Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Dear Ward family and friends,

I am sorry to hear about your loss. Please take some comfort in two verses from the Bible: "Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted." Matt. 5:4 and "Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the Children of God." Matt. 5:9. God Bless.

Ofc. Mike Snyder
Coral Springs PD, Florida

July 6, 2004

May the memory of your service, heroism and sacrifice remain forever. We are proud of you and thankful for all of your service. May God bless you, your family and brother/sister officers in Allegany County Sheriff's Office.

Trooper
Pennsylvania State Police

July 6, 2004

My thoughts and prayers go out to Deputy Wards Family. I met his wife and daughter only once recently and found they too are very special people. In the short vist with his wife, you could see the love and how proud she was of her husband. Now he has given the ultimate sacrifice so others and his family may be safe. He will never be forgotten.

Reserve Deputy Wally Summers
Victoria County Sheriffs Office

July 6, 2004

To the family of Deputy Ward, his friends, coworkers and citizens of Allegany County, my deepest simpathy. May God bless you with His peace, grace and mercy to help you get through this terrible time.

To Deputy Ward, rest in peace.

"Well done, good and faithful servant!... Come and share your master's happiness." MATTHEW 25:21

Rosa Waters
Mother of Michael Waters
EOW: September 11, 2003

July 6, 2004

To Deputy Ward, Family and Friends. My prayers and thoughts are with you. May your love one rest in peace. May God give you the strength to face the difficult days ahead.
Donna Jones
Mother of Officer Ron Jones
EOW 12/26/01

July 6, 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

July 6, 2004

To the wife, friends and coworkers, and escially the litte girl left behind. I would like to offer my deepest sympathy to you all. No words can make the pain go away, some may help mask it, so at best this is what I will try. As we contiue to move on with out Deputy Bill Davis EOW 11-03-03, from our department, I feel safer going to calls or driving around in a blizzard. This all because of Bill, Derek, and all of the ones that have gone on before us. To the little girl left behind may you know that your father did not die in vain, but he died a hero, providing safety and security to the people of Allegany County. To Derek's wife may you be able to move on and always keep the little girl's daddy alive in her and when she is older explain it all to her so she will know that he died a hero. Again my deepest Sympathy to you all. Troy Wellman

Deputy Sheriff Troy Wellman
Moody County Sheriffs Office Flandreau, SD

July 6, 2004

My family would like to extend our condolences the family, friends, & fellow co-workers of Deputy Sheriff Derek Ward. May God watch over all the brave men & women in law enforcement. You're all in our thoughts & prayers.

Gail M Pabst
Aunt of fallen Detroit P.O. Jennifer Fettig eow 2-16-04

July 5, 2004

May God bless you and your family.


Of. D. Sewell
Baltimore County Police Pc09

Police Officer First Class
Baltimore County Police COT Unit

July 5, 2004

Thank you for your service sir.

Shannon
concerned citizen

July 5, 2004

Derek, you were to young brother!! I know that the Lord has a plan for us all but you and I are the same age. The hours that we spend out here on the road, we all know that anything can happen. I want to tell you that I appreciate the years that you gave. Rest in peace buddy and I will be up there to join you one day... My prayers are with your family... Well Done Brother....Thank You

Sergeant Britt Godsey
Amory Police Department

July 5, 2004

To Deputy Ward 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

July 5, 2004

Rest in peace my brother in blue. We'll take it from here.

Police Officer
North Carolina

July 5, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Sheriff Ward's wife, child, family, friends and co-workers. My children were 4 and 6 when my husband was killed and it was so hard. But may she always know that her father will be watching over her. I pray for Mrs. Ward as she journeys this new life that has been handed to you. Psalm 55:22

Denise Nichols - surviving spouse
Alabama State Trooper Brian Nichols EOW 2/17/2002

July 5, 2004

Rest in peace knowing that you did a Job Well Done......

1942

July 5, 2004

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

Deputy Sheriff
Butte County Sheriff's Officer

July 5, 2004

Our deepest sympathy to the family of Deputy Sheriff Derek Ward and the Allegany County Sheriff's Department... our hearts and prayers are with you all...... Thank you for a job well done Derek... rest in peace as you continue your watch from the heavens......your memory will never be forgotten...

God Bless....Be Safe..... and wear your vests...

Vin, Pook and all of us at beyond-the-blue

Vinman and Pooky -Site Owners
beyond-the-blue

July 5, 2004

My fiance, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. July 3rd marks the 18 month anniversary of his passing. Dennis died doing a job he loved, just as I'm sure Derek did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Derek 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 Ward's family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. My heart goes out to you all. 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 Derek 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 Derek 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)
Fiancee of Deputy Sheriff Dennis Ray McElderry - EOW (01/03/03)

July 5, 2004

We share in your sorrow. We too lost a member of our police family. He also was a family man leaving behind several children and a grieving wife. Our lifes are a little emptier without them but much fuller from knowing them.

Officer Andrea J. Nolan
Baltimore City Police Department

July 4, 2004

MAY GOD BLESS DEP.WARDS FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND COWORKERS DURING THIS TRAGIC TIME IN THIER LIVES. MAY GOD ALSO BLESS THIS GREAT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND MAY HE REST IN PEACE. A HERO FOR SURE. YOU SERVED WELL MY BROTHER.

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

July 4, 2004

My thoughts and prayers are with the Allegany County law enforcement community and the family of Deputy Ward.Rest in peace brother.

Texas Peace Officer
University of Houston Downtown Law Enforcement Academy Class 89

July 4, 2004

TO: The family; loved ones, friends and department members: A POLICE OFFICER'S PRAYER: O, gentle Lord! Keep the day night watch with me. As I begin my tour of duty, I ask your protection from all mental, physical and spiritual harm. Sustain me with the knowledge that I am doing your work, endeavoring to keep peace among your people. May I be courageous but not reckless in carrying out my duties. Let me respond to all calls with haste realizing that so many are dependent on me for life and safety. Support me with your consoling power when I am tempted to think no one really cares and that I am taken for granted. Sustain in me the conviction that so many thousands do care and are grateful for my presence. Grant that I may be loyal to my partner and my fellow officers,and that I may back them up effectively when called upon for assistance. Lord,I ask that I may return safely, after my tour of duty,to my loved ones and those who love me. I pray that I may be a good and honorable police officer; and after my tour of duty is over here on earth, may I enjoy the peace and happiness of heaven that you have promised to those who serve you well. AMEN.
***REST IN PEACE*** Sent to you by the father of First Class Officer J.D.Koeppen, Capital City Raleigh NC,
Trooper D.C.Koeppen, N.J.State Police, and
Cadet Officer A.M.Koeppen, Wilmington NC.

Chief (retired) Douglas A. Koeppen
Washington New Jersey

July 4, 2004

On behalf of the men and women who serve and work for the Georgia Perimeter College Police Department, our thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Derek Ward's family, friends, and co-workers with the Allegany County Sheriff's Department.

God bless our brother in blue. Rest in peace the watch is now ours.

Officer Johns
Georgia Perimeter College Police Department

July 4, 2004

To the family and friends of Deputy Ward, may God provide comfort and understanding to you all in this time of need. Deputy Ward, you will not be forgotten, hero's live forever!

Deputy A. Guerrero
Sangamon Coutny Sheriff's Office,IL

July 4, 2004

Dep. Ward, My prayers are with you, your family and your department. No one will ever forget your sacrifice. Rest Easy Brother !

Dep. Paul Sperandeo
JEfferson Parish Sheriffs Office, La.

July 4, 2004