Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I met Eddie when we were going through FLETC in 1980. We used to hang out on weekends on St. Simons Island. He was the first officer down that I personally knew after I started on the job. Eddie wanted to be an ATF agent more than anything else in the world. He was destined for greatness in that job. He worked in Miami during the heydey of its narcotics trafficking violence, doing very dangerous undercover work.

Chief Inspector Rudy Friederich (Ret.)
U.S. Marshals Service

July 3, 2005

UNDERCOVER
No crisp uniform of honor did he wear
Nor golden badge of glory did his chest bear
Only troubling thoughts of money, guns and drugs
Fighting back the tears as he collected his nightly hugs

In this secret life he chose, he clearly was the best
But his uneasy path was much different then the rest
He knelt in prayer with his family at night
Before he quietly went out to carry on his fight

They kept a scrapbook of his many feats
But his true worth is not captured on these sheets
He knew that he was a soldier in a losing war
And his return to those who love him was unsure

His futile fight to save a city block by block
Resulted one night in that tragic knock
His friends sadly called upon his loving wife
With a tearful message of how he lost his life

One last time his brothers gave him praise
But only half way up Old Glory did they raise
And in the end the bugler played his solemn tune
With prayers that his soul will enter soon

God bless you, brave warrior!

Private citizen
U. S. A.

October 17, 2004

Eddie,

You were an outstanding ATF Agent, and a wonderful person . . . you gave your "all" protecting the citizens of Miami and the rest of the United States. You will always be remembered. I will always honor you, your name, service and mostly, for your sacrifice. With brotherly love and respect, Jim Crotty (Former Richmond, Virginia Policeman).

Special Agent Jim Crotty
ATF (SA, Retired)

February 28, 2004