Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I had the pleasure of working with Officer Walsh's father Greg in Elwood, IL in 2001. I can remember sitting down with Greg at breakfast on a day shift. We rode together that day and had a great time talking about police work, family, etc. I remember him talking about Jonathan and how he had just started at Joliet PD.

I remember how proud Greg was of Jonathan. Jonathan I am sorry I never got to meet you because the more I read and hear about you the prouder I am knowing that you went out there every day and gave it your all. You are an inspiration and model for all of us in Law Enforcement.

I am proud I got a chance to grow up in the City of Joliet and to know some of its Police Officers. In times of crisis they are always there for fellow Offficers and their families. God bless all of you at JPD.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Walsh family and to JPD. God bless all of you. I know Officer Walsh will always be looking over you guys.

God Bless

Rick Spiers
College of DuPage PD
Glen Ellyn, IL

Rick Spiers Patrol Officer
College of DuPage PD

August 26, 2004

Jon,
You were a 1 in a million person and a hell of an officer. I cannot think of one time that you were ever without a smile or without a few light-hearted ribs for your brothers on the department. You will be missed. It was a privilege and an honor to play taps for you. Godspeed Jon.

Patrol Officer Phillip R. Stice #270
Joliet Poliec Department

August 26, 2004

Jon,
I still can't believe you are gone, I keep thinking I will see you walk by and see your smiling face or talk to you on the radio. You have touched so many hearts in your short time here and you will be greatly missed by all of us. You were a great officer and friend. I only wish your stay here was much longer. My deepest sympathy goes to your family and loved ones. We will never forget you as you were loved by us all!!

Jennifer Chizmark PSDII
Joliet Police Dept

August 26, 2004

Hollywood,The Man, The Myth, The Legend.....Recently we spoke about the risk in our jobs after the death of a fellow brother from another department. I told you that someone is looking over JPD because we have been very lucky in recent years to not have lost one of our own. You told me "Sep, its inevitable in our careers that we will lose someone close to us, it is the unfortunate nature of the job"...With your passing it is easy to to see it truly can happen to anyone. The last few days have been a roller coaster of peaks and valleys...One minute you break down, then the next we are telling a Hollywood story that makes everyone break out in laughter.
Carrying you to your final resting place was the hardest thing I have ever been given the honor of doing. I am truly fortunate to have been given the chance to make you proud again. The service was amazing and everything that you deserve, fitting for a true hero. I hope we looked good out there for you, we all tried our very best to give you the most beautiful ceremony possible.
They say that "your only as good as the company that you keep", well if this is true than I couldnt have picked anyone better to be around. You are a true Hero and Inspiration. Everyday I put on my Joliet Uniform I will be trying to make you proud. I know you will be watching over me and the rest of us like you always did, and I love you for it. You will be sorely missed by me and all. Thank you for being a part of my life, your impact will be felt forever. I love you!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Officer Kevin Sepulveda #174
Joliet Police Department

August 26, 2004

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

Deputy Sheriff
Butte County Sheriff's Office

August 26, 2004

Rest in peace Officer Walsh. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of god." Matthew 5:9

Patrolman
Minneapolis Police Department 4th Pct.

August 26, 2004

Just wanted to express my wishes of support to Officer's Walsh's family and to the members of the Joilet Police Department ont their loss. Twenty-seven is way to young for someone to leave this earth. From reading the reflections left by Officer's Walsh's co-workers he made a lasting impression on all he worked with in just 3 1/2 years. Today I wll take a moment to to think of the sacrifice that Officer Walsh and all the other Officers who have made the ulimate sacrifice. The world is a better place because of people like Officer Walsh.

Detective Patrick Donohue
NYPD

August 26, 2004

Jon,
I have been putting writing my reflection off because it is too hard to say good-bye. I will miss that smile of yours and the big hugs everytime we hung out. Jon, I was telling Chad that if one good thing came out of this tragedy, it would be that the officers at Joliet will grow closer together. You would be so proud of your guys Jon, they have been there for eachother and strong bonds have formed. Now I truly understand the brotherhood of Police officers. I know you will be protecting them. Rest in Peace, you will be missed!

