Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

My thoughts are with the family and friend's of a brave man who was doing his job.

Police Constable
Metropolitan Police-london

August 21, 2004

My prayer are with the family,friends, and co-workers of Detective Fatta.

Trooper C.E. Johnson Jr.
Virginia State Police

August 21, 2004

I did not know you personally but. "You are my Brother" and it hurts, Perhaps I saw you in training or in class. "you are my Brother" and it hurts.May you rest in Peace my Brother in "Eternal Life" in Heaven, where you go for giving the "ultimate sacrifice". May your loved ones Family and friends and co-workers have comfort in that.May God bless you and watch over you, till we meet again. For "You are my Brother"

Deputy Sheriff Jacob Bonn
Broward County Sheriff's Office Florida

August 21, 2004

My heart goes out to your fellow officers, you family and your friends. Thank you you for a job well done. Rest, my brother.

Alumni Member
Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad, Maryland

August 21, 2004

You GAVE your life everyday putting on the badge and gun. Now your life has been TAKEN. Rest assured it was not in vain. The innocent, the children of this world we live in, do thank you. You did make a difference. Your work will continue in each day I put on my badge and gun.
God Bless.....Good and Faithful Servant.

Deputy
Citrus County Sheriff's Office, Florida

August 20, 2004

I express my sincere sorrow for the loss of this officer and for the grief his family will endure because of his death. He is a brave man and will always be remembered as passing with honor while doing what he loved. May he rest in peace.

Beth Hughes / Dispatcher
Amory Police Department Amory,MS

August 20, 2004

To the family and friends of Detective Todd Fatta, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Todd, you will be greatly missed. May you rest in peace and watch over us.

Deputy R. Henery
Broward Sheriff's Office

August 20, 2004

may god bless you and your family big loss to us all. citizen abel almodovar miami

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
Choctaw Oklahoma

August 20, 2004

To Detective Fatta's family, friends and fellow officers, We hold you close in our hearts. Detective Fatta is a hero as are all law enforcement officers. We will be thinking of you during this difficult time.

The family of Dave Grant/EOW 5/31/04
Tuolumne Co. Sheriff's Dept.

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

I feel your loss. I started my career in Broward County in 1983. From our family to yours, you have our deepest condolences. Our prayers are with the family of Todd Fatta and the Broward County Sheriff's Department. May God be with all.

Detective Di Pasqua
La Habra Police Department CA

August 20, 2004

The prayers and deepest sympathies of myself and all other officers and deputies in Broward County are with you and your family. Please know that we will never give up the struggle which you so valliantly fought to end. Rest in peace - you will never be forgotten.

Officer Bradley Frank
Coral Springs Police Deptartment

August 20, 2004

There are no words that can express the sorrow that his family,friends and co-workers are experiencing.Det.Fatta and his family will be in my prayers.

Retired Sgt. Michael Flynn
NYPD

August 20, 2004

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

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

August 20, 2004

I would like to send my heart felt prayers and sympathy to the family of Officer Todd Fatta and the Broward County Sheriff's Department. Another fine officer is taken from us from the acts of another coward. My family knows all to well the pain and anger that this family and department is feeling. My family has several LEO's in it, and after loosing my brother I am sure that they ask themselves why they do the job that they do. I hold highest respect for them as well as all Officers.

As a wife of a law enforcement officer it is my nightly prayer that all our LEO's stay safe. To the spouses of these LEO'S stay strong too.

Peggy Dreher
In Memeory of my brother Patrick Maher
EOW 8-2-03 Federal Way PD Washington

Peggy Dreher
Sister of Patrick Maher EOW 8-2-03

August 20, 2004

You never know, that is given. All you can do is hold those left behind.

My closest friend was lost in a simple warrant. Who knows what you may face. Just pray it it's your last day.

If it is, remember, through tis nation you are loved ! You will never be forgotten!

Randolph / 911
Randolph County 911

August 20, 2004

Very sad week indeed.
My heart reach out to the family of Detective Fatta. May his soul rest in peace and may his hopeful and determined spirit encourage others to bravely pursue noble-good that serve humanity.

Teresa Goss
ShaDco, Jacksonville, Fl

August 20, 2004

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there, I do not sleep
I am a thousand winds that blow
I am the diamond glints on snow
I am the sunlight on ripened grain
I am the gentle autumns rain
I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in flight
I am the soft star that shines at night
I am the flowers that bloom by day
I am the fragrance of new mown hay
I am each blade of grass that grows
I am the rush of melting snow
Do not stand at my grave and cry
I am not there, I did not die…

P.O. Andrew
Chicago PD

August 20, 2004

Todd,

Rest in Peace, know your sacrifice is not in vain and you and your family are in our Hearts and Minds! I pray your friends and family find the strenght to go on in the face of such as tragedy!

Captain Robert M. O'Neill
Jupiter Police, Palm Beach County, Florida

August 20, 2004

I'm just a high school graduate from western NY and I wanted to express my condolences to the friends and family of Det. Fatta. I am a major supporter of law enforcement in all fields, and am set to join the Air Force as a cop. In that sense, we shared a common passion, and with pride and respect for all he committed himself to, I say God Bless.

Peace Officer Enthusiast

August 20, 2004

Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

Uncle of Mississippi State Trooper
Paul Denham K-13
E.O.W.
12-27-99

Danny Gibson

August 20, 2004

My condolences to the members of the Broward Co. S.O. and the family of Det. Fatta. Rest in peace for you served with honor.

Offc. Michael Walker
Tallahassee Police Department

August 20, 2004

To Detective Fatta family, friends, and the Broward County Shefiff's Office. I would like to extend my condolences and deepest sympathy. My thoughts and prays are with you all. Thanks Detective Fatta for a job well done; may your soul rest in peace.

Patrol Officer
Prince George's County, Maryland

August 20, 2004