Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

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. Help me to be just as I enforce the law without prejudice or favor to anyone. 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 that 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 Master Officer J.D.Koeppen, Capital City Raleigh NC; Trooper D.C. Koeppen, NJ State Police and Cadet Officer A.M. Koeppen Wilmington N.C.

Chief ( retired) Douglas A. Koeppen
Washington New Jersey

August 17, 2004

MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND LET HIM GRANT YOU THE STRENGTH TO KEEP HIS MEMORIES ALIVE FOR ALL

911 DISPATCHER, ERICA TOLSON
GARRARD/LANCASTER 911

August 16, 2004

Walk your beat in Heaven my brother.
We will take care of things down here. I'll see you when my turn comes.

Until then, please keep watch over us all. You were a beautiful person and will be missed.

Sgt C Stewart #156
River Oaks Police Department

August 15, 2004

Officer Laurie I never knew you. But from what the other officers have to say about you I felt like I know you. Thank you for Protecting and Serving those that cannot and keeping things inline for those that can't.

My thoughts and prayers are for your family and your family in Blue at River Oaks. GODSPEED!!!!

For Officer Rios I pray for a fast recovery

Aaron Marquez Firefighter/EMT
Whitesettlement FD (Tx) Ex River Oaks Firefighter

August 14, 2004

IAM GLAD THAT I CAN SAY THAT I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO WORK WITH YOU FOR THE TOO SHORT OF TIME THAT YOU WERE A POLICE OFFICER IN RIVER OAKS. NATHAN YOU WERE THE TYPE OF OFFICER THAT WE WERE GLAD GOD LEAD YOU DOWN THE PATH OF BECOMING A POLICE OFFICER INSTEAD OF A BAD GUY. NATHAN YOU WERE SO FULL OF DETERMINATION WHEN IT CAME TO POLICE WORK, I REMEMBER THE NIGHT I WAS ASSISTING YOU ON A TRAFFIC STOP, YOU WERE SO SURE THAT THERE WAS DRUGS INSIDE THE VEHICLE THAT THE STOP AND THE CONSENT TO SEARCH TOOK AN HOUR AND A HALF WITH YOU ONLY ISSUEING A CLASS C CITATION AND YOUR REPLY WAS "I GET-UM NEXT TIME". NATHAN I WILL NEVER FORGET THE GOOD TIMES WE HAD ON THE STREET TOGETHER YOU ARE REALLY GOING TO BE MISSED AROUND HERE BUT WE ALL KNOW THAT YOU ARE PATROLING THE STREETS OF HEAVEN NOW.
TO ALL OF US STILL PATROLING THE STREETS ON EARTH CAN WE SAY FOR SURE THAT IF WE WERE TO LOOSE OUR LIFE TODAY THAT WE WOULD BE PATROLING THE STREETS OF HEAVEN WITH NATHAN AND ALL OUR OTHER BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN BLUE THAT HAVE GONE BEFORE US. IF WE ARE NOT 100% SURE THEN TAKE THIS PRAYER, PRAY TO JESUS FROM THE HEART AND LIVE BY IT SO WE CAN ALL PATROL THE STREETS OF HEAVEN TOGETHER ONE DAY. " LORD JESUS, I KNOW I AM A SINNER AND HAVE DISPLEASED YOU IN MANY WAYS. I BELIEVE YOU DIED FOR MY SIN AND ONLY THROUGH FAITH IN YOUR DEATH AND RESURRECTION CAN I BE FORGIVEN.
I WANT TO TURN FROM MY SIN AND ASK YOU TO COME INTO MY LIFE AS MY SAVIOR AND LORD. FROM THIS DAY ON, I WILL FOLLOW YOU BY LIVING A LIFE THAT PLEASES YOU. THANK YOU, LORD JESUS FOR SAVING ME. AMEN
NATHAN, UNTIL WE PATROL TOGETHER AGAIN ON THE STREETS OF HEAVEN REST IN PEACE MY BROTHER IN BLUE.

OFFICER T.C. WILLIAMS #131
RIVER OAKS POLICE DEPT. TEXAS

August 13, 2004

Rest in Peace my Brother
Fallen But Never Forgotten

(patrol) Jason Bell
River Oaks PD (TX)

August 11, 2004

Thank you for your service.

Ofc. S.L. Coffman #15174
CHP

August 11, 2004

To the family of Officer Nathan Laurie..I think of you daily, and wonder how you are doing, and say a prayer for you.
To the River Oaks Officers...my thoughts to you also that the void be filled with good memories of Officer Nathan Laurie and a job "Well Done" Also healing thoughts to Officer Jesse Rios who was also injured.

Brenda /Mother of Texas Officer Jason Be
Crowder,Okla

August 10, 2004

I stop by this website often after the death of two dear friends with the NCSHP (Troopers Calvin Taylor E.O.W. October 3, 2001 and Anthony Cogdill E.O.W. May 30, 2003).
Unfortunately, I had to add the name of another friend. Deputy Jeffrey Hewitt, Buncombe County (NC) Sheriff’s Department, E.O.W. April 4, 2004.