Marie Volpentesta

August 26, 2004

WORDS CAN NOT DESCRIBE HOW MUCH I WILL MISS YOU.I AM GLAD I HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO RIDE WITH YOU AS A PARTNER, IT WAS TRULY AN HONOR.WE HAD A GREAT TIME TOGETHER WHICH WILL LEAVE ME MANY MEMORIES TO REFLECT BACK ON.YOU WEREN'T ONLY A PARTNER TO ME BUT A BEST FRIEND AND A BROTHER.YOU TOUCHED NOT ONLY ME, BUT MY ENTIRE FAMILY, AND I KNOW THEY WILL MISS YOU AS WELL.I HAVE SO MANY MEMORIES OF US AS POLICE OFFICERS, BUT THE ONE THAT STAYS IN MY HEAD IS THE MEMORIES YOU SHARED WITH MY FAMILY AS WELL.EVERY DAY YOU WOULD PICK ME UP FOR WORK. AS I BEGAN PUTTING ON MY UNIFORM, MY FOUR YEAR OLD AND THREE YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS WOULD RUN TO THE WINDOW, BECAUSE THEY KNEW YOU WOULD BE PULLING UP IN THE DRIVEWAY SOON.BOTH WOULD GET REAL BIG SMILES ON THERE FACE AND ASK "DADDY IS YOUR BEST FRIEND COMING TO GET YOU." I WOULD REPLY YES AND THEY WOULD BECOME SO HAPPY.AS YOU PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY THEY WOULD RUN TO THE DOOR SO THEY COULD SEE YOU.EVERYDAY YOU WOULD COME INSIDE AND SAY "HELLO LADIES HOW ARE YOU DOING TODAY" AND GIVE THEM A BIG HUG.JON I WILL NEVER FORGET THESE MEMORIES YOU LEFT ME AND I AM GLAD YOU COULD BE A PART OF MY FAMILIES LIFE.YOU WERE SUCH A GREAT PARTNER,FRIEND, AND BROTHER TO ME, I WILL NEVER FORGET YOU.I LOVE YOU.

PATROL OFFICER TOM BANAS
JOLIET POLICE DEPARTMENT

August 26, 2004

Jon,
You will be grately missed by us all. Please watch over my husband along with the others. Keep our men safe and strong as you were. You are now in heaven fighting a different battle, I know we will all meet again. What you died for was heartbreaking but you changed all of Joliet yesterday. The people standing outside to pay you tribute was unbelievable, all the men hugging and showing love for you and each other was great. You changed the lives of all the officers and because of you the JPD will be stronger and closer. Please watch over my husband as well as the others. Thank you Jon for giving your life so that we all could be safe. You will live on in our hearts forever!

To Jon's family and girlfriend,
You were all so strong today, it's no wonder Jon was so wonderful. I will pray for you all and keep you in my thought daily. Thank you for all the inspriration you have given to me. Because of all of you I will show my husband I love him more and I will never let him walk out that door withought knowing how much he is loved. Jon was a great man and it is because of all of you! Your strength will get us all through.

Rest in peace Jon we love you so much....

Wife of a Joliet Police Officer

August 26, 2004

Jon,
My heart is truly broken. There are not enough words to express how much you were loved, admired and respected by all of us. You were so wonderful to so many in such a short time. I was lucky to know you and to be your friend. I felt the warmth of your smile and the sincerity of your compassion. You were genuine. Today, I wanted desperately to be there for your best friends who will feel your absence so deeply, but as we have learned all too painfully well in the last couple of days...it is all we can do to hold ourselves up, get ourselves to work, to go on...without you. I'll never forget you Hollywood.

I love you,
Dre

Dre
Joliet Police Department

August 26, 2004

I thank God for giving me the privilege of knowing Jonathan Walsh #305. He was a great police officer who loved his job, and no matter how many times he was held over because I had to send him on a late call, he never complained. He would just say "10-4, I'm 10-76."

He was a great gift that God bestowed on those that knew him. I've never seen a man so loved, and although my heart hurts because he will no longer be here physically, I am at peace because I know as his father told me "he is in God's Kingdom".

