Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

My thoughts and prayers are with the family of Officer Davis today. I live within a few blocks of where the tragedy occured. I am proud to live in a city where the police force bans together to not only keep the neighborhoods safe, but honors a comrade by reacting quickly and professionally. My thoughts and prayers of thanks go out to all of you.

Kevin Zimmerman, Civilian
Butler/Tarking Resident

September 25, 2004

Shoulder to shoulder
standing side by side,
I.L.E.A. gratuates at
attention beaming with pride.

Thoughts towards the future
of a career that lies ahead,
it's all new and exciting
with nothing to dread.

The years will add up
and so will the scars,
responding to domestics
and fights at the bars.

Foot chases, high speed
pursuits, and felony stops,
that is just part of
our job as Indiana Cops.

DO IT RIGHT that is
what Indiana Cops do,
whether we are wearing green,
brown and tan, or blue.

Injured in accidents some of
us beat the odds and survive,
we look death in the
face and refuse to die.

Shoulder to shoulder
standing side by side,
each Sunday in church we
thank the Lord we're alive.

But in Indiana and across the
USA in towns large and small,
black shrouds sadly remind
us of those who gave all.

The batte continues none of
their deaths were in vain,
we make sure to honor
the ones who were slain.

My fellow Indiana officers
in whom I can always confide,
we will be shoulder to shoulder
standing side by side.

Author- Officer Kyle R. Landgrebe


Officer Davis,

My thoughts and prayers go out to your wife and children. My sympathy also goes out to the Butler University Police Department and the city of Indianapolis.
This is the third time this month that I have written this poem on this web site for and Indiana Cop who has died in the line of duty. I hope and pray that this is the last time I have to do it, but I sadly know that it won't be. God bless you Officer Davis. Thank you for your dedicated service. We will carry on the battle from here. And to your fellow Officer Ray Stanisz, who I graduated with from the academy, you and the rest of BUPD are in our thoughts and prayers. Keep safe out there.

Officer Kyle R. Landgrebe CPD #3274
I.L.E.A. 02-150 163B
HEROES LIVE FOREVER!

Officer Kyle Landgrebe
Crane Police Department

September 25, 2004

once again our state and nation has lost another great hero and soilder, though i never had the honor to meet this fine brother officer i will always know him in my heart.my prayers are with his family.my god forever be with them.

master patrol office scotty moore
carmel police ind

September 25, 2004

God Speed brother. My thoughts and prayers to you and your family and co-workers.

Deputy Sheriff
Rockwall County Sheriff's Office, Rockwall Tx

September 25, 2004

May you rest in peace now that you are in a safer place. May you watch over all of us to help guide us thru the day. May you be remembered for who you are, and the lives you touched.
God rest for you are not forgotten.

Inspector PA Guat
United States Customs Service-Detroit

September 25, 2004

To the family, friends, and fellow officers of James L. Davis. My heart is heavy today as I visit this site to find that another member of the law enforcement family has been taken from us. My husband was killed 04/04/04. He served with the Buncombe County Sheriff's Dept. in Asheville, NC. I never dreamed I would some day stand on this "common ground" with so many other wives. Mrs. Davis, my heart breaks for you. I know how difficult the next few days will be for you. I'm sure right now, as it was for me, everything is just a blurr. I pray that God will give you strength. Just know that my thoughts and prayers are with you. If you ever need to talk, you may contact me at [email protected].

John 14: 2-3 In my father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you , I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Tracie Hewitt

September 25, 2004

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers of Police Officer James L.Davis. His bravery in confronting this suspect obviously averted a larger scale situation in which innocent lives were saved. Rest in peace Officer Davis, you are a hero and will never be forgotten by the law enforcement community.

