Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Nature's first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold
Her early leaf's a flower
but only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf
So Eden sank to grief.
Dawn goes down today.
Nothing gold can stay.

- Robert Frost

Officer Laird, you will never be forgotten. Thank you for your sacrifice. May God Bless you.

Patrol Officer
East Whiteland Twp. Chester Co. PA

August 21, 2004

My sincere condolences to the Laird family and to Jake's co-workers at the IPD. May God bless and keep you all.

Dad of a IPD officer

August 21, 2004

God Speed to you brother. Our hearts go out to this fine officer's family, friends, and brothers/sisters in blue @ IPD.

God Bless you Jake!!

RD
GCSD

August 21, 2004

To the Indianapolis Police Department and to the family of Officer Timothy Laird:
We at the Amory Police Deapartment want to express our great sorrow over the loss of this officers life. He is a hero and will always be remembered as such. No words can help in this time of pain. Just know that our prayers are with your department and Officer Laird's family.

Dispatcher Beth Huhges
Amory Police Department Amory,MS

August 20, 2004

Job well done my good and faithful servant...God Bless you for your service to God, family and country. Your family is in our prayers.

PO Mineer
Chapel Hill PD

August 20, 2004

To all Family, Friends, and Co Workers of this Officer:

On Behalf of myself, and the Family of Police Officer Daniel Starks (Ft Myers Fl, E/O/W 10-25-03) we want you to know that you are all in our prayers! The Lord will sustain you as you go through this difficult, and trying time, but just remember your loved one is being cared for in Heaven, and is now eternally safe. We hope that you all remain as strong as possible, and know that we are all thinking of you. No words are quite ever adequate, but Police Officers make the ultimate sacrifice everyday, and our hope, and prayer is that they will always be remembered for their heroic efforts, and kind hearts.
Blessings Always,
Jessica Ruhl (Daniel’s Fiancée) & the Family of Officer Daniel Starks

August 20, 2004

Rest easy brother Laird. Its time for you to go 10-41 on heavens streets.

August 20, 2004

To the family of Officer Laird -
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. May God give you the strenght and support and anything else you might need. Our sincere sympathies.

Officer Kristine Miller
Jonestown PD, Jonestown TX

August 20, 2004

May GOD bless your family and friends at this time. Thank you for your service and dedication. Rest in peace, Sir.

Shirley Roberts
Aunt of Fallen Officer John Logan EOW-March 14, 2004

August 20, 2004

The policeman stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining.
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, policeman.
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My church have you been true?"
The policeman squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't,
Because those of us who carry badges
can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays,
and at times my talk was rough,
and sometimes I've been violent,
Because the streets are awfully tough.
But I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep....
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fear.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't.....I'll understand.
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod.
As the policeman waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, policeman,
You've borne your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in hell."

P.O. Andrew
Chicago PD

August 20, 2004

JUST REMEBER ONE THING. IF I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE, AND I ASKED YOU TO REPEAT, IT'S NOT BEING UGLY OR ANYTHING IN BETWEN. i'M GIVEN cpr infant, or things in between. I'm trying to listen and hear all I cannot see.

911
Randolph County NC

August 20, 2004

Dear Family,

My heart aches for you. I am so sorry for your loss. Having experienced my own beloved husbands Line of Duty Death in December 2003, I sadly can only somewhat imagine the depth of your pain. I have no real words of wisdom. One piece of advice I received early in my time of trouble was to "breath". It's easy to forget to-when you hurt this bad, you hold your breath. Also, lean on the COPS members. I had never heard of this group before 8 months ago. They told me then that they would never leave me and nearly nine months later they are still here. They are wonderful. They are in your corner. Please know that I hurt for you and cry with you. I also pray that Christ will give you comfort, as only He can. I'm so sorry that you have to suffer this way.

Mrs. Debbie Clapp
wife of New Richmond Town Marshal R. Mark Clapp
(My Markie)
EOW 12-5-2003

Debbie Clapp

August 20, 2004

Rest easy brother, The watch is ours now.