I would like to thank Jon's parents and his sister's for being a pillar of strength to the Joliet Police Department. They have been so poised and strong throughout all of this, so I see where Jon got his strong faith, wisdom, and positive demeanor from.

To the rest of my JPD family, let us all work together to keep Jon's spirit and memory alive. Eventhough he is not here physically, he is here in spirit with all of us on every call, smiling and watching over us.

So let us keep our heads up and contine to be the strong "Family" that we are, and make Jon proud.

Peace and God's Blessings Forever
#820

PDSII/Dawn Y. Barfield
Joliet Police

August 26, 2004

Jon
I know you couldn't stop smiling when you looked down and saw the squads taking over the streets as we drove your body to its final resting place!We may have buried your body today but your soul will live on forever brotha! I miss you I love you and I know in my heart you are truly in a better place. As we remember you please watch over us! Rest In Peace #305
Missing you LB

Ofc.Brooks#229
JPD

August 25, 2004

Jon,

On August 20, 2004 you were responding to an alarm call. Your mission was probably to catch a few burglars coming out of the building, which would have ended in another outstanding arrest. You always had that burning desire to perform your job at a high level at all times.

When the Department asked me to select 4 officers for the GVS Unit, it was tough to pick from so many talented police officers. To me your name jumped out as one of the guys to pick because of your work ethic. I remember like it was yesterday when you called me with excitement in your voice telling me "sarge, thanks for believing in me and I will work hard for you". I enjoyed watching every time you made a gun arrest, how you gave the team a knuckle-five with a big smile.

I feel very fortunate to have witnessed your energy and work ethic. You were truly a supervisors dream. I will always hold those memories working with you on the GVS team. You will never be forgotten. Here is one more knuckle-five for ya.

Sgt Gregg Glomb #52
Joliet Police Department

Sergeant Gregg Glomb
Joliet Police Department

August 25, 2004

Jon,
The last time I saw you was two days before you were taken from us. I regret not having the chance to talk with you one last time. You will be forever missed, and never forgotten.

Officer Brian Montello #183
Joliet Police Department

August 25, 2004

JONATHAN,
TODAY WAS VERY DIFFICULT FOR ALL OF US HERE. WATCHING YOUR BROTHERS, MATT, PAUL, MIKE, MARK, BRIAN P., KEVIN, TOM, AND BRIAN N. CARRY YOU TO YOUR FINAL RESTING PLACE WAS MORE THAN MOST OF US COULD HANDLE. AT THE FUNERAL HOME TONY SPOKE BETTER THAN ONE COULD HAVE IMAGINED. IT WAS SIMPLE FOR HIM THOUGH, HE WAS ONLY TELLING THE TRUTH. YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN PROUD OF THEM. I WILL MISS YOU ALWAYS. I KNOW YOU WILL BE WATCHING US....WE LOVE YOU HOLLYWOOD.

NICK AMELIO #143 PATROL OFFICER
JOLIET POLICE DEPT

August 25, 2004

Busta~
I started at this department a year ago and was very thankful to start in patrol. By doing so I have had the privilege to meet you. We had a friendship that no one really knew about and I am honored to have known you Walsh! I will always remember those bright blue eyes of yours and those lips that were always smiling. You were a role model to me because you are, what I want to become, an officer. I know that one day when I have a badge and a gun on my side I will have a special angel to watch over me, and that is YOU. With all the smiles and laughs that I had exchanged with you, they will never be forgotten. You were a true blessing. I will always remember that day I rode on a ride-a-long with you, you would have made a great FTO, I learned a lot from you. That same day I had left early for you to take your father for a ride-a-long for the last time before he left for Florida. Thank you for that opportunity of a life time, some people did not get the opportunities that I had, and I am FOREVER grateful. I will miss you! LOVE YOU!!! Rest in peace Hollywood!
;-) wink

Cadet Jasmine Baez 870
Joliet Police Department

August 25, 2004

Gregory, Norma, Debbie and Lisa:

Today I watched your faces - and I think how profound your loss must be. I can't imagine how brave you are - and I can't imagine how you've kept it all together. In the days, months, and years - know that I - no we - the wives of the officers Jon touched will forever be humbled by the sacrifice of someone so wonderful. His story - your story - is what they make movies out of -

My husband - our husbands - will go to work today/Tonight/tomorrow and we will get the chance to say goodbye - we will tell them that we love them - but we never know if someday we may be faced with the kind of goodbye we had to say to Jon today...
Just knowing that he's up there watching out for them - makes it just the tiniest bit easier -

Jon:

Watch our husbands - I know you saw my strong strong husband cry over this today - and I couldn't imagine his pain - this was all so senseless - you went to work - granted a job you love - but you never came home.

