Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

To the Family of Officer Steiner,

My heartfelt condolences go out to you. I can only begin to imagine the pain that you are feeling in this time of grief. As the wife of a CHP Officer and friend of another fallen CHP Officer, (Shannon Distel EOW 8/27/03), I can assure you that the entire "CHP Family" is here for you in your time of need. Officer Steiner was a hero and will NEVER be forgotten.

Officer Steiner Rest In Peace, God Bless the CHP.

GySgt Laticia Coon
U.S.M.C.

April 27, 2004

My heartfelt condolences!

de Leon, SP Citizen Patrol
Santa Paula Police Department

April 27, 2004

Thoughts and prayers to your family and friends. I pray that whoever reads this reflection page find comfort in knowing that all though many officers have never met, we all feel the loss and the sorrow and carry on your legacy each day. Rest in peace Officer Steiner. I am sure there will be many people who will share their memories with your son so that he will always know you!

D/Sgt. Vencent Woods
State of Michigan-Department of Environmental Quality

April 27, 2004

I feel so very bad for this officer and his family. 2 years ago I was involved in a traffic collision with a big rig. Officer Steiner was the first officer on the scene. I could not get out of my vehicle due to the impact to the vehicle and injuries sustained. While waiting for the rescue personnel, Officer Steiner got into the back seat of the vehicle and held my hand so that I would know I was not alone. After being transported to the hospital, he came and sat in the ER room with me until my family arrived. I will never forget this gentleman, who added compassion to duty.

Anonymous

April 27, 2004

God bless youre wife and daughter, and may you rest in peace. Trooper Georgia State Patrol

TFC C.A.Cuddington#216
Georgia State Patrol

April 27, 2004

I cried a tear again. This cowardly act that took the life of such a young man. You are forever safe now.
***JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED*********

Rest now my brother
Inv Shipman

INVESTIGATOR
ALACHUA CO. SHERIFFS OFFICE

April 27, 2004

To Officer Steiner's family:


I would like to express my condonlence. I have been working for this department for three and half years. I read what happened to Officer Steiner and I was touched.

I pray to God that he may give you and the rest of your family comfort in middle of this difficult moment of your lifes.

God bless and comfort you !

Officer J. Ortega
Patrol Officer

Patrol Officer
Village of Key Biscayne Police Department -Miami, Fl.

April 27, 2004

I heart goes out for Officer Steiner, his family, and the California Highway Patrol. I know he's in a better place now patroling the heavens and watching over all of us.

Creating a Peace Officer:

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 spec 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 scene that night, canvass the neighborhood 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
that accounting job.) "Another pair here in the side of his head for his partners' safety. And another pair of eyes here 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 bet," said the Lord. "It can tell you the elements of a hundred crimes;
recite Miranda warnings in its sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest
a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five learned 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 crime 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 finger 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. "I didn't put it there," he said.

Anonymous

April 27, 2004

This is plain terrisom at home. Creps, Blood, homie whatever the junk maybe. Let's take care of it: WAR. Give CHP the power to fight it. These people have no rights, life or values. It's simple to see, us or them. I just hope the punk gets whats comming. I morn greatly the Loss of Tommy and shead tears as I type.

Sincerly, JB
1st Cousin
Bryan Family

1st Cousin John Bryan
family

April 26, 2004

Steiner Family
I am so deeply saddened by the loss of this fine man. Many of my family members including my own husband are Law Enforcement Officers, and I pray everyday for their safety and that of their brothers and sisters. I now pray daily for you, his family and friends. I cannot even believe the senseless killing of our greatest earthly protectors. May Officer Steiner Rest in Peace, and continue to protect others. John 15:13

April 26, 2004

On behalf of the Pittsfield Police Dept., we extend our condolences to the family and friends of Officer Steiner. God Bless.

Officer Rodney Minoty
Pittsfield Police Dept. ME

April 26, 2004

May you Rest In Peace, man..............Rest In Peace.

Police Officer Jennings
L.A. School Police

April 26, 2004

Rest in peace Brother Steiner. Your family & fellow officers are in my thoughts & prayers.

