Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I also had the great honor of watching Jay's law enforcement career from the beginning. He was one of the most professional dispatchers I will ever know, when I had the opportunity to serve with him as an Officer in Sikeston. He became one of the finest Public Safety Officers that Sikeston will ever know, and I will always remember watching him walk across the stage for one of the proudest moments of his life, academy graduation day, when he was appointed a Trooper with the Highway Patrol. Above all else, he became a dear friend of both my wife and I. To this day, I perform my duties as a dispatcher in a way that I can only hope reflects directly of Jay's consummate professionalism.

Jay was truly a good-hearted person, an exceptional law enforcement professional, and a true friend. I can only say to his family that he touched the lives of all who came to know him in a way very few people can. While those who knew Jay could say so many wonderful things about him, all that needs to really be said is this: “Goodbye, my friend, you will be deeply missed.”

Dispatcher Jim Sebourn
Chandler, AZ Police Department

August 19, 2005

The men and women of the Mahomet Police Department extend our deepest sympathies to the family, friends and co-workers of Trooper Sampietro.

Thank you for your service. God bless you.

Rest in peace Sir!

Mahomet, IL Police Dept.

August 19, 2005

Your Family and the Missouri State Highway Patrol is in our prays. Rest in Peace Trooper.

TFC Jason W. Ginn
Mississippi Highway Patrol

August 19, 2005

TO THE FAMILY OF CORPORAL SAMPIETRO JR. AND THE MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL. OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU FROM YOUR OHP FAMILY. YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN

TROOPER STEVE NABORS #586
OKLAHOMA HIGHWAY PARTOL

August 19, 2005

God bless the family, friends and co-workers of Corporal Sampietro.

mjw 643

August 19, 2005

It saddens me deeply to hear of such a tragic lost. May God be with your family. Rest in peace and Godspeed.

Trooper Collins
SC Highway Patrol

August 19, 2005

I had the honor of working with Jay when I was a patrolman in the City of Rogersville, where he had called home for the past few years. Jay was always quick with a smile and a laugh, and you could count on him to have your back on a traffic stop, or whenever you were in a jam.

Jay's devotion to his his wife and his two beautiful children, and his loyalty and dedication to his job and his friends, is an example for us all to strive to live up to. The citizens of the State of Missouri have truly lost a hero in uniform.

The world just won't seem the same without you, bro. Rest in peace.

Deputy Darian Caplinger
Christian County Sheriff's Department (Missouri)

August 19, 2005

Again we mourn as another hero is taken from us. My deepest sympathy to the family, friends and co-workers of Corporal Sampietro Jr. 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.

August 19, 2005

The Sampietro family is in our hearts and prayers. From the Troopers of Troop 2 Post B.

Lance Corporal S.C. Garren
South Carolina Highway Patrol

August 19, 2005

Cpl Sampietro has paid the ultimate price serving the citizens of Missouri. May God bless you, my brother, as you now watch over all of us. My thoughts and prayers go out to Cpl Sampietro's family.....please know that you are never alone. Everyone in law enforcement is with you.

Patrolman Chris Jaekl
New Berlin, WI Police Department

August 19, 2005

To all family and friends of Cpl. Sampietro,
My thought and prayers are with you. I did not work or know him directly, but every time we loose someone in uniform it is a waste. From what I have heard from the officers I do get to work with, he was a wonderful man and will be missed.

Lori Minor
Traffic Safety Alliance

August 19, 2005

On behalf of the entire Vinita Park Police Department, I would like to express condolences to the Family, friends and MSHP for the tragic loss of Cpl. Sampietro. May he Rest in Peace.

Lt. Rick Fairman
Vinita Park Police Department

August 19, 2005

God bless Corporal Sampietro, his family, and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Trooper
Virginia State Police

August 19, 2005

Myself and the staff of the Springfield-Greene County Missouri 911 Center would like to express our condolences to both the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection District, both of which were served by Cpl Sampietro. We especially feel for Cpl. Sampietro's wife Jennifer, a telecommunicator for MSHP. We wish Jay godspeed-he will be sorely missed.

