Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Officer Hurst....Thank you for your heroism and bravery my brother. Your actions undoubtedly spared lives. May you rest and peace. May God be with and guide your wife and baby girl through these difficult times. Godspeed.

Detective Lowell Smith, Jr.
Maine State Police

January 10, 2005

My condolences go out to the family, friends and colleagues of Officer Bryan Hurst.

May God give you strength and guidance to recover from such a traumatic experience.

God bless you all!!!

Sergeant Robert Martinez
Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department

January 10, 2005

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

Deputy Sheriff
Butte County Sheriff's Office

January 10, 2005

Rest in Peace. My thoughts and prayers are with Officer Hurst's family, friends and co-workers.

Former Dispatcher
Las Vegas, Nv

January 10, 2005

Bryan, dude, thanks for offering to take me on a ride-along when I was trying to get onto the Department and follow in my uncle's footsteps. I regret never having taken you up on it. I offer you the following as a tribute for the sacrifice you made while saving the employees at the bank. We'll never forget you, bro.

NO GREATER LOVE

Somewhere in a closet hang uniforms: white
But stained by the service by day and by night.
For no matter how long in a launderer’s care
The marks of a hero will always be there.

There will always be some trace of dust or of mud,
Or grass, or some sweat, or small drops of blood.
Each tells a new story when the officer returns
Home to his family, for whom he yearns.

But today there’s a uniform resting alone,
A uniform, stained deep, that was never worn home.
It was worn by an officer who encountered the worst.
He was to become a detective, his name, Bryan Hurst.

Some knew you as “Bryan,” and others as “son.”
Another as “dear,” for her heart you had won.
Just last year a new face, which had made you so glad,
Knew you not on her lips, but in her tiny heart, as Dad.

Whether “brother” or “friend” or an affectionate “bro,”
You’re known now, far and wide, as a special hero.
From the east to the west and everyplace in between,
We honor the hero born April 15.

You defended your nation with a duty to die
You loved your buddies, your dogs, all the while, “Semper Fi!”
You carried that code still etched on your heart
And as strong as a mustang you began a new start.

You joined a new brotherhood, the Columbus PD
Still armed, still imbued, with a sense of duty.
You joined men and women worth far more than their pay
For their blood, sweat, and tears are what’s shed everyday.

You worked 11 to 7, sometimes 3 to 11,
Proudly wearing the numbers two-zero-five-seven.
You saw the depravity of man, of the height of his crimes,
And wore a black band on your own badge at times.

You heard jokes about donuts, free meals, time in court,
By those that won’t see all your written reports
That witness to the bravery that marks your career
Of protecting and serving us year after year.

They won’t know of the robberies, or the panic alarms,
Or the daughters in need, or those you rescued from harm.
Or the times you drove way across town on the double,
Responding to calls of officer in trouble.

They won’t know of the times you encountered resistance
Or the times when you selflessly offered assistance
To someone in need in the pouring down rain.
Or the times you were injured but you didn’t complain.

Or the times you drove, weary, your substation in sight,
Your thoughts fixed on a person that went missing that night.
Bearing the guilt of a job left undone
And shedding your tears for that 10-31.

Leatherneck, Jarhead, Brother in Blue,
When the moment came calling you did what you had to do.
Your haven was duty, to protect was your call.
You defended your friends, giving more than your all.

Somewhere on a shelf rests an oft opened book.
There are 66 chapters and if you’d just take a look
In that book is the standard of love for the ages
For us all to live by, and on one of its pages
It describes men such as Bryan, whose duty now ends:
“Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

XMFX
Fifth Third Bank, Columbus, OH

January 10, 2005

The story about what happened to Bryan
says it all. Although mortally wounded, he took the fight to the criminal who endangered the lives of everyone in that bank. He gave his life
so that others might live. That is the truest definition of a hero and a warrior.

To Bryan's family: Know that Bryan will live on in the hearts and minds of his brothers and sisters in blue. He will not be forgotten. I hope you find solace in knowing that Bryan is with the Lord now, and although it hurts now that you can't see him, you will all be together again someday.

Officer Todd Riggins
St. Augustine Police Department
St. Augustine, Florida

Police Officer Todd Riggins
St. Augustine Police Department

January 10, 2005

God Bless the wife and baby daughter of officer Bryan Hurst. Along with God, baby girl, Daddy will watch over you. For Bryan's parents, grandparents, siblings and other family members as a mother of a fallen officer I know besides being a hero he was a son, grandson, brother as well. My heart aches for you so. Here is a poem someone gave me that helps me get through each day.

OUR FAMILY CHAIN
WE LITTLE KNEW THAT MORNING,
GOD WAS GOING TO CALL YOUR NAME,
IN LIFE WE LOVED YOU DEARLY.
IN DEATH WE DO THE SAME.
IT BROKE OUR HEARTS TO LOSE YOU,
YOU DID NOT GO ALONE.
FOR PART OF US WENT WITH YOU,
THE DAY GOD CALLED YOU HOME.
YOU LEFT US BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES,
YOUR LOVE IS STILL OUR GUIDE,
AND THOUGH WE CANNOT SEE YOU,
YOU ARE ALWAYS BY OUR SIDE.
OUR FAMILY CHAIN IS BROKEN,
AND NOTHING SEEMS THE SAME,
BUT AS GOD CALLS US ONE BY ONE,
THE CHAIN WILL LINK AGAIN.