Police Officer
Hunterdon County, New Jersey

September 25, 2004

I was saddened by the death of Officer Davis,as it is for any Officer who dies in the line of duty. My condolences go out to his family,loved ones, friends and coworkers. My deepest sympathies at this time. Grace Sjolin Police Dispatcher, Univ. Police SUNY @ Stony Brook

Grace Sjolin Police Dispatcher
Univ. Police at Stony Brook NY

September 25, 2004

I did not know you James, but I know you.
You are one of us, but you now belong to the Lord. I pray you did not suffer, and that your family will be comforted in this hour.

Captain Don Reichling
Princeton University Campus Police

September 25, 2004

God bless Officer Davis and his family and friends. We have all lost a brother, and all feel the loss. We offer out thougts and prayers to the family and friends of Officer Davis. Officer Davis is a true hero who gave his life for what he believed in. "Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called the sons of God."

Patrolman M. Watson
Vincennes City Police Department

September 25, 2004

On behalf of the men and women who serve and work for the Georgia Perimeter College Police Department, our thoughts and prayers are with Officer James Davis' family, friends, and co-workers with the Butler University Police Department.

Rest in peace our brother in blue. The watch is now ours. Let this be an example that no type of Law Enforcement is immune to the ultimate sacrifice.

Officer Johns
Georgia Perimeter College Police Department

September 25, 2004

My fiance, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. Dennis was a Deputy Sheriff with the Davis County Sheriff's Office in southeast Iowa. Dennis died doing a job he loved, just as I'm sure James did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and James be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Officer Davis' family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. My heart goes out to you all, especially to his wife. No one can truly understand the pain of our loss until they've walked in our shoes. I wish I could give you a few words of wisdom to help you through this tough time, but there isn't anything I can really say or do to make the situation better. Just know that my thoughts are with you.

Please accept my condolences on behalf of the McElderry family and remember that James is part of huge law enforcement family. If you ever need anything any number of them will be there for you (as I've quickly found out!) From reading the many reflections posted here, I am certain James was well respected and well loved.

Thank you Officer Davis for a job well done and for helping to make this world a safer place for us all. Please say "hello" to my fiance Dennis for me.

Peace, Love, Luck, and Happiness!

Jocelyne Brar (Winnipeg, MB Canada)
Fiancee of Deputy Sheriff Dennis Ray McElderry - EOW (01/03/03)

September 25, 2004

Rest in peace sir. Your killer died also as he well deserved. Thank you for your service.

Shannon
concerned citizen

September 25, 2004

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Officer Davis and the Butler University Police Department. Rest in peace my brother.


Kentucky State University
Police Department

Officer Bryan Brashears
Kentucky State University Police

September 25, 2004

On Behalf of the Hokes Bluff Police Department we grieve with your family and department. You are and always will be a hero. Thank you for your service and and dedication to the law enforcement community and the citizens you protected. You've done your job well officer Davis. Walk the beat on Heaven's street...we will take over watch down here.

Patrolman/Instructor Sam Decker
Hokes Bluff Police Department , AL

September 25, 2004

This comes as a shock to me, as I knew this officer personally. I met Officer Davis when he joined the Butler Police Department. I recently spoke to him about a month ago. James was a really nice guy, who you could always count on to make you laugh. To his wife and 3 kids, keep your head up, and know that we are all praying for you and your family. Mrs. Davis, although your family has experienced this tragic lost, you may find peace in knowing that your family, along with his fellow officers, have gained a guardian angel to now watch over us all. GOD BLESS YOUR SOUL JAMES!!!! You will be sadly missed, and NEVER FORGOTTEN!!!!

Deputy Kelly L. Ferrell
Marion County Sheriff Department

September 25, 2004

Rest in peace James. My thoughts and prayers are with your family. You will never be forgotten. Class 04-157

A. Fike Patolman
Waterloo police Department

September 25, 2004

WHAT IS A COP?

Cops are human ( believe it or not) just like the rest of us. They come in both sexes but mostly male. They also come in various sizes. This sometimes depends on whether you are looking for one or trying to hide something. However, they are mostly big.

Cops are found everywhere-on land, on the sea, in the air, on horses, in cars, sometimes in your hair. In spite of the fact that " you can't find one when you want one", they are usually there when it counts most. The best way to get one is to pick up the phone.