Officer
Atlanta Police

August 20, 2004

Rest in peace brother. We will never forget you out here. you touched peoples lives in many ways and we thankyou for paying the ultimate price for your brothers and sisters in blue. Semper fi.......

Ofc.
Indianapolis Police Park rangers

August 20, 2004

To the entire police family and family of Officer Laird I am so very sorry that each of you have to go through this. Please know that even those of us that did not know Officer Laird we will pray for him and we are grieving with all of you for the tragic and senseless loss. Peace be with each of you.

Grand Prairie PD, Texas

August 20, 2004

MAY THE REAL POLICE CHIEF, ALL MIGHTY GOD HIMSELF BLESS THIS OFFICER HE HAS CHOSEN TO WORK AND SERVE FOR HIM IN THE HEAVENS ABOVE. TO THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF THIS OFFICER TIMOTHY LAIRD OUR HEART AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO YOU!

DONNIE MILLER SWAT DIVISION
SAN ANTONIO POLICE

August 20, 2004

We all mourn your sacrifice. Our thoughts and prayers are with Tim, his family and his friends. God Bless.

Police Officer
Chicago Police

August 20, 2004

Pride Integrity and Guts

Some of you may know my face, but not my name. Most of you have seen me around the city and some have even met me, but not always under the best of circumstances. Some of you have even spoken to me on the phone, when you called me while I was working.

Most of you have an opinion on how my job should be done, but would never take my job if it was the last one on earth. And some of you who don't even know me, hate me because of my job. But when I go to my job, I go to make a difference and so I can fight what everyone else fears.

When most would be running away from danger, my job requires me to run towards it. I do this in the hopes of making a difference for someone else I don't even know. Most people say I make too much money, because my pay is published in the newspaper. But don't think twice about hearing about another sports player sign a 20 million dollar contract for 6 months a year of playing a "game."

Since my job's base pay isn't the best I must work extra to pay the bills. Including working extra shifts on holidays, and pick up side work at construction sites as well on my days off, most still complain thinking I am greedy, but don't they realize that I to must pay taxes, have a mortgage car payments and kids in collage as well?

Don't they understand that I am not paid for what I do, but for what I am willing to do for them? After all how can you properly compensate someone to risk their own life and face danger everyday they go to work?

And when I go to work I am punched, kicked, spit on and called every name in the book for doing my job. And every night I leave my house to go to work I realize I may not come back home in the morning. Because when I go to work I can be stabbed, shot, drown, fall, be electrocuted, or die in a car accident rushing to help you.

My job also requires me to carry special "tools" to help me do my job. Sometimes even while doing my job I have to defend myself from someone attacking me. Although, the newspapers will report to you that I "beat someone down", and not that I defended myself from an attack.

While at work I must also carry a gun to protect you, but should I have to use it, the media reports to you that I "gunned someone down" or that I "shot and killed" somebody, and not that I defended myself. Don't they realize that I shoot to live and never to kill?

Also when I go to work I wrap a protective vest around me to help keep me safe through my shift. I use this vest so that I will be allowed to live to the end of my work day. And hope and pray that should something bad happen that this vest helps keep me alive so that I will be allowed to see my children grow.

When I go to my job, I will see more pain, sorrow, agony, death and destruction in one month than most of you will see in an entire lifetime.


And to the ones who don't know me, I unforunetly will meet most of you at the worst times in your life.

You often will call me to come help you out with a problem. But if you have a really big problem you can get me at a special 3 digit number and me and my coworkers will race to your house, just to help you no questions asked. All you have to do is call and we will be there for you, no matter what time, day, night or holiday, rain shine or blizzard.

Sometimes my job also requires me to deliver lectures, babies and even bad news. I am also the one required to ring your doorbell in the middle of the night, swallow hard and advise you that a loved one will not be coming home tonight, then I spend the rest of my shift wondering why I ever took such a job.

Some people even refer to me as a "pig," but when I hear that word called to me or one of my coworkers I think of Pride, Integrity and Guts, which everyone in my profession needs to do this job.