David Abella's Mom EOW 4/21/04

January 10, 2005

On behalf of the members of the Sutherlin Police Department, I send to you, our heartfelt condolences and prayers in your time of sadness. May your fallen officer’s legacy live on in the memories of his friends and family. Rest now brother, after a job well done. We’ll take it from here.

Cpl. Justin Marquis
Sutherlin Police Department, Sutherlin, Oregon

January 9, 2005

May you rest in peace Officer Hurst. May God watch over you, your family and your colleagues. You died a hero, an assassinated hero who was singled out because you were part of the thin blue line.

SFC William L. Farrell
US Army Military Police, Ret.

January 9, 2005

My thoughts and prayers are with the family and the Columbus P.D.

Fallen but never forgotten.

Bryan Laurie Son of Fallen officer
Nathan Laurie EOW 7-29-04

January 9, 2005

Bryan may you rest in peace now my brother...God Bless!

Detective Scott Alexander
Columbus Division of Police

January 9, 2005

Brian,
It seems just like the other day we were meeting each other in the academy. You always had a smile to brighten up a day and always a joke to get us to laugh. I will miss you, our 95th recruit class will miss you, and the many members of the division who ever came to know you will miss you. You are a HERO and a went on to be with God as a WARRIOR!

Police Officer Jim Gilbert
Columbus Division of Police

January 9, 2005

Officer Hurst, You, your family, and your depatment are in my thought. Rest in peace.

P. Williams
Ford County Sheriff's Office

January 9, 2005

There is no greater love than a man who will lay down his life for another. May God bless the Hurst Family in the loss of a fallen officer, husband and father. Our prayers are with the family and the Columbus Division of Police

Tracey Lomax Patrolman
Indianapolis Police Department

January 9, 2005

may you rest in peace my brother.

Deputy Ohio
Sheriff's Department Ohio

January 9, 2005

My deepest sympathies to the entire Hurst Family. Rest In Peace Brother!

Ofc. Scott Barnes
Daytona Beach Police Department

January 9, 2005

The hearts of all of the Williston Officer's goes out to the friends and families and fellow officers. May officer Hurst be laid to rest with pride for all he has done.

I have been where you fear to be,
I have seen what you fear to see,
I have done what you fear to do -
All these things I have done for you.
The one you ask to stand apart,
The one you feel should have no heart,
The one you call "The Officer in Blue,"
But I'm just a person, just like you

Officer Gowans
Williston Police, Williston Vermont

January 9, 2005

As a native of Ohio I know the City of Columbus well. As I visit friends during the 4th of July in Ohio I see the same problems we see in New York. To the family of Officer Bryan Hurst I send my deepest sympathy. He was a brave man who gave his life protecting someones, wife, husband, son and daughter's life.

Sgt. Daniel D. Cecile
Syracuse Police Dept. Syr. New York

January 9, 2005

SEMPER FI!! Rest in peace brother, your mission is complete. You have made us all proud, to say we served with you. May God bless your family.

Joshua McAllister

January 9, 2005

bryan,
They got him today. thanks for looking out. rest in peace

January 9, 2005

I am truly sorry for the loss of yet another Warrior. To the wife and daughter my prayers are with you both forever as well as the rest of his family. God Speed.

State Trooper D Osborne/K-9 Coco
Tennessee Highway Patrol

January 9, 2005

To Officer Bryan Hurst's family, and memebers of the Columbus, Ohio Police Department. Please know that our thoughts and our prayers are with you. We offer our sincere condolences, and may God comfort your wife and daughter.

Lt. Harry W. Burton, Sr.
Hawkins County Tennessee Sheriff's Dept.
Judy Burton, Probation Officer, Hawkins County, Tennessee

Lt. Harry W. Burton, Sr.
Hawkins County Tennessee Sheriff's Department

January 9, 2005

Rest in Peace , My Brother in Blue. May God be with you, your Family, Friends and Brothers and Sisters in Blue of Columbus Division of Police. Godspeed Officer Hurst.

NJ Patrol Officer
rpd

January 9, 2005

Our hearts are very heavy as we read of yet another life lost so needless. We can share in your loss and tell you we know what pain and heartache you feel. We lost our only child Police Officer Shane Miller May 15 of this year. he was 27 years old. Had only worked 6 hours as a police officer.
We will pray that God will give Bryans wife and family the strength to go through the lonely days ahead. Trust in God, hold close your family and friends and always know you have a brotherhood and family survivors who will be there for you.
We know Officer Bryan is at rest now. His tour here on earth is over and he is with Shane our son and all the other HEROS. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL IS OUR PRAYER.

Tony & Sue Miller
Whiteville N. C.

January 9, 2005

It is with heavy hearts that we once again lay to rest a true hero. May God watch over your daughter and grant her the comfort of knowing that her father's actions saved many lives. We will honor your memory and never forget you.

Sergeants Rich & Kelly Weiner
Columbus Division of Police

January 9, 2005