Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Deputy Sheriff Haven Blake Gammill

Douglas County Sheriff's Office, Georgia

End of Watch Thursday, February 24, 2005

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Reflections for Deputy Sheriff Haven Blake Gammill

Wanted to say that I am so sorry to hear of the death of Deputy Gammill. I did not know him personally, but the pain and sorrow any law enforcement officer has when we hear of one of our family members,(Law Enforcement Family),loosing their lives in the line of duty is real. My prayers go out for the Wife and Children of Blake and his loved ones that God will give them peace and confort in this time of sorrow.

Officer Robert Bowen
Berry College Police Dept.

February 25, 2005

I was assigned to Blake's team at the G8. I worked with him all that week and grew to to like him very much. I will miss him and I know everyone who came into touch with him will to. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Deputy T. White
Cherokee County Sheriff's Office

February 25, 2005

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the Everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and youn men stumble and fall. But those who hope in the Lord will renew strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31 Your son is soaring on wings like eagles and though you may be weary you will not fall. God bless you.

February 25, 2005

Another hero has fallen. Deputy Gammill will not be forgotten. The thin blue line continues and the prayers of a national brotherhood are with are with Deputy Gammills family and co-workers.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God".
Matthew 5:9

HPD 920
EOW 9/16/04

Ptlm J. Joseph
Harriman Police Dept, Tn

February 25, 2005

To the Family, Friends, and Co-Workers,


I'm so sorry for your lose. I know all the well the pain you are feeling right now. I'm so sorry to hear about your officers untimely death. I will not set here and tell you that time will make it better, it's been almost one year from the time we lost our officer and I'm not so sure time has helped at all. Love and memories have helped and they will help for you. They will not make it better, I'm not sure anything does. Just be there for eachother, cry with eachother, remember with each other and smile about the time you had with him. Again, I'm so sorry!!

To Deputy Gammill- rest in peace my brother. We will take the watch from here. Please tell Perry we say hello!!!

Clinton County,Michigan

February 25, 2005

Officer Gammill, thank you for dedicating your life to care for and protect others. May god bless you and your family, friends and co-workers. I know you will be missed by many, but may you rest in peace and know that your loved ones have so much support to help them through this time of mourning. I know how proud they are of you and how sad they are that you have left them at such an young age. My thoughts are definitely with your family, fiancee and two young children. Thank you for risking and giving your life to protect us.

Concerned Civilian

February 25, 2005

I pray that Deputy Gammill's family fines strength and comfort in their time of need. We mourn Deputy Gammill's passing but will always remember what he stood for. Rest in peace Deputy Gammill and God Bless.

Reserve Deputy Shane Beener
Kitsap County Sheriff's Department

February 25, 2005

I am so sorry to see that another Georgia officer has been taken, and he will unfortunately not be the last. My thoughts and prayers will remain with this family, as I know what it is like to walk the road of a "survivor." Take things day by day, and sometimes just minute by minute. There will be a tomorrow, even when you don't know how it will come. Officer Gammill is joining my fiancee, Cole, who has been in Heaven for almost 2 years now. Cole will welcome him, I just know it! God bless everyone this officer leaves behind.

Jessi Garger
Fiancee of P.O. Cole Martin EOW 4/25/03

February 25, 2005

"Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God", Matthew 5:9. Thank you Deputy Gammill for your service and your sacrifice. Rest easy brother your work here is done, you now patrol heavens beat. May God bless your family and all the members of the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

Officer Steven Gau
Miamisburg, OH. Police Dept.

February 25, 2005

My heart, thoughts and prayers are with this family in their time grief.

"Fear not, for I am with the Lord" Isaiah 43:5

Tammy Brashear
Lawrenceville, GA

February 25, 2005

THANK YOU FOR GIVING YOUR LIFE TO SERVE OTHERS. YOU ARE A HERO TO OUR COMMUNITY AND WILL BE MISSED. MAY YOU WALK THE STREETS OF HEAVEN KNOWING YOUR LOVED ONES HERE ON EARTH ARE OKAY. GOD BLESS YOU FOR THIS ULTIMATE SACRIFICE.

February 25, 2005

It had been a little while since the last officer was killed... Guess I was getting my hopes up. To the family of this fine officer, I am sorry that such senseless things happen. He will not be forgotten. "Blessed are the Peace Makers"

Police Officer hopeful

February 25, 2005

Let those who make the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty never be forgotten. Rest in peace, deputy.

Patrolman
Franklin Police Dept, IN

February 25, 2005

My thoughts and prayers go out to your family at this time. My God give them the peace and understanding as to why this has happened and may he also put his loving arms around your agency along with all of the men and women in blue serving around this great nations of ours. You are surely being rewarded in Heaven for all of your hard work. And to all of the spouses out there, may we never forget that when our husbhand/wife go off to work, we may never see them again and always tell them we love them and to be careful but if something does happen, we will see them again on great day when we will be together forever.

Wife of Sgt
Greenville County Sheriff's Office, SC

February 25, 2005

D/S Gammill, My heart goes out to your wife and children.

you're now 10-7.

February 25, 2005

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

February 25, 2005

“When God made Peace Officers….”

When the lord was creating Peace Officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.”

And the Lord said, Have you read the spec on this order? A Peace Officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn’t touch, and not wrinkle their uniform.

They have to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day.

They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half- eaten meals. And they have to have six pairs of hands.

The angel shook her head slowly and said, “Six pairs of hands….No Way.”

“It’s not the hands that are causing me the problems,” said the Lord, “It’s the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have.”

That’s on the standard model? asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before he asks, “May I see what’s in there sir?” (When they already know and wishes they had taken that accounting job.) Another pair here in the side of their head for their partners’ safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, “ You’ll be alright ma’am, when they know it isn’t so.”

“Lord,” said the angel, touching his sleeve,” rest and work tomorrow.”

“I can’t,” said the Lord, “I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on civil service paycheck.”

The angel circled the model of the Peace Officer very slowly, “Can it think?” she asked.

“You bet,” said the Lord, “It can tell you elements of a hundred crimes, recite Miranda warnings in it’s sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five judges to debate the legality of the stop…and still it keeps it’s sense of humor.

This officer also has phenomenal personal control. They can deal with crime scenes painted in HELL, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim’s family’ and then read in the daily paper how Law Enforcement isn’t sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the Peace Officer. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model.”

“That’s not a leak,” said the Lord, “It’s a tear.”

“What’s the tear for?” asked the angel.

“It’s for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, and for justice.”

“You’re a genius,” said the angel.

The Lord looked sober. “I didn’t put it there,” he said.


Anonymous

Senior Instructor
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center

February 25, 2005

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