Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

John,
for some reson you have been on my mind recently, not that you have really left. It seem that my calls have taken me by the accident scene much too often. We all miss you and wish that in some way we could have changed things, but that was not in the card. The entire watch has a special bond that and have become close. We now have something in common. We all lost a friend that night so long ago. But, don't worry about us, KT is keeping us in check.

I can't wait until we all are sitting and waiting for the last of us to leave earth so that we can have that shift party we always talked about.

10-8
Serge

Sergeant Harry W. Dixon
Washoe County Sheriff's Office

March 27, 2006

Uncle John,
I miss being able to hear the sound of your laughter. You always knew how to make some one smile and laugh. Now that your gone I feel a part of me has been ripped out. Dad is the only amigo left of the three of you. I only hope that I can bring as much joy to the world as you did. I love you and I will see you on the other side. Love your nephew Tone.

Tone

January 7, 2006

i miss you so, life isnt the same but i move on the best and i take you with me. i wake up somedays and feel like you are not really gone, almost as if i want to call you but cant remember your number.Than i realize that you are gone and i dont have to call you to let you know, because you are already there. Being in the air force at times can get lonley being so far away from home...but i am really never lonley you are there always. you will be there for me always...untill we meet again soon...love you always....never forget you

Amn Scharsch
usaf

December 28, 2005

i love you and miss you and think of you everyday. I was thinking about you the other day when i was with my friends at this country bar in texas. they had kareoke night and i sang 'friends in low places'and i wanted so bad to call you, but i had to realize that it cant happen. It seriously feels like just yesterday i got the call. my life isnt the same, but i know that keeping you with me my life will go on eventhough it is hard.I know that you would want me to do that.I miss you so much and i will never forget all the things you taught me, and especially all the times you made me laugh. Love you always

AB Scharsch

October 16, 2005

Uncle John
i just wanted you to know that i made it through basic and i have you to thank for that. Every night before lights out 'Taps' would play and i would think of you. hoping that i would make you proud. during the airmans run, and retreat i told myself that it is dedicated to. when i was marching past everyone we love i marched alittle prouder beacause of you and when i thought that i might not make it i had your star in my pocket and your hand on my shoulder. i know you were there for me when i needed you the most and i know that wherever the path takes me you will always be right there. I would like you to know that i love you so much and know that you may have left this world, but it hasnt gone unnoticed. they say that the military gives you a new respect for the flag, and freedom. But i would have to say that i was taught all of those values by the greatest man that i have ever known. I hope that i can coninue to make you proud. I love you forever. Thank you for giving me so much.

AB Scharsch katherine
Air Force

September 6, 2005

Dear Carol Jean,
Next weekend is siblings weekend. I hope I will see you there. I have tried to contact you several times since Washington. I hope you and your family are doing well!

Andrea Lomas Sister of NJ State Trooper

September 3, 2005

I had the priviledge of meeting Deputy Sheriff's sister Carol Jean at National Police Week in D.C. last week. The love you gave your family is so alive. I lost my brother Officer Matt Rittenhouse in September 2004 and the thoughts and feelings shared by your sister were so familiar. We have so many stories and lifelong memories to sustain us as we work to move along in life with our families. The road is difficult but made easier by the love we continue to feel from our beloved brothers. Thank you for sharing your family...and thank you for your service.
[email protected]

Jenny Rittenhouse-Guinn

May 20, 2005

Wow.........It's been a year since you left us. We had the local memorial and you were added to the Hoff Wall here. I just saw the news and Pres. Bush just honored you at the national monument. I was working the north district before and I looked at your grave everytime I passed (at least 20 times a day) because I could see it from the road. As I passed, I always tapped my hand on my heart and saluted my friend and brother. I'm working the south district now, and I don't get up to pass you as much, but I know you are watching over us...Take care, and keep us all safe.....Your friend, Steve

Officer Steve Mussell
Reno Police Dept.

May 18, 2005

Mr. Wiberg,

I met your sister and some of your family this past week at the National Police Week ceremonies in D.C. and by the words and emotions expressed by your family, especially your sister Carol Jean, I can see what a life you led. Thank you for your service, for your love of family that is evident through the memories carried on and for the ultimate sacrifice given. You are a true hero and your family is fortunate to have been given you and you them. God bless you Carol Jean. Your brother will not be forgotten.
Love,
Jessica Rittenhouse-Miller

May 17, 2005

God Bless You and Your Family Deputy John...You and Your Family will never be forgotten.. Till we all meet in heaven..

DB
Calif Hwy Patrol.. Ret

May 11, 2005

Dearest John,
You were a wonderful man, father and husband. You are greatly missed by both your family and friends. Please be assured that your wife and daughters are being taken care of by your family and friends. I have never seen a bond so strong between a family. The love is greater than ever before. Be assured that your children miss you greatly, and your wife talks of you and the wonderful memories that you have shared! You are loved and missed by all! Please watch over us and keep us all safe!

With Love and Respect! An anonymous friend and loved one!

