Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest in peace sir. God bless!

Shannon
Collins Fire Dept

May 6, 2005

While it is no consolation for your loss, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to the family and fellow officers of Deputy Cannon.

While I did not have the privilege to have known him personally, I am certain that he has found a place in heaven through his selfless service to those he swore to protect.

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

Anonymous

May 6, 2005

Our sincere condolences go out to the family of Deputy Cannon and to all the personnel of the Richland County Sheriff's Department 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

May 6, 2005

Rest in peace brother.

May 6, 2005

My prayers and thoughts are with Keith's family and friends. May Keith rest in peace and we are now blessed to have him watch over all of us.

Agent Christine Tull
SC Dept of Probation

May 6, 2005

To the fiance' of Deputy Cannon,

I left a reflection two days ago expressing my sympathy on the death of Keith. At that time I did not realize that Keith not only left behind a mother, brother, but also a fiance'. Please know that you have a strong support group available if you ever need to talk. I am the fiance' of Deputy Joseph C. Rodgers killed in Florence County, South Carolina in 1997. It has been eight years since Joey was taken from me, but not a day goes by that he is not remembered. I have had the honor of meeting many members of Richland County SO including the Sheriff, and I know you will have a tremendous amount of support through the department. Please never hesitate to reach out and contact me if you ever need to talk. I have had the pleasure of joining a Fiance' and Significant Others Group where there are many girls who are just like you and me. We all lost the love of our lives, but have become great friends through a tragedy. It has been so comforting to have the opportunity to speak with people who understand you. Know in your heart that Keith died making the ultimate sacrifice and will never be forgotten. My prayers go out to you and Keith's family. May God be with you.

Dana Moody
Fiance' of Deputy Joey Rodgers
Florence County South Carolina
member of fiance' and significant other group

Dana Moody
Fiance' of Deputy Joey Rodgers eow4-9-97

May 6, 2005

It breaks my heart each time I see another name added. But I know Heaven has another HERO. May GOD bless your family and friends at this time. Rest in peace, Sir.

Shirley Roberts
Aunt of Fallen Officer John Logan EOW-3-14-2004

May 6, 2005

I will always remember Keith's truly outstanding personality and dedication to law enforcement. His sense of humor and charm could put a smile on anyone's face. Keith was an excellent officer and we will miss him dearly.

Agent Allison McKellar
South Carolina Dept. of Probation, Parole and Pardon Svcs.

May 6, 2005

My thoughts and prayers are with the Cannon family and Deputy Cannon's fiancee. It is so sad to see another officer so very young taken much too soon. My fiance was a little over a month shy of turning 21, but these young men had so much bravery and courage that many of us can only stand and look in awe at. Please know that you are part of a huge family who can pick you up when you are down. Hold onto your precious memories, no one and nothing can ever take them away. Deputy Cannon will always be remember in the LEO family. God bless you all on the rest of your journey until you see him again.

Jessi Garger
Fiancee of Cole Martin EOW 4.25.03

May 6, 2005

You were way too young. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I hope that some day they can find peace. God Bless.

Anonymous

May 6, 2005

My thoughts and prayers go out to all of Deputy Cannon's family and friends. He was a truly remarkable person and friend who will be missed by everyone whose life he touched.

Paige Mathias, Agent
South Carolina Probation, Parole, and Pardon Services

May 6, 2005

From our family to yours, may God give you strength to get through these difficult times. Keith paid the ultimate price and now is in Peace standing next to his brothers and sisters.

Detective P. Di Pasqua
La Habra Police

May 6, 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

May 6, 2005

Keith, I will never forget our conversation when you told me that your heart belonged to Jesus Christ. I find great comfort in that. You are truly missed and I look forward to seeing you again one day!!!

Tara Horton

May 6, 2005

REST IN PEACE, GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY...

TROOPER J.R. FLEMING
NC STATE HIGHWAY PATROL

May 6, 2005

I pray your family and friends will find strength and comfort in theses reflections. May your spirit have a joyous homecoming and may you eternally “Rest high on the mountain

D/Sgt. Vencent Woods
State of Michigan Department of Environmental Quality

May 6, 2005

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 Deputy Sheriff Byron ( Keith ) Cannon and the Richland County Sheriff's 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 and their families. Remember the men and women who died trying to make this world a safer and better place for us all to live in. 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.

Officer David Carroll
Choctaw, Oklahoma

May 6, 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

May 6, 2005

I just read the memorial for Deputy Keith Cannon. I feel for the his fiance, mother and co-workers. It is my prayer that they find some sense of peace during this very difficult time.
Just know that there are lots of folks across this country that care very deeply...even old retired cops in Texas. Thanks to the efforts of the ODMP, it makes it easy to reach across and hold your hand. God bless y'all.

Patrolman Doug Hutchison
Irving Police Department, Texas, retired.

May 6, 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.

Corporal Justin Marquis
Sutherlin Police Department, Sutherlin, OR

May 6, 2005

May you rest in peace, Deputy Cannon. Your service is appreciated. Even though I didn't know you, my prayers are with you and your loved ones. May they take comfort in knowing you are in a better place.

Jason

May 6, 2005

Deputy Sheriff Cannon,
I would like to say thank you for your service to the citizens of Richland County.

R.I.P.
Anonymous

May 6, 2005

Brother, your shift is over and now you can rest. We will take it from here. My prayers to your family, until we meet... Rest in Peace.

Corporal Gregory A. Cohn
Florida Highway Patrol

May 6, 2005

Godspeed, Sir.......

Wife of a Sgt
Macomb County Sheriff Dept, MI

May 6, 2005

Byron although we didnt know you, our heart felt prayers go out to you and your family. Just remember the immediate family and the extended family, ie the family of "blue." Both will need help getting through the next couple months.

Rest easy buddy, we will take the watch from here.

ROSS COUNTY OHIO DEPUTY SHERIFF
CHILLICOTHE OHIO POLICE DEPARTMENT

May 6, 2005