Asst. Director J.R. Webb
Springfield-Greene County 911

August 19, 2005

I had the honor of working with officer Sampietro in his position as a volunteer firefighter. I want to offer my deepest sympathies to his family and to his extended family in the Highway Patrol and in the fire service community. God Bless!
Jake Archer

Chief Jake Archer
Ozark Fire Protection district

August 19, 2005

Our thoughts and prayers go out to This Officer, as well as the Family, Friends, Department and Community.

This is a loss that will never be forgotten. Hours will turn into days, days turn into weeks, weeks into months and months into years but, the difference that these officers have made will last forever.

We lost Our Deputy Morris Taylor on September 14, 2002. When he joined the other Angels in Blue.

God Bless Our Law Enforcement Officers and Those Who Love Them.

Jack & Tracy Van Dolah
Former LEO/U.S.M.C. & Wife in Sutherlin, Oregon

August 19, 2005

Rest In Peace.

Special Agent Darin L. Paul
FBI

August 19, 2005

Peace be with you and your family.

[email protected]

August 19, 2005

On behalf of the Nixa Fire Protection District our thoughts and prayers are with Corporal John Sampietro Jr's family, friends and the members of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of a brother within the emergency services.

Chief Jimmy Sebree
Nixa Fire Protection District

August 19, 2005

In a couple of hours I leave for Springfield, Mo to see my friend for the last time. Cpl. Sampietro began his career in Law Enforcement in Sikeston. I watched him grow from a young Cadet to a Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper. If anyone on the face of earth reflects the true meaning of being a Police Officer, it was Jay Sampietro. I was fortunate enough to have been with Jay and his family this last weekend in Sikeston, during the Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo (another passion of Jay's). Jay and I are brothers in blue, although not a blood relative, Jay IS my brother.

Jay had one word that he used consistantly and proudly, "outstanding".

Well my brother, "outstanding job"

Lt. Dennis R. Irwin
Sikeston Dept. of Public Safety, Sikeston, Mo.

August 19, 2005

We are deeply saddened by the loss of Corporal Sampietro, for his wife and children, for his co-workers and all those who will miss him. We pledge to continue to try to educate drivers and raise awareness of the consequences of driving selfishly without regard for the safety of others. We pray that this tragedy will serve as a warning to all of us that we can never treat driving in an inattentive manner. We pray that this tragedy will result in stronger support of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the protection they provide.

Paula Gleason
Safety Council of the Ozarks

August 19, 2005

I only got the privilege of meeting Jay one time, but Jay is the kind of person you never forget. He was so funny and had everybody laughing. I now hold it as an honor, that I knew Jay Sampietro. My prayers go out to the Sampietro family. He will never be forgotten.

Deputy Travis Sargent
Stafford County Virginia Sheriff's Office

August 19, 2005

To the Sampietro and MSHP family. Having just lost one of my own I feel your pain. We can never understand why these things happen. I hope that you know, John is a hero to us all having given the ultimate sacrifice. Myself and the Kirkwood Police department want you to know that you are in our prayers.

Patrolman Tim Brand
Kirkwood Police

August 19, 2005

In the late '90's Jay worked part time for a local radio staion in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Many of us here at the dealership would try to hide from him and the microphone, not wanting to be on the air during the live remotes we had. He'd always talk us into going on the air and you felt like you were just talking to a good friend. It's been said a lot in the newspapers around here this week, and it's really true...Jay had a personality that lit up the room and you felt he would do anything he could to help someone in any way he could.

It's obvious even to those of us who didn't know him as well as his fellow troopers, that he was a great asset to the Mo. Highway Patrol.

Bob Stell
Blackwell Baldwin Ford

August 19, 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 19, 2005