We all grieve over the lives lost in the line of duty. I hope you can find some comfort knowing that there are countless prayers that go out for your family.

These are senseless tragedies that never seem to stop. God Bless the men and women who continue to serve their communities in our great Nation.

...Gone, but never Forgotten....

Marti Ingle, Firefighter/Paramedic
Haywood Co EMS (NC)

August 9, 2004

My preys go out Officer Nathan Laurie’s family and friends, and also to the officers of the River Oaks police department. I had the privilege to meet Officer Laurie when he helped train our police academy class. His words and wisdom that he shared with our class will never be forgotten.

A. Johnson
BCAPS #169

August 9, 2004

Nathan,
July 12, 2004, I had the honor of meeting you and working with you as we trained new recruits. I could tell from the moment that we met that you had a passion for this job.

I know you had a positive effect on those that you trained as well as the fellow officers that you worked with.

I remember your smile as well as your comments after I got hurt. I still laugh about it now. I know that you are watching over all of us now and protecting us from above. May god bless you, your family and may you rest in peace. Your True Watch has just begun!!!

Tom Wolf
DFW Airport Department of Public Safety

August 8, 2004

Nathan,

On July 12, 2004, I had the pleasure to meet and work with you while training new recruits at the police academy.

We shared our stories and as well as ourexperiences while

Tom Wolf
DFW Airport Department of Public Safety

August 8, 2004

Officer Laurie,

My prayers are with your family and the River Oaks Police Department. GODSPEED to you my Brother...Rest in Peace, we will take it from here.. Never forgotten..

Officer
NC

August 7, 2004

To the family and friends of Officer Laurie, and members of the River Oaks Police Department, I wish to send my condolences to you on behalf of the Clark County Washington Sheriff’s Office. All of you will be in my prayers. Rest peacefully my brother, you are a hero and will never be forgotten.

Detective Tim Hockett
Clark County Sheriff's Office

August 6, 2004

Rest easy brother, The watch is ours now.

Officer
Atlanta Police

August 6, 2004

The men and women of the El Paso County Sheriff's Office would like to send our condolences to the family of Officer Laurie. Brother may you rest in peace and watch over us! I was in River Oaks on July 23, 2004 and saw officer Laurie patroling his beat, while visiting family in nearby Fort Worth,TX. I wish I could have stopped and talked with him. God Bless You!

Deputy Carlos A Molinar
El Paso County Sheriff's Office

August 6, 2004

Rest easy brother, you've earned it.

Officer
Grand Prairie PD

August 6, 2004

We lost a brother, a good friend, six months ago, and we share your grief and loss. Our prayers are with your agency and Officer Laurie's family. "Rest Easy, Brother...We have the watch now...."

Deputy Sheriff
Marion County Sheriff's Office

August 6, 2004

May God bless and comfort Nathan's family, both at home and his extended family at the Department. He will never be forgotten.

Kellye Snyder, Dispatcher
White Settlement Police Department

August 5, 2004

Officer Nathan Laurie was called to heavans gate July 29, 2004. Nathan was my husband's biological father, but he was nothing less than a father to me. I wrote a poem for my dad and shared it with those who attended his funeral. I would like to share you now:

He went to work on a Wednesday night
not knowing that soon he would take flight
Pressed uniforn, shining shoes, badge and gun
God is watching saying "soon my son"
We lost a hero thursday morning
his name was Officer Nathan Laurie
to some is was Nate, to some it was dad
brother, friend, uncle, and even grandad
He was a loving man who made us laugh
He loved being a cop and kicking ass
We all will hurt for so very long
for his impact on people was so strong
If you had the privalege to meet him, you will never forget
even if he was just citing you a ticket
God put him here for a reason, we dont know why
but he did his job, now its time for wings to fly
To me he was the best father in law a girl could have
I loved you so much, you were my dad
Your smirk, your laugh, and even your temper
all of this I will remember
Most of all your love I will miss
and especially you calling me sis
I thank god that i have you in my life
I will be sure to look after your kids and wife
I know I will see and talk to you again
and we will be together in that big white mansion

I Love you dad and miss you terribly -Sue "honored to be" Laurie

Sue Laurie

August 4, 2004

Thank you Brother for your dedication and sacrifice above and beyond. You have been faithful to your calling. Be assured your loved ones are never alone for we are but a phone call away.

Bob Johnson VA-VI

Bob Johnson U.S. Marshal's (Ret'd.)
Blue Knights International Police Assn.

August 4, 2004

We are truly saddened at Nate'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.
---------------------------------------
Our prayers will be with you, your family, and co-workers!

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

August 4, 2004

May the pain of your loss be comforted with your faith. May time turn your tears and hurt of the heart filled with loving memories. God Bless you all.

Teresa Goss
ShaDco, Jacksonville, Fl

August 4, 2004

Maybe God Bless you and your family. Thank you for giving the ultimate sacrifice.

TCO DEBBIE MORGAN
Md Transportation Authority

August 4, 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

August 4, 2004