Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Thanks for all the help, the smiles, and the back up. Your smile will be greatly missed.

Corporal Johnson
Georgia regional

August 16, 2005

Our Greatest Fear

Yet once again the Thin Blue Line is diminished,
an officer’s final tour of duty is finished.
"Officer down", it’s our greatest fear,
and once again, I hold back a tear.
They patrol in the state, city, county and town,
in uniforms colored white, green, blue and brown.
The shape of their badges may vary,
but it’s a symbol that they all, proudly carry.
They leave for work with a kiss goodbye,
but some don’t come home, no matter how hard they try.
To uphold the law is the job that they pick,
with such high aspirations, why must some die so quick?
They leave behind loved ones, family and friends,
after their lives have met tragic ends.
Some die in crashes, others hearts not too stout,
to many have been lost when gunshots ring out.
Our Heavenly Father has called them home,
no more these dark streets do they roam.
Through trial and error they have given their best,
please Lord, now grant them eternal rest.
Yet once again the Thin Blue Line is diminished,
an officer’s final tour of duty is finished.
"Officer down", it’s our greatest fear,
and once again I hold back a tear.

Officer Shawn Eckhart
Federal Officer

August 16, 2005

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Officer Francis Ortega, his good deeds to his community and country will always be remembered. May God bless you.

Chief Ferrell J. Stewart
Cooter, MO Police Department

August 16, 2005

Our deepest sympathy to the family of Police Officer Francis Ortega and the
Pine Lake Police Department...our hearts and prayers are with you all...... Thank you for a job well done Francis... rest in peace as you continue your watch from the heavens......your memory will never be forgotten...

God Bless....Be Safe..... and wear your vests...

Vin, Pook and all of us at beyond-the-blue

Vinman and Pooky- Site Owners
beyond-the-blue

August 15, 2005

God Bless you Officer Ortega. Your hard work and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Ofc. Sabetazm
Southern Polytechnic State University Police Dept.

August 15, 2005

It doesn't take much,
to take someone down.
Just a single bullet, that can bounce around.

A vest or not,
the bullet will find a way.
On any kind of night,
it can take someone away.

The bulletin was heard,
and every officer knew,
the one they called their own
had just left the team in blue.

Everyone knew,
this day could come.
and now everyone is left
feeling helpless and numb.

The killer is in jail,
but how little it eases the pain.
Because a mother and father,
know things will never be the same.

He was one of many
who answered the late night calls,
and now he will be one of many,
who's name is left on Washington walls.

Rest easy Ofc. Ortega as you have gone to a better place, and always know that you will never be forgotten and will missed. Deepest smypathies to Officer Ortega family and friends, thanks you everything you did

RIP

August 15, 2005

May God Bless the family of Officer Ortega
and his fellow Officers. This has been a very tryig month for Law Enforcement. May God watch over and protect each LEO and their families.

C.O.
BMSP

August 15, 2005

God bless you and may he be with your son throughout his life. Thank you for your sacrifice, it will NEVER be forgotten. Rest easy brother.

Captain Scott Wright
Mount Holly Police Department, NC

August 15, 2005

Rest in Peace...

Police Officer
Syracuse Police Dept,NY

August 15, 2005

May GOD bless your family and friends at this terrible time. Thank you for serving and protecting. Rest in peace, Sir.

Shirley Roberts
Aunt of Fallen Officer John Logan EOW-3-14-04

August 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

August 15, 2005

Thanks for the dedicated service. Rest easy. My prayers are with your family and department.

LT M. Bishop
Henry County Police Department

August 15, 2005

May you rest in peace now brother. You went to be another one of our Lord's police officers. You will never be forgotten for your bravery and dedication to the people you served.

Pfc. Michael Davis
Brunswick (Ga.) Police Dept. Traffic Unit

August 14, 2005

You are a testament to why people enter law enforcement: to help people and to serve mankind. You will not be forgotten. Godspeed brother...

Ofc. John East
Metropolitan Police Department, Washington DC

August 14, 2005

Somebody killed a policeman today,
and a part of America died.
A piece of our country he swore to protect,
will be buried with him at his side.
The suspect that shot him will stand up in court,
with counsel demanding his rights.
While a young widowed mother must work for her kids,
and spend many long, lonely nights.
The beat that he walked was a battle field too,
just as if he'd gone off to war.
Though the flag of our nation won't fly at half mast,
to his name they will add a gold star.
Yes, somebody killed a policeman today,
in your town or mine.
While we slept in comfort behind our locked doors,
a cop put his life on the line.
Now his ghost walks a beat on a dark city street,
and he stands at each new rookie's side.
He answered the call, of himself gave his all,
and a part of America died.


"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God."

August 14, 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 SE Iowa. Dennis died doing a job he loved, just as I'm sure Francis did. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Francis be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Officer Ortega'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 these tough times, but there isn't anything I can really say or do to make the situation better. Just know that my thoughts are with you and that you are not alone in your "journey". Should you ever need anything please do not hesitate to contact me. (Dennis' department will also always know how to reach me.)

As a fallen officer "survivor" and a friend, please accept my condolences on behalf of myself and the McElderry family. I never got the opportunity to know Francis but, I am certain he was well respected and well loved. Francis will live on in the hearts of all the lives he touched. You were all lucky to have had him be a part of your lives, even for a short time. I pray that Francis will continue to watch over us all as only he can.

Thank you Officer Ortega 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 and all those who loved you brighter and better days,

Jocelyne :)

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

August 14, 2005

G-d Speed My Brother

uc
odps Inv Unit

August 14, 2005

God Speed, Brother.

P.O. K.Murphy
Union PD, NJ

August 14, 2005

You went to work that day just like you always had in the past - helping those in need both good and bad. I am sure you loved your job as all of us do. You gave the ultimate sacrafice when it was least expected. Our prayers from Kansas are with you, your family, friends, and co-workers. Rest in peace my friend. We will never forget you.

Sergeant
A Kansas Law Enforcement Officer

August 14, 2005

God be with the family, they NEED you now!

Communication Officer Firth
Hapeville Police Department

August 14, 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

August 14, 2005

Officer Ortega you have served well and made the ultimate sacrifice for your community. I pray that you rest in peace and know you are appreciated.
Vaya con el dios. Thank you for your service and honor.

Detective Peter McWilliams
East Point Police Department

August 14, 2005

Rest in Peace Brother we have the Watch

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called thesons of god
Mathews 5:3

Det. Ralls, K.
East Point Police Dept.

August 14, 2005

rest in peace brother

ken black
douglas county s.o

August 14, 2005

My sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of Officer Ortega as well as to the Pine Lake Police Department. Rest in peace Officer Ortega, you are gone but will never be forgotten...

Dispatcher Sue Rusch
Punta Gorda PD, Punta Gorda FL

August 14, 2005