Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

"The Badge"
He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.
He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.
Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.
He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.
His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.
He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.
And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.
But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.
Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.
Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.
So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.
In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.
Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.
Written By:
David L. Bell
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept.

July 11, 2007

Help us Larry to be strong to be prepared.
Help us to hold our heads high.

TB

July 10, 2007

ive been telling your cop stories at work & laughing i love you dad!

July 7, 2007

i love you pops.i miss you big time.the trial is gettin closer & closer:( & its gonna be hard but were gonna stick together and make it through it!

shanika

May 30, 2007

i missed you more than usual today:(
i love you big as the world!

SHANiKA

May 22, 2007

I miss you.........today and every day.

MICHELE

April 23, 2007

Happy Birthday! Mackenzie said her prayers last night and thanked God that you are watching over all of us. Even though she was a toddler when we lost you, we speak of you so often that she seems to actually remember you. You will never be forgotten. We love and miss you!

LaDonna Porter
Friend of Sgt. Larry Russell EOW 1/2/04

March 27, 2007

Happy Birthday!! Gone but not forgotten! We love and miss you.
Francis
(mother-in-law)

Mother-in-law

March 24, 2007

i miss you a lot and your birthday is only five days away!...i finally got a job so mom doesnt complain about me not having one:]& i made danceline...wish you could be here to see me dance this year...i love you big as the whole wide world.

shan

March 19, 2007

After many years of waiting, we finally have a court date. May this be the year we get to see justice.
Always TB

MICHELE

February 7, 2007

Please know that your sacrifice has not been forgotten as the third anniversary of your EOW has recently passed. You will forever be remembered as a hero.

Linda Lamm - LEO wife and sister of
Jay Balchunas EOW 11.05.04

January 13, 2007

We pause to honor the memory of Sergeant Russell and to acknowledge his ultimate sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of his surviving family members.

May God comfort and keep each of you.

Major D.W. Warren
Montgomery Police Dept. - Montgomery, AL

January 8, 2007

Missing you! Hopefully, justice will be served this year!
Francis (mother-in-law)

January 8, 2007

Continue to keep watch from above.

January 2, 2007

Sergeant Russell

On this the anniversary of your leaving us in the physical sense we pay tribute to your spirit. Tonight the Evening Watch of the Henry County Georgia Police Department’s North Precinct will hit the street in your honor. Please watch over us as we continue your fine work.

For the entire shift,
Sergeant V.T. Rosen

Sergeant V.T. Rosen
Henry County Police Department

January 2, 2007

My thoughts are with your loved ones today. I know they think of you every day and have for the past 3 years. There are some days that are better than others as they love and miss you with all their hearts. Continue to keep watch over them and those still out on patrol. You are a true hero and heroes never die. You will never be forgotten.

Bob Gordon
Father of Fallen Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

January 2, 2007

Merry Christmas TB We love you and miss you

Michele

December 24, 2006

Fallen but NEVER forgotten.

Joanie
Mother, daughter, sister, and granddau. of LEOs

December 19, 2006

HEY POPS

HAPPY ANNiVERSARY!

LOVE YOU BiG AS THE WHOLE WiDE WORLD=]
<3SHAN

December 12, 2006

Happy Anniversary

December 11, 2006

Donna, It is hard waiting for justice....for the love of Larry and God - we just have to believe that it is will come some day... Michele

MICHELE

November 20, 2006

I've been waiting for some sort of closure before I wrote anything on here....BUT NOTHING IS HAPPENING, STILL NO CLOSURE AS FAR AS THE COURT SYSTEM GOES...HOW SAD!! Thought I would go ahead and write something!! I love you and miss you and the life WE ALL HAD!! I hope one day that us still here will have SOME SORT OF "JUSTICE"....Again I say I love and miss you VERY MUCH!! I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU!!

DONNA
FRIEND

November 19, 2006

Miss you terribly T.B.
I wish you were here

November 1, 2006

i was thinking about you & mom a lot last friday because it was friday 13th=].i miss you & love you very much!

SHANiKA
daughter

October 19, 2006

Rest in Peace, Sergeant Russell. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

September 25, 2006