Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I would like to extend my condolences to Lt. Finn's family and friends, and to the men and women of the Albany Police Department. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time of tragedy. Rest in peace Lt. Finn, your duty here is done.

Deputy Sheriff
Butte County Sheriff's Office

February 13, 2004

Lieutenant John Finn

You truly are a hero! You have helped so many people. Your brothers in blue could only hope to be as strong as you. My prayers are with you and your family and all the members of the Albany Police Department.

Ofc. BM Damon
T/ Manlius PD, NY

February 13, 2004

You are a true hero. God bless the family, friends, and coworkers of this fallen brother. Rest in peace LT.

Andrew
Baltimore City Police

February 13, 2004

Yet another hero has been taken too soon. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers Lieutenant Finn. May the Lord give you strength and bless each of you during this time.
Rest in peace for your watch here is over; walk in heavens beat and guide us all to protect and serve others safely

US Ranger Catroppa
National Park Service Kennesaw GA

February 13, 2004

Lt, it must have been a long, hard 6 weeks that you fought. Rest in Peace now, Lt. God Bless You!!!

A 911 Dispatcher

Anonymous

February 13, 2004

Thank you for your courage and dedication. Rest in peace Brother John, you are a true hero and will never be forgotten.

Son of G. Truman Wortham EOW 7/15/73

Assistant Chief Carl Wortham
Sand Springs Police Dept. Okla

February 13, 2004

Another hero has been taken from us. My thoughts and prayers are with the family and fellow officers at Albany PD. May Lt Finn Rest in Peace.

Detective G.R. Snead
Albemarle County Police--Va

February 13, 2004

God Speed, Brother.

P.O. K.Murphy
Union PD, NJ

February 13, 2004

LT,
You will never be forgotten, your memories will live forever. You are what every Police Officer should aspire to be. God Bless. Rest in Peace my brother.

Police Officer
Albany PD

February 13, 2004

A Brother Warrior has fell and died today in battle.

This Brother Warrior has made the ultimate sacrifice.

He has given his life for his Fellow Warriors, his family and friends too.

Brother Warrior, pass your sword to us, so we can keep your spirit alive.

You, my Brother Warrior will not be forgotten.

God Bless you, your family and your friends.

We honor and respect all of the Fallen Warriors who have gone before us.

We ask you, Brother Warriors to guide us, protect us and pray for us.

We will meet again my Brother Warriors.

For this time not to fight another battle, but to live in eternal peace.

God bless all of the Warriors, past, present and future.

Sgt. Chad McDaniel
Seminole County Sheriff's Office (FL)

February 13, 2004

Lt. Finn,

I salute you. Your courage is beyond compare and I know it will serve to mitigate the grief of your loved ones.

And though the circumstances of your loss are tragic, they also serve as a standard for the rest of us- you were timely, you were determined, you were selfless and you were RIGHT.

Thank you for your impeccable duty.

Deputy Ross Mueske
U.S. Marshal Service

February 13, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co workers of Lieutenant John Finn.
Thank you for your service to your community and this great nation lieutenant. You will never be forgotten.

Lt Thomas Drury
Clare City Police Department Clare, Mich.

February 13, 2004

Our deepest condolences to the Family, friends, and coworkers of Lieutenant Finn.

Newark NJ PD Auto Theft Task Force

February 13, 2004

Lt. Finn you fought a good fight but now it is time for you to watch over all of us from heaven. I know God has a special place for peace officers. I pray for the Finn family and Lt Finn's fellow officers as they go thru these troubling times.

Frmr TX Peace Officer

February 13, 2004

Day is done,
gone the sun.
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.

Godspeed to you and your family

LT. JAMES A. WILLIAMS
N.Y.P.D.

February 13, 2004

I wish to express my deepest sympathies to the Finn family and the officers of the Albany Police Department over the tragic loss of Lt. John Finn. Once again a coward has taken another brother from the thin blue line from us. May our brother John rest in peace. John now patrols the streets of Heaven with St. Michael and his angels. May God bless the Finn family and the officers of the Albany Police Department during this sad time. Never forget the fallen hero!

Ofcr. Dan Winger
LBCCPD, Ret.

February 13, 2004

MY BROTHER, YOU ARE A HERO AND WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. MAY GOD BLESS YOUR FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COWORKERS. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. YOU SERVED WELL.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RET.
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.

February 12, 2004

GOD SPEED BROTHER!
REST IN PEACE!

Anonymous

February 12, 2004

Warrior!....

February 12, 2004

I join in mourning the loss of Lieutenant John Finn - the Capital District has lost an important part of its Police Family. We his fellow Officers can be comforted by the fact that John will always watch over us from his new Post. " . . . And when we lay down our night sticks, enroll us in your Heavenly Force, where we will be as proud to guard the throne of God as we have been to guard the city of men."

Trooper Kevin F. McMahon
New York State Police - Clifton Park

February 12, 2004

I am so sorry for your loss. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. I pray that God gives you comfort and strength in the weeks and months ahead.

I know the loss you are feeling and that there are no words that will make this pain any less. My dad, Ptl. William B. Bell, was killed in the line of duty on 11-19-02. You will find that this law enforcement family is like no other. You will receive such love and support, and it will help carry you through this.

Again, I am sorry for your loss. You are all in my prayers.

