Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Donnie and his family: You made the ultimate sacrafice brother. I attended your services today, and though I have never met you, my heart was at a loss. May your wife and your two daughters have the strengh and courage to get through this experience. Your fellow brothers and sisters are proud of the service you have done for the citizens of Denver. Please watch over us and protect us. You will always be remembered and all my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Fly high brother in blue.

Police Officer. C
Western, CO

May 13, 2005

From all of us here at Fed Heights...rest easy, brother. From all of your family behind the Thin Blue Line: Your murderer's justice will be swift, and our vengeance will be brutal.

Det. Young is End of Watch...we'll take the next call.

Police Officer
Federal Heights Police Department

May 13, 2005

Our sincere condolences go out to the family of Detective Young and to all the personnel of the Denver Police 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 13, 2005

God bless Detective Young's family and the Denver PD. Rest in peace Detective Young.

Sgt. Paul Huber
Swiss Army MP Service

May 13, 2005

To Det. Young: Though we never met, you are a brother to me. You're in a better place now. Gone are the domestics, the child abusers, the element of society that you so bravely encountered day in and out without reservation. Rest in peace Detective Young and know that you will not be forgotten.

To Det. Young's Family: Though your loss is great and your pain deep, take comfort in the fact that Donald is now with his Heavenly Father, and that he will always be with you until the glorious day you meet again. My deepest sympathy to both Detective Young's immediate family, and to his Denver Police Department Family.

Last and Certainly Least, to the coward(s) that commited this sensless crime: You have just declared a war that you cannot and will not win. Know that wherever you go and whatever you do, there will be a police officer waiting for you, and you will face justice. Justice not only from this world, but a more severe justice from the world after. Police officers will not stop and will not rest until Justice Is Served.

Job well done Detective Young, Rest in Peace, You will never be forgotten.

Ptlm.
Ohio Police Department

May 13, 2005

Farewell Brother. Thank you for your faithfulness and dedication to duty. Rest now with your fellow Heroes of our Thin Blue Line. We are proud to call you Brother. Know for certain your loved ones are never alone for we are but a phone call away.

Bob Johnson VA-VI

Bob Johnson U.S.Marshal's (Ret'd)
Blue Knights International Policee Assn.

May 13, 2005

I am so very sorry for the Denver Police Department and the citizens of Denver. On behalf of all Officers from St. Paul, MN please accept our deepest and most heart felt tears for your loss. To Det. Young's family, we always try to come home safe after keeping everyone else safe. We see the worst side of life and live a life of danger so that our citizens will feel secure. He will always be a hero in the true sense, not only in Denver but everywhere!

S. Sills
St. Paul Police Department, MN

May 13, 2005

rest easy brother...........we got it from here................

Officer
Kentucky PD

May 13, 2005

My fiancé, 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 Donald did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Donald be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Detective Young's 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. If you ever need anything please do not hesistate to contact me. Dennis' department will always know how to reach me.

Please accept my condolences on behalf of the McElderry family and remember that Donald 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 Donald was well respected and well loved. You were blessed to have had him in your life, even for a short time.

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

Wishing you brighter and better days,

Jocelyne :)

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

May 13, 2005

Rest in peace sir. Thank you for your service. God bless.

Shannon
Collins Fire Dept.

May 12, 2005

To the family and friends of Det. Don Young and the men and women of the Denver Police Department, you have my deepest sympathy.

I am sure Don is resting easier now and I know he is in the good company of our other fallen brothers.

I believe they are all up there now looking after the rest of us as we pick up Don's shift.

ATSAIC Peter J. Damos
U.S. Secret Service - San Antonio

May 12, 2005

Det. Young, Family and Denver Police Dept. My thoughts and prayers are with you. God bless you all. Det. Young you will never be forgotten. Rest in peace my Brother

Officer Bob Swope#5609
Olmsted Falls Police Dept. Ohio

May 12, 2005

Again we mourn as another hero is taken from us. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Detective Young. May the Lord give you strength and bless each of you during this time.

Rest in peace for your watch here is over; walk in heavens beat and guide us to protect and serve others safely.

US Ranger Catroppa
National Park Service GA

May 12, 2005

Thank you Detective Young for your service and dedication. It is our prayer that God will grant comfort, strength and peace to your family, fellow-officers and co-workerd.

May God Keep You.

Chaplain Justice and The Bean Station Police Department.

Chaplain Bryce Justice
Bean Station P.D.

May 12, 2005

We're getting closer, justice will be served soon. God Speed brother, rest easy, we've got the watch from here

Trooper
Colorado State Patrol

May 11, 2005

This is a sad case. No sense in this at all. Rest in Peace Brother. We will work to change some things.

Sgt. Brian Burton
Fort Wayne In

May 11, 2005

To the family of Donald Young, please receive my condolences. I am sorry for your grief.

Chaplain Mike Grinnals
Town of Camillus, NY PD

May 11, 2005

my prayers are with the family, friends and co workers of detective young.....

road patrol s. council
plantation

May 11, 2005

Rest in peace, Detective Young. Mrs. Young: I lost my husband 7 weeks ago in the line of duty. I also have 2 young children (a 6 year old daughter and a 3 year old son). I understand your pain. Please try to be strong; God will give you the strength to get through this. Your husband walks a beat in heaven now, he is an an angel in blue looking down on us all. God bless you and your family.

Carin E. Sollman
wife of slain police officer Jesse E. Sollman, EOW 3/25/05

May 11, 2005

You are in my prayers.

Ofc. S.L. Coffman #15174
California Highway Patrol

May 11, 2005

God Bless the family and friends of Detective Young. You will be missed deeply in this great city you served. I hope i can wear the uniform and continue your legacy along with many others. Rest in peace.

Randy Boocher
DPD Hopeful

May 11, 2005

Detective Young

it is sad to know that a fellow brother in blue has died once again. you were the best of the best and you will never be forgotten and we promise you we will find the man who did this to you.

rest in peace brother officer may you watch over us and keep us safe form evil that lurks the streets

Adams county sheriffs deputy
Adams County sheriffs Office

May 11, 2005

We are so saddened to hear of your loss. The terrible crime will not go unpunished, please share with Det. Young's family that he had many brothers who will make sure of that.

God Bless and protect you.

Sgt. Steve Hall
Louisville Metro Police

May 11, 2005

Our thoughts are with the family at this most difficult time, from one and all in Grampian Police. Take care.

Constable Glen Erskine
Grampian Police, SCOTLAND

May 11, 2005

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 Dave Carroll
Choctaw, Oklahoma

May 11, 2005