Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Master Deputy J. Alex Burdette

Anderson County Sheriff's Office, South Carolina

End of Watch Saturday, March 12, 2005

Leave a Reflection

Reflections for Master Deputy J. Alex Burdette

Good Bye Comrade God Speed..

Scott Parker, Police Officer
Itasca Police Department, Texas

March 15, 2005

TODAY IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE LOCATED THIS SITE. MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL FOR YOUR THOUGHTS, IT RESTORES MY FAITH IN ALL OF US. ALEX MAY YOU ALWAYS WATCH OVER US ALL, REST IN PEACE YOU EARNED IT.

MASTER DEPUTY J. T. OWENS
ANDERSON COUNTY SHERIFFS OFFICE SC

March 15, 2005

Our son, Sgt. Jeff Hewitt now has another one of our finest to walk the streets of Heaven with him. Jeff was a deputy for the Buncombe County , N.C. Sheriffs' Dept. He lost his life 04/04/04 while serving a commitment warrant.
Each time we learn of another fallen brother, our hearts are filled with pain. We were not priviledged to know Alex but we have already heard so much about him and know God chose him because he had a special assignment for him.
Our prayers go out to his family. We know the pain you're feeling and we want you to know you'll always be included in our prayers. You will not be alone. The emotional support we are still receiving from the Sheriffs' dept. is unparalleled to anything we've ever experienced. As we prepare to travel to Washington D.C. to honor Jeff as his name is placed on the ODMemorial Wall and attend the Memorial Services, you will be on our minds and in our hearts. God bless you and keep you in his care always.

Bill and Pat Hewitt
Travelers Rest, S.C.

March 15, 2005

My thoughts amd prayers are with the family and the Anderson County S.O.

Fallen but never forgotten!

Bryan Laurie son of Fallen Officer
Nathan Laurie EOW 7-29-04

March 15, 2005

First, I have to say thank you for all your prayers.
I worked with Alex for his 4 years at our office and he was always tried to be the best Deputy he could be. Always went out of his way to help someone in need as he did the night he died. He was recently promoted to Investigator and would have started that position in May.
We learned last night that a father of 3 in SC recieved a kidney from Alex. Now hes even helping people after his death. God bless you Alex and watch over your brothers here. We will miss you.

Dispatcher Carmen Shirley
Anderson County Sheriff's Office

March 15, 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

March 15, 2005

Over and beyond your call of duty...literally. That is a true example of selflessness. My condolenses go out to his family and his department. It's not how you died it's how you lived that made you a hero Alex.....Rest At Ease.

SA
United States Secret Service

March 15, 2005

ALEX I WILL MISS YOU SOOOO MUCH. TODAY IS YOUR FUNERAL AND I KNOW GOD IS WATCHING OVER ME AND THE REST OF THE OFFICE TO HELP US THROUGH THIS. HE CHOSE A VERY GOOD MAN LOVE YOU ALWAYS

TINA DISPATCHER/RESERVE DEPUTY
ANDERSON COUNTY S.O.

March 15, 2005

Rest in peace my brother.

Police Officer
Burlington Township PD NJ

March 15, 2005

Rest in peace Deputy Burdette. Your service and dedication will live on through all of us.

Trooper
Ohio State Highway Patrol

March 15, 2005

Your dedication to your community is evident by your actions while off duty. My heart goes out to your family and friends at this time of sorrow. You will never be forgotten.

DE
St. Louis City Police

March 14, 2005

A hero to more than he knows. ©2004

Emory - Ephrata, WA
brother of Ferry County WA Undersheriff Matthew J. Lane, EOW 5/30/03

March 14, 2005

I would like to extend my condolences to Deputy Burdette's family and friends, and to the men and women of the Anderson County Sheriff's Office. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time of tragedy. Rest in peace Deputy Burdette, your duty here is done.

Deputy Sheriff
Butte County Sheriff's Office

March 14, 2005

My Condolences to the family and the Anderson County S.O. Thank you Deputy Burdette for your service to the community and for a job well done.

Cpl Barry W Cannon
Center Hill Police Dept. Center Hill, Fla

March 14, 2005

God bless you, your family, friends, and co-workers. Please give them all angel hugs and kisses from above to let them know you are okay and continue to keep watch over all of them.

Jennifer Aaron
Wife of Ofc. Duke G. Aaron, III (EOW 07/20/04)

March 14, 2005

Sheriff Burdette you are in our prayers.. our family has just suffered the loss of Officer Thomas McMeekin, who was also 28 and was struck by a vehicle. He is survived by his wife and 2 year old daughter. I know what your family is going through.. but just know that God took him for a reason.. he needed him to help watch over you and your family from above..

love and prayers

March 14, 2005

Deputy Burdette....you are a shining example of what most law enforcement stands for....serving and protecting ALWAYS....not just when you have to....May your family and friends find peace and comfort....Godspeed, Sir.....

wife of a Sgt
Macomb County Sheriff Dept, MI

March 14, 2005

My heart aches for the family, friends and co-workers of Deputy Burdette. You have all lost a true hero. May he rest in peace.

Linda Lamm - LEO Wife and Sister of
Jay Balchunas EOW 11/05/04

March 14, 2005

My heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family and fellow officers of Deputy Burdette.

While I did not have the privilege to have known him personally, I am certain that he has found a place in heaven.

Rest in peace my friend; those of us who remain will cover your post on the thin blue line.

Anonymous

March 14, 2005

To the family, friends and co-workers my prayers are with you. The one thing that I kept thinking about was how much Clint loved being a police officer. The last time I saw Clint he said that he had his perfect job. I bet Alex loved his job also, by just reading his memorial he stopped to help direct traffic so no one else would get hurt. Deputy Burdette you are a true hero, your family will miss you everyday, but we will never forget you.

Look Clint up for me tell him I love him and miss him.

Connie Barker
Mother of Clint Walker E.O.W. 1-14-05

March 14, 2005

Our sincere condolences go out to the family of Deputy Burdette and to all the personnel of the Anderson County Sheriff's Office 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

March 14, 2005

My heart breaks for the family, friends, and department of Deputy Burdette. My thoughts and prayers will be with you all as you begin this seemingly endless journey! Just know that God is your strength and your confort in times such as these.

Melita Whitfield
Mother of GCSO Deputy Marcus L Whitfield, E.O.W. 8/13/99

March 14, 2005

Rest in peace, brother. Your time here may have been short, but it was not without a lifetime's worth of honor.
Your service and the sacrifice you made have immortalized you as a true hero- a warrior of justice who was chosen to serve in Paradise with all of those who have gone "above and beyond" in their actions here.
As you take your post, keep watch over your family and all of those who had the privelege of knowing you. Help them to find strength in one another and in the law enforcement community so that they may forge ahead in your absence. Let them find solace in knowing that they were a part of you and you will forever be a part of them. We will keep your wife and little girls in our prayers.
May you find eternal peace now- Godspeed!

A Squad
Woodbridge PD CT

March 14, 2005

Rest in Peace

Correctional Officer
Michigan Dept.of Corrections

March 14, 2005

On behalf of the men and women of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, Industry Station, our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and co-workers of Deputy Burdette. Having lost Deputy Michael Arruda this past year (EOW 06-15-04), we know all too well the pain and reality of losing one of our own. Take comfort from knowing your extended law enforcement family grieves with you.

Industry Sheriff's Station
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

March 14, 2005

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