Cops deliver lectures, babies, and bad news. They are required to have the wisdom of solomon, the disposition of a lamb and muscles of steel and are often accused of having a heart to match. He's the one who rings the door-bell, swallows hard and announces the passing of a loved one; then spends the rest of the day wondering why he ever took such a "crummy" job.

On TV, a cop is an oaf who couldn't find a bull fiddle in a telephone booth. In real life he's expected to find a little blond boy " about so high" in a crowd of a half million people. In fiction, he gets help from private eyes, reporters, and who-dun-it fans." In real life, mostly all he gets from the public is " I didn't see nuttin'."

When he serves a summons, he's a monster. If he lets you go, he's a doll. To little kids, he's either a friend or a bogeyman, depending on how the parents feel about it. He works " around the clock", split shifts, Sundays and holidays, and it always kills him when a joker says. " Hey tomorrow is Election Day, I'm off, let's go fishing" ( that's the day he works 20 hours).

A cop is like the little girl, who, when she was good, was very, very good, but, when she was bad, was horrid. When a cop is good, " he's getting paid for it." When he makes a mistake, " he's a grafter, and that goes for the rest of them too." When he shoots a stick-up man he's a hero, except when the stick-up man is " only a kid, anybody coulda seen that."

Lots of them have homes, some of them covered with ivy, but most of them covered with mortgages. If he drives a big car, he's a chiseler; a little car, "who's he kidding?" His credit is good; this is very helpful, because his salary isn't. Cops raise lots of kids; most of them belong to other people.

A cop sees more misery, bloodshed, trouble, and sunrises than the average person. Like the postman, cops must also be out in all kinds of weather. His uniform changes with the climate, but his outlook on life remains about the same: mostly a blank, but hoping for a better world.

Cops like days off, vacations, and coffee. They don't like auto horns, family fights, and anonymous letter writers. They have unions, but they can't strike. They must be impartial, courteous, and always remember the slogan " At your service." This is sometimes hard, especially when a character reminds him, " I'm a taxpayer, I pay your salary."

Cops get medals for saving lives, stopping runaway horses, and shooting it out with the bandits ( once in a while his widow gets the medal). But sometimes, the most rewarding moment comes when, after some small kindness to an older person, he feels the warm hand clasp, looks into grateful eyes and hears, " Thank you and God bless you, son."

Officer David Carroll
Choctaw Oklahoma

September 25, 2004

On behalf of the men and women of the Oregon Health & Sciences University - Dept. of Public Safety, we offer our condolences to the family and friends of Officer Davis who are mourning his loss. Rest in peace, brother. Thank you for serving and giving your all. We will see you on the other side.

Lt. David Bodine
Oregon Health & Science University - Dept. of Public Safety

September 25, 2004

MAY YOU REST IN PEACE AS YOU HELP TO BRING PEACE TO SO MANY OTHER'S.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU & KEEP YOU

Kellye EMT-P
O.C. EMS

September 25, 2004

R.I.P. Officer Davis. You Will NEVER Be Forgotten.

Officer
Clearwater P.D., FL

September 25, 2004

You can never be thanked enough for the service and protection you provided. My condolences to your family and loved ones.

Dustin Hillis
MTSU Criminal Justice/ Law Enforcement major

September 25, 2004

Another senseless loss of a dedicated officer. Our hearts go out to the family, friends and fellow officers of Officer Davis. We are thinking of all of you.

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

September 25, 2004

Campus police officers share the same concerns for safety as all other law enforcement agencies. I pray that his widow and children will get support from fellow officers during this time.

Officer Pamela Garland
Evergreen Police
Olympia, WA

Officer Pamela Garland
Evergreen Police Department

September 25, 2004

May God bless your family. May your children always know that their father was a true American hero. Rest now my brother, you will not be forgotten.

Anonymous Deputy Sheriff
Washoe County S.O. Reno, Nevada

September 25, 2004