Valarie Bell Wright
Daughter of Ptl. William B. Bell
EOW 11-19-02

Valarie Bell Wright
Daughter of Ptl. William B. Bell, EOW 11-19-02

February 12, 2004

Please look over us as your guard heaven's gates. Your service and sacrifice will not be forgotten nor was it in vain. I wish you godspeed and my prayers and thoughts are with your family and loved ones in this time.

Patrol Officer Don Moore
Washington University at St. Louis Police Department

February 12, 2004

You died a hero. Rest in peace, Sir.

Captain Robert W. Cannon, Ret.
Vermilion Co, Il. Sheriff's Dept.

February 12, 2004

THE POLICEMAN’S LAST ROLL CALL ...

THE POLICEMAN STOOD AND FACED HIS GOD, WHICH MUST ALWAYS COME TO PASS. HE HOPED HIS SHOES WERE SHINING, JUST AS BRIGHTLY AS HIS BRASS. "STEP FORWARD NOW, POLICEMAN. HOW SHALL I DEAL WITH YOU? HAVE YOU ALWAYS TURNED THE OTHER CHEEK? TO MY CHURCH HAVE YOU BEEN TRUE?"

THE POLICEMAN SQUARED his shoulders and said, "No, Lord, I guess I ain’t. Because those of us who carry badges can’t always be a Saint. I’ve had to work most Sundays, and at times my talk was rough, and sometimes I’ve been violent because the streets are awfully tough. But I never took a penny that wasn’t mine to keep, though I worked a lot of overtime when the bills just got to steep. And I never passed a cry for help, though times I shook with fear. And sometimes, God forgive me, I’ve wept many unmanly tears. I know I don’t deserve a place among the people here, they never wanted me around except to calm their fear. If you’ve a place for me Lord, it needn’t be so grand. I never expected or had too much, but if you don’t, I’ll understand."


There was silence all around the throne where the Saints had often trod. As the policeman waited quietly, for the judgement of his God. "Step forward now, policeman, you’ve borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on Heaven’s streets, you’ve done your time in hell."



Rest in peace brother, and God bless you, your family and fellow Officers during this tough time. You wil all be in my prayers.

Officer Rusty Redican
L.A.P.D. Pacific Division (Patrol )

February 12, 2004

Words can't describe the loss of a Public Servant I hope this enclosed poem will send my thanks to you all for the jobs you do to protect the citizens out there. I recieved it from a FF friend in TX.

The The following short take describes what members of the EMS, Fire and Police Departments, doctors and nurses go through every week.

I WANT TO TELL YOU LIES
(author unknown)
I want to tell that little boy his Mom will be just fine,
I want to tell that dad we got his daughter out in time,
I want to tell that wife her husband will be home tonight,
I don't want to tell it like it is.....
I want to tell them lies.
You didn't put their seat belts on,
you feel you killed your kids,
I want to say you didn't... but in away, you did.
You pound your fist into my chest, you're hurting so inside,
I want to say you'll be okay....
I want to tell you lies.
You left chemicals within his reach and now it's in his eyes,
I want to say your son will see, not tell you he'll be blind.
You ask me if he'll be OK, with pleading in your eyes,
I want to say that yes he will....
I want to tell you lies.
I can see you're crying as your life goes up in smoke.
IF you'd maintained that smoke alarm, your children may have woke.
Don't grab my arm and ask me if your family is alive.
Don't make me tell you that they're dead....
I want to tell you lies.
I want to say she'll be okay, you didn't take her life,
I hear you say you love her and you'd never hurt your wife.
You thought you didn't drink to much, you thought
that you could drive.
I don't want to say how wrong you were,
I want to tell you lies.
You left her for a moment, it happens all the time.
How could she have fallen when you thought she couldn't climb?
I want to say her neck's not broke, that she will be just fine.
I don't want to say she's paralyzed.....
I want to tell you lies.
I want to tell this teen his buddies didn't die in vain,
Because he thought it would be cool to try and beat that train.
I don't want to tell him this will haunt him all his life,
I want to say that he'll forget,
I want to tell him lies.
You left the cabinet open and your daughter found the gun,
Now you want me to undo the damage that's been done.
You tell me she's your only child, you say she's only five.
I don't want to say she won't see six.....
I want to tell you lies.
He fell into the pool when you ran to get the phone,
It was only for a second that you left him there alone.
If you'd let the phone just ring perhaps your boy would be alive,
But I don't want to tell you that....
I want to tell you lies.
The fact that you were speeding caused that car to overturn,
And we couldn't get them out of there before the whole thing burned,
Did they suffer? Yes, they suffered, they were slowly burned alive.
But I don't want to say those words...
I want to tell you lies.
But I have to tell it like it is, until my shift is through,
And then the real lies begin, when I come home to you.
You ask me how my day was, and I say it was just fine.
I hope you understand, sometimes.....
I have to tell you lies.



Dedicated to all the Police Officers, Firefighters, EMT's, Paramedics, Emergency Flight Crews, Hospital Police, Security Officers and all Civil Servants who deal with the tragedies of life and death. The saddest of all being those that could have been prevented.

The next time you hear a siren in the distance, don't just say a prayer for the victims and their families. Say a prayer for the people that face these tragedies every day and do the best they can to save someone that is loved.

We never see the tears of these brave men and women, but God does.

Say a prayer for each and everyone who is out helping to make a difference in the darkness of the shadow that has surrounded us. Support them and let them know you care.

Tonya Stephenson
Private Citizen, PA

February 12, 2004