will NEVER be forgotten. When I see the beautiful blue sky, and the birds flying high, I feel peaceful and I think of you.
May God bless your family and Stephanie. I look forward to seeing you in heaven. Until then, Michael, please continue to shine above us. We were blessed to have you,even if only for a short time. Your memory lives on...............we love you.

Anonymous

April 29, 2004

One year ago today, God made you an angel in heaven. We hope you are resting in peace and watching over all of us. You are very missed and will never be forgotten.

Karen DeLucia
Lifelong neighbor & Friend

April 29, 2004

It's hard to believe how fast a year passes us by. I can still remember where I was and what I was doing when I heard about your tragedy. I remember making the plans for myself and my partner to attend your funeral. I remember driving to Youngstown and trying to mentally prepare myself for what would take place over the next two days. When I met your parents, your brother and your fiancee, and I saw the hurt they were going through, I realized there was no way in the world any preparation could have made me ready for the feelings that I felt. To this day, I still get sick to my stomach when I come to this web site and read your memorial over and over again. I know that your family and your brothers and sisters of the Youngstown Police Dept. reflect each day on the kind of police officer you were and more importantly, the kind of person you were. Somehow, I feel like I knew you and that I would have been proud to work with you. I know that every officer from the YPD is proud to say that they worked with you. Even though this horrible thing happened to you and it was sudden and violent, I hope everyone realizes that your prescence was needed somewhere else, a much better place than where we live. God needed you in Heaven. As bad as it hurt when you were taken, we need to find comfort in the fact that God needed you. Please watch over us all Mike and know that you are not forgotten. Believe me, you will never be forgotten.

Officer Robert Capezio, Jr.
Pittsburgh Police

April 27, 2004

Officer Michael Hartzell,
It will almost be a year since you made the ultimate sacrifice of protecting us all. I wil never forgot you, and it hurts that I never got the chance to know you. Thank you very much for backing me up on calls. You are a hero.

Anonymous

April 24, 2004

I mourn the death of this officer--so young--I respect the officers that do their job--I hope and pray for the safety of all officers -- may God bless them and their families.

Anonymous

April 22, 2004

Michael,Our thoughts and prayers are with you always. It is hard to believe it will be one year April 29,2004.
We will always remember you and your great SMILE.A candle will burn, in your memory.
Love, B Dom and MA

April 16, 2004

MIKEY,
IT'S COMING UP ON A YEAR SINCE YOU WERE MURDERED AND IT STILL BURNS TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE GONE. IT SEEM'S LIKE A THOUSAND LIFETIMES SINCE WE LAST SAW EACH OTHER, LAUGHING ,SIPPING ON A COLD ONE ,AND JUST HANGING OUT. I REMEMBER WHEN YOU PULLED A TRAFFIC STOP ON ME ON A FRIDAY NIGHT IN FEDERAL PLAZA JUST TO PLAY WITH ME BECAUSE YOU KNEW I WAS HEADED OUT. US LAUGHING TOGETHER AS THE ENTIRE PARTY ON THE PLAZA CROWD WATCHED YOU TALK TO ME STILL HAUNTS ME TODAY. WHAT FUN WE USED TO HAVE TOGETHER. TALKED TO STEPHAINE TODAY, SHE'S FINE, AND IS HANGING IN THEIR. ROB M. AND I ARE TRYING TO MAKE IT TO YOUR MEMORIAL SERVICE IN MAY. YES WE ARE STILL RUNNING TOGETHER AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT ARE STAYING OUT OF TROUBLE. I MISS YA MIKE.

DEPUTY ROBERT ALTIER
TRUMBULL COUNTY SHERIFF'F OFFICE

April 10, 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. It is obvious from the reflections that Patrolman Hartzell was a wonderful man.

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

I don't know what it is about you, Mike Hartzell, but I keep your picture and the poem given out at your funeral in my cruiser. It's tacked above my light, and I see it whenever I turn that light on at night, usually on a traffic stop or writing reports. I guess it's because you worked where I spent summers as a kid, and we both realized our dream by being police officers. I will remember you this May when I'm in D.C. during our memorial week. I'm sure your parents will be there; it's truly a sacrad time for all of us and our families. The irony of it all, my uncle was a prospective juror for your murderer's trail, but of course he wasn't picked; as soon as they found out about me being there for your funeral, he was let go. Funny thing, it being a small world. Rest in Godful peace.

PO3 Kristen McKenna
Montgomery County (MD) Police

March 25, 2004

Mike,

I had the utmost honor of completing the last tour of duty with you when we worked together the night before this tragic incident occured. I am so sorry that this had to happen to you Mike. I wish that there was something that we could have done that night to prevent this. I still cannot belive that you are gone... it is like I am still waiting for you to walk into roll call one day. You were such a wonderful person and great officer. I don't honestly do not think that there is a day that goes by that I don't think about you. None of us will ever forget you Mike. We miss you and love you Mike, you did not die in vain.

Brian Butler
Youngstown Police

February 28, 2004

Mikey,

Two more young blue angels were ambushed in Detroit. My heart breaks to think of their families and friends.

I cannot help but remember the morning of April 29, 2003. I will never forget how I felt when I heard the news and I will never forget your hero's salute at your funeral.

You are very missed. God bless you as well as the two blue angels whose lives were senselessly ended.

Anonymous

February 17, 2004

Nothing will ever give back what your family has lost, a great son, friend and one hell of a cop. Just know that everyone including your brothers in blue are thinking of you, forever and ever, blue will always be true. I love you brother.

Ptlm Myers
Niles PD

February 17, 2004