You would have razzed these men for being so sentimental...so full of emotion - you made hundreds of men start hugging - start telling each other that they love each other...

You had to love that they closed all of I-80 - all of it - you led every news story on every channel in Chicago...and you broke even more hearts when people saw your story.

but when the dust settles - I'm counting on you - keep our husbands safe - no one should have to die at 27 with so much left to contribute -

so if this is how it has to be - please be the angel on his shoulder - please keep him safe - keep him real - and keep him the man that hugged other men today and told them he loved them -

a testimony to a life that ended to early - you touched so many lives - broke so many hearts - thank you for all that you did to our men

The wife of an officer

August 25, 2004

Ofc. Walsh, I didn't know you as well as others, but the short time I knew you, I knew there was something different about you...something good about your spirit. Your smile was as bright as the sunshine in July even on a gloomy day. You were one of the most mannered young men I've met in a long time. I just knew there was something...something different about you. After your Dad spoke of you at the baseball game, I knew then. It WAS your spirit. Jesus Christ is the Head of your Life and the Author of your faith. That made the difference! You are greatly loved and thank God, you are in a better place now. Your spirit lives on within those lives that you touched. I am preparing to meet you again, up there...! God Bless your family and loved ones.

Denita Draper, Dispatcher
Joliet Police Dept

August 25, 2004

First of all my heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family, girlfriend, and colleagues of Officer Jonathan Walsh. I never knew you socially, but you responded to the USF campus on occasions to help myself and my fellow officers when we needed you and JPD. A couple of weeks ago I was at the Louis Joliet Mall shopping and I saw you walking around and patrolling inside the mall. From what I saw of you in talking to customers and employees that you were an outgoing person who cared so much about everyone and was willing to help anyone for any reason and because of this, you were an outstanding officer. You always went out of your way when helping people in order to make you happy and you loved your job dearly. Thank you for being you and everything that you stood for. Myself and everyone at The University of St. Francis appreciates you and the Joliet Police Department for always being there for us in our time of need. You are now being well taken care of and may you rest in peace! God Bless You Officer Walsh!

Officer Jim Womack
Campus Safety & Security, University of St. Francis

August 25, 2004

From our hearts to yours.
Friends of James J Mulay e/o/w 05/21/04
Peoria County Sheriff's Department

August 25, 2004

Jon, we buried you today, and I'm sure you saw it was a beautiful service. So many came out for you and for each other. Your smile and warmth touched many far beyond what will ever be known by others. If your brothers and sisters strive to be more like you, the world can only be a better place. You will be missed. God Bless.

Joliet Police Department

August 25, 2004

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family and fellow officers of Officer Walsh.

While I did not have the privilege to have known him personally I am certain that he has found a place in heaven after hearing a great many stories from others who did know him. Rest in peace my friend; those of us who remain will cover your post on the thin blue line.

August 25, 2004

Our sincere condolences go out to the family of Officer Walsh and to all the personnel of the Joliet Police Department who worked with him.

While it is no consolation for your loss, remember that we, and many others in this country, appreciate the sacrifice that he made in his effort to ensure the safety of the public.

God bless.

Southwest Central Dispatch
Palos Heights, IL

August 25, 2004

ALL of our Officers, both Civilian and Military, are grieving over the lose of Patrol Officer Jonathan Walsh. Condolences and prayers for his loved ones, Police family, and Friends. Officer Walsh....you did, "Protect and Serve". All of us thank you for your commitment. What a MENTOR. We, (all Police Officers), know why you responded with dedication.

Detective
NAVAL WEAPONS STATION, CHARLESTON, SC

August 25, 2004