Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest in peace Brother Patrick, you are a true hero and will never be forgotten. Thank you for your service and courage.

Son of G. Truman Wortham EOW 7/15/73

September 12, 2004

It was with deepest regret that I read about the tragic death of Det. Rafferty. Again two of our country's finest has paid the ultimate for the safety of others. Please accept the prayers of the entire shift of officers and sergeants here at BPD West Precinct. Back in June of this year we lost three of our own. It was a difficult time then and still is, as I am sure it is for Det. Raferty's and Det. Parker's fellow officers and families.

Remember that they are now watching over us all.

Lt. Jerry Wiley
Birmingham, AL Police Department

September 12, 2004

Fidelis Ad Mortem

Rest in peace, brother.

Police Officer
Union City Police Dept.

September 12, 2004

Farewell Brother..You now reside among the Heroes of Heroes. Thank you for your faithfulness and dedication to duty.Rest in the knowledge that your loved ones are not alone. We are but a phone call away.

Bob Johnson VA-VI

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

September 12, 2004

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and fellow officers of Detective Rafferty. You died a hero sir and your name will never be forgotten. Thank you for your service and dedication. New York is a little better because you were there. Rest in peace sir.

Captain Robert W. Cannon; Retired
Vermilion County, Illinois, Sheriff's Department

September 12, 2004

god bless your in our thoughts and prayers.

wife of det rolniak eow 2-4-04
rpd

September 12, 2004

Rest in peace sir. Thank you.

shannon
concerned citizen

September 12, 2004

Words cannot express the sorrow we feel for the family of Det.Rafferty and his fellow NYPD Officers. You don't walk alone. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.GOD bless.

P.O.Michael F.O'Neill
Pipes&Drums of the Cleveland Police Dept.

September 12, 2004

To Detective Rafferty family and friends our hearts and prayers go out to you.

God Bless you

terry miyares, surviving spouse
Officer Emilio Miyares, Hialeah PD< Fl 11/6/86

September 12, 2004

Not one of you will be forgotten, all of you are missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family; Rest in Peace, Brother.

a colleague from the UK

September 12, 2004

There are but two persons who protect the sinful human race from destroying itself. One is God's Holy Spirit. The other is the Peace Officer. Without them, we would all perish at each other's hands.

You were called into this profession and our Lord and Savior has blessed you because:
According to Romans 13.1-5...
God ordains the Peace Officer’s profession.
The Peace Officer is sent by God.
The Peace Officer is vested with God's authority to enforce the law.
A Peace Officer's badge is to be honored by us, because it is honored by God.

To the family of Detective Patrick Rafferty and the New York City Police Department, your extended family of Law Enforcement Officers grieves with you during this time. I pray that God will wrap his loving arms around each of you and comfort you during this most difficult time.

You gave the ultimate sacrifice for your fellow man, your life.
While serving, defending, and protecting others in your community.
Rest easy with our other fallen Brothers and Sisters, we have the watch now.

To all my brothers and sisters, please remember the fallen officers we have lost. Remember the men and women who died trying to make this world a safer and better place for us all to live in, and their families. Please pray for this officer's family, agency, and friends as they struggle with this tragedy.
May God be with you every day, please remember, we are a part of the largest family in the world and when one hurts we all hurt.

Though our badges and uniforms may be different, our mission is the same. We continue the fight in your honor.

Florida Deputy Sheriff

September 12, 2004

You are a hero to all that you served. God will bless you and your family, and your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Officer T. SanGiacomo
San Francisco Police Dept

September 12, 2004

BUFFALO, NEW YORK

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE
OFFICERS WISH TO SEND OUR CONDOLENCES.
OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH
DETECTIVE RAFFERTY, HIS FAMILY AND CO-WORKERS.

GOD BLESS...

PO ERNEST G. PENN
DEPT. OF VETERANS AFFAIRS POLICE

September 12, 2004

We extend heart felt sympathy to the family of Patrick and to the New York City Police Department. Rest in peace Detective.

Vincent Lowe/Chief
Kentland Police Dept./Indiana

September 12, 2004

Rest in peace brother.

11th District Police Officer
Chicago Police Dept.

September 12, 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

September 12, 2004

Our thoughts and prayers are with Patrick, his family , and friends. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten. God Bless.

Police Officer
Chicago Police Dept.

September 12, 2004

Rest in peace Brother, the tour of duty is now ours. To the family of Detective Rafferty and to rest of the NYPD you all have the condolences of the entire Metropolitan Police Department.

Detective Grade 1 Robert F. Jackson
Metropolitan Police Department, Washington D.C./Homicide Branch

September 12, 2004

Please remember the fallen officers we have lost. Remember the men and women who died trying to make this world a safer and better place for us all to live in. Thank you Detective Rafferty for a job well done. Please continue to watch over us and protect us as only you can. You will forever be at our side and in our hearts.

For those of you who still have loved ones with us please take the time to tell them how much you appreciate and care about them.

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

September 12, 2004

I was a good friend of Sergeant Keith FERGUSON of the NYPD who died in the line of duty in January 2004. I was deeply upset to learn that two more members of the NYPD have fallen. Whilst I did not know Detectives RAFFERTY and PARKER their loss has brought back much of the saddness I felt at keith's passing. To the family, friends and workmates of these two detectives please be assured that you are in my thoughts during this very difficult time. I have no doubt that Keith will welcome them into heaven.

Constable Ashley BOLD
New South Wales Police - Sydney, Australia

September 12, 2004

Rest in peace.

Prov. Const. Cole
Ontario Provincial Police

September 12, 2004

The policeman stood and faced 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 a badge
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 time 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 a silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod.
As the policeman waited quietly,
For the judgement of his god.

"Step forward now, policeman,
You've born your burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in hell"

GREGG HOUSTON
SOUTH CAROLINA

September 12, 2004

No words can ever describe the feeling of losing a fellow officer and we feel it way to often. Our prayers are with your families now

Memphis PD

September 12, 2004

God's speed Det's, we will take it from here. Go forth to the heavens above and I will see you serving with Saint Micheal.

PO2 Thomas D. Andreas
Los Angeles Police Dept / Rampart Div

September 12, 2004

God Speed Brother. We will miss you!

Detective
NYPD

September 12, 2004