Me and my coworkers must be able to have muscles of steel, have a sense of humor and put ourselves into dangerous situations and face danger head on all in a days work.

We must act in a second and make a decision in the blink of an eye, and spend the rest of our life hoping we made the right choice in that split second. If not we can be arrested and charged with breaking a law, be sued for violating someone's rights, or end up with even a worse fate.

My job requires me to take an oath to be their and to risk my life to protect you. And it is an oath that me and my fellow coworkers have taken and is one that we will not break.

What, you ask is my job, I am your local police officer. And what do I ask in return of doing all this and risking my life for you, nothing at all because it is my job and my hope, of being the one who makes the difference.

Officer David Carroll
Oklahoma

August 20, 2004

God bless you for making the ultimate sacrifice. You are a true hero.

US Department of Veterans Affairs Police

August 20, 2004

It saddened us deeply to see that another young officer has made the ultimate sacrifice. We offer our deepest sympathies to the family and fellow officers at this difficult time. Rest easy brother your with God now since he has a special place for fallen hero's.

3rd shift Jail Division
Kosciusko Co. Sheriff Department

August 20, 2004

THANKS FOR ALL YOU DID FOR OUR COMMUNITY.MAY GOD WATCH OVER YOUR WIFE, DAUGHTER AND FAMILY

DET/SGT BANDY
MARION COUNTY

August 20, 2004

DAY IS DONE,
GONE THE SUN,
FROM THE HILLS, FROM THE LAKE, FROM THE SKIES.
ALL IS WELL, SAFELY REST,
GOD IS NIGH.

GO TO SLEEP, PEACEFUL SLEEP,
MAY THE SOLDIER OR SAILOR, GOD KEEP.
ON THE LAND OR THE DEEP,
SAFE IN SLEEP.

LOVE, GOOD NIGHT,
MUST THOU GO,
WHEN THE DAY, AND THE NIGHT NEED THEE SO?
ALL IS WELL. SPEEDETH ALL
TO THEIR REST.

FADES THE LIGHT;
AND AFAR
GOETH DAY, AND THE STARS SHINETH BRIGHT,
FARE THEE WELL; DAY IS GONE,
NIGHT IS ON.

THANKS AND PRAISE,
FOR OUR DAYS,
'NEATH THE SUN, 'NEATH THE STARS, 'NEATH THE SKY,
AS WE GO, THIS WE KNOW,
GOD IS NIGH.

A Brother In Blue

Anonymous

Detective Troy S. Pilivi
Box Elder Narcotics Strike Force

August 20, 2004

Blessed are they that mourn. May god continue to comfort the family of jake and all the men and women of law enforcement.

PTL
INDIANAPOLIS POLICE DEPARTMENT

August 20, 2004

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his family and friends. May God bless you and your family Officer Laird.

Sergeant Travis E. Hueston
Sweetser Police Department

August 20, 2004

“REMEMBER ME”
Law enforcement officers are, indeed, a special breed of people. Ask anyone on the street and they will tell you that they would not have our jobs for anything in the world. It takes something special to do what we do and at the same time be able to even contemplate retirement. We try to be optimists. Unfortunately, there are a few of us who will never make that date with retirement. By the very nature of our job, we are at risk everyday of losing our lives, either at the hand of some deranged individual or in some other situation that we, by virtue of our occupation, may be unable to avoid. Some people have recognized the hazardous duties we involve ourselves in, the risks we take, and the pride we take in accomplishing that job. There is National Law Enforcement Week, dedicated to us who gladly accept the responsibility of protecting the citizens in our respective jurisdictions. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Day is dedicated to those who gave their lives in the line of duty. These are but a two examples of remembrances specifically for law enforcement personnel. Remembrances that come but once a year. We should remind fellow officers of another type of remembrance, one that will last a lifetime. Sooner or later, a doctor will pronounce us dead. It is inevitable. Regardless of whatever happens, death is the end we will all have to face.
“IT IS IN DEATH THAT WE CAN LIVE FOREVER”
This was written by an unknown author.

Jim Moore
New Orleans PD, Retired

August 20, 2004