OFC Kevin R Turley
City of Jacksonville Police Department

April 26, 2004

My fiance, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. Dennis died doing a job he loved, just as I'm sure Thomas did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Thomas be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Officer Steiner's family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. My heart goes out to you all, especially to his wife. No one can truly understand the pain of our loss until they've walked in our shoes. I wish I could give you a few words of wisdom to help you through this tough time, but there isn't anything I can really say or do to make the situation better. Just know that my thoughts are with you.

Please accept my condolences on behalf of the McElderry family and remember that Thomas is part of huge law enforcement family. If you ever need anything any number of them will be there for you (as I've quickly found out!) From reading the many reflections posted here, I am certain Thomas was well respected and well loved.

Thank you for a job well done and for helping to make this world a safer place for us all. Please say "hello" to my fiance Dennis for me.

Peace, Love, Luck, and Happiness!

Jocelyne Brar (Winnipeg, MB Canada)
Deputy Sheriff Dennis McElderry's fiancee - EOW (01/03/03)

April 26, 2004

God bless the family of Officer Thomas Steiner and to all the members of the California Highway Patrol for your loss. My thoughts and prayers go out to you.

Trooper
New Jersey State Police

April 26, 2004

In my book, the label hero is grossly overused in today's society, and the requirements are not only too low, they're flat out wrong. No actor, rock star, or baseball player is a hero. Being good at what you do does not make you a hero; doing good deeds doesn't make you a hero; making the sacrifices made by these law enforcement professionals (and their families) makes them REAL HEROES. Although I don't live in California, thank you to Officer Steiner and his loved ones for their sacrifice, and his service.

Michael J. Purser

April 26, 2004

Our thoughts and prayers to you and your family. Rest In Peace.

Brother in Blue
San Francisco Police Dept.

April 26, 2004

My deepest sympathies to the Steiner family and to the California Highway Patrol. Thank you for your hard work and courage. God Bless my brother, we now have the watch.

Officer Schrade
Veterans Affairs Police - NY

April 26, 2004

Ofc. Steiner,

You truly are a hero. Your brothers in blue could only wish to be as strong as you. My prayers are with you and your family and all the members of the California Highway Patrol. RIP.

Ofc. BM Damon
T/ Manlius PD, NY

April 26, 2004

My condolence goes out to the family,the men and women of the California Highway Patrol, and the friends of Officer Steiner. You all will be included in my prayers.

Trooper C.E. Johnson Jr
Virginia State Police

April 26, 2004

To the Steiner family and friends-
It is with a heavy heart that I offer my deepest sympathy
for your loss. What a sensless act of cowardice. I know the
grief, pain and frustration you must feel-I lost an officer I
loved a year ago. It changes your life but in time you will be a better person for the time spent with him.
I wish you love, strength and peace.

Anonymous

April 25, 2004

Brother, you will never be forgotten. May God watch over your family as
you watch over us.

Corporal John Halligan #8020
Philadelphia Police Dept.

April 25, 2004

May God bless this Officer, and the California Highway Patrol.

Trooper
New York State Police

April 25, 2004

there are no words that come to mind that explains what you meant to you family,friends,and fellow law enforcement brothers,and sisters except"hero". rest in peace bro

deputy sheriff
marion county sheriff office,fl

April 25, 2004

THERE IS A SILENT WAR GOING ON OVER HERE. THOSE WITH HONOR, INTEGRITY AND CHARACTER ARE BATTLING A TWISTED EVIL SUB CULTURE OF "GANGSTERS". THEY ARE PUNK COWARDS WHO'S TIME IS COMING. WE WILL TAKE THE FIGHT TO THEM. WE WILL DO THIS IN THE NAME OF JUSTICE. IT WILL FURIOUS AND OVERWHELMING. THEY WONT KNOW WHAT HIT THEM. WE WILL INTIMIDATE THOSE WHO INTIMIDATE SOCIETY. I AM ANGRY. ITS UP TO EACHONE OF USE WORKING THE STREETS. LETS HOOK THESE BUGGERS UP AND SEND THEM TO JAIL WHERE THEY BELONG. OFFICER STEINER, IM DEDICATING MY WORK WEEK TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

Anonymous

April 25, 2004