April 29, 2005

Hey daddy,
I cant believe that your gone.
I know that you wernt my real dad but to me you were.
I love you and miss you
see you later.
Love you!

Leysa Wiberg

April 26, 2005

Dear John-John,
I cant believe your really gone and here I stand so proud of you as my heart breaks but I promise myself I would stand tall (cowgirl up). I will miss you. My little brother who always looked out for is big sister. We sure did enjoy life. You have a beautiful family and I will continue to play,love,laugh and grow with them. I will tell them all our childhood stories. I will look out for our parents. You have honored us all cowboy always putting others first was always in your nature.It was a job well done see you heaven

Carol Jean Wiberg-Schmidt
your loving sister

March 8, 2005

We are truly saddened at John's loss.
--------------------------------------
We all recall you gave your best.
You did your job, now you can rest.
Your comrades now can cover your post
as you take your place with the Heavenly Host.

God Bless Our Fallen Brothers & Sisters.
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Our prayers will be with you, your family, and co-workers!

Ptlm. P.K. Harding
Binghamton (NY) P.D.

June 11, 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 John did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and John be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Deputy Wiberg'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 John 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 John was well respected and well loved.

Thank you Deputy Wiberg 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)
Fiancee of Deputy Sheriff Dennis Ray McElderry, Davis Co. Iowa - EOW (

June 7, 2004

Please remember the fallen officers we have lost. Remember the men and women who died trying to make this world a safer and better place for us all to live in. Thank you Deputy Wiberg for a job well done. Please continue to watch over us and protect us as only you can. You will forever be at our side and in our hearts.

For those of you who still have loved ones with us please take the time to tell them how much you appreciate and care about them.

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

June 6, 2004

Uncle John, there are no words on how much my heart hurts because you are not here. i reflect on the past and smile and laugh at all the good times that we had. Which was everytime i was around you. Ever since i was a kid there was nothing you wouldn't do for me, keith, and kristine. It wouldn't matter if i was sitting the bench at a softball game, you would come down to see me.I didn't see it then but i realize now you were so proud of everything that i accomplsihed no matter how little, in this day in age that is a rare. I keep thinking of when it was only my mom and you would come down and vist i would always cry when you would go back home. even when i got older and we would leave the family reunions i would cry and wave as you would follow us down the highway until you took your exit home.funny how the little things mean so much. I will never forget you Uncle John, you are too hard to forget and so easy to remember. When ever i get down i will remeber "Look At Me" and laugh. The future as uncertain as it may be, and how painful it is without you in it. I know that you would want me to do my part in taking care of the girls, and i will. You will be there when we accomplish big and little things in the future. beaming with pride as you sit on a cloud watching over the ones you love. I love you so much Uncle John, untill we meet again. Take care

katherine scharsch

May 27, 2004

Keep an eye over us John, you will never be forgotten.

Sergeant John Franz
Sparks Police Department

May 26, 2004

Johnny, Thank you for being my cousin. I looked up to you for your beliefs, your family values, and for your love of life. I never could have thought that you had touched so many lives until what I saw this past week. You have made the family proud. To your wife and your daughters, we love you and will be there for all of you. I love you John John and will miss you. Keep the horseshoes ready for when we see each other again.

Carl T. Wiberg

May 22, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with Deputy John Wiberg's family, friends and co-workers.
Thank you for protecting us.
Rest in peace.

Las Vegas Fire Department

May 21, 2004

To Deputy Wilberg family and friends our hearts and prayers go out to you.

God Bless you

terry miyares, surviving spouse
Officer Emilio Miyares, Hialeah PD< Fl 11/6/86

May 18, 2004

To the wife, daughter's, family, friends and coworkers of Deputy Wiberg my heart and prayers are with you all. To the girls of this fine deputy remember always what a true HERO your dad is. Rest in peace Deputy Wiberg and thank you for a job well done.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee D. Azure
EOW 08/06/02

May 18, 2004

John, although our paths crossed only once, I know how proud you are of your family today. My prayers are with you, and your family as the process of healing takes place. I witnessed how special you were to so many as my Honor Guard Unit participated in your good bye. Bless you John, and hold the high watch until we can join you.

Detective Jay Brown
Reno Police Department

May 17, 2004

Thank you for your service.

Ofc. S.L. Coffman #15174
California Highway Patrol

May 17, 2004

“When God made Peace Officers….”

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 their uniform.

They have 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.

They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half- eaten meals. And they have 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 the 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 they already know and wishes they had taken that accounting job.) Another pair here in the side of their head for their partners’ safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, “ You’ll be alright ma’am, when they know it isn’t so.”

“Lord,” said the angel, touching his sleeve,” rest and work 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 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 elements of a hundred crimes, recite Miranda warnings in it’s sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five judges to debate the legality of the stop…and still it keeps it’s sense of humor.

This officer also has phenomenal personal control. They 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, and for justice.”

“You’re a genius,” said the angel.

The Lord looked sober. “I didn’t put it there,” he said.


Anonymous

Senior Instructor
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

May 17, 2004