Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

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

August 25, 2005

Thank you for all you have done. My thoughts and prayers are with your family and S.O. Watch over us... we've got it from here. You will never be forgotton. RIP brother.

CO NARC

August 25, 2005

May God Bless and comfort your family during this great loss to your loved ones, co workers, and friends.

Stephanie Duplantis
1993 Spouse Survivor

Stephanie Duplantis
Metroplex Chapter COPS

August 25, 2005

Thanks for everything you've done in Law Enforcement. Rest in peace brother.

Officer
Fort Lupton, CO

August 25, 2005

My heart goes out the family and police family of Deputy Bancroft. Stay together and stay strong we are all praying for each of you. God bless you Deputy rest easy now.

Grand Prairie PD/Tx

August 25, 2005

Deputy Bancroft was dedicated and well respected as a narcotics investigator in the Waco area. When I reflect back at the times I spent with Mike I can only rememeber his gental nature and the smile he carried on his face. Mike was truely a nice guy. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and fellow co-workers. Mike you touched alot of lives before you were taken away from us. Your shoes can never be filled. God Bless You and rest in peace fellow brother..........

Officer Craig Tusa
Bellmead Police Department

Officer Craig Tusa
Bellmead Police Department

August 25, 2005

Deputy Bancroft,
You and your family are in our prayers. Rest Easy Brother !

Dep. Paul Sperandeo, Ofc. Amy Sperandeo
Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office, Gretna Police Dept. LA

August 25, 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

August 25, 2005

Michael and I were pretty close growing up as cousins. As time passed and we got older we drifted apart and began to build our adult lives. I had not talked to Michael for almost 2 years until about 3 weeks ago when he was up here in the DFW area. During the time he was up here we got to visit for a very long time as we talked I was quickly blown away by his love and dedication to his job. He entertained many of our family members and myself as we sat around in amazement at hearing some of the stories and things that he had been through. I can say without a doubt that I for one am very proud of him and what he had done with his life as it was very evident that he had made a difference in other peoples lives and helped keep many more safe by helping eliminate wrong doers in the world and keeping them off the streets.

Needless to say we all are feeling a huge loss right now in our lives. I know his wife and kids are going through a lot right now having to deal with his passing but eventually they will be able to look back at his life and know that not only was he a great husband and father but a American hero that helped change peoples lives for the better. All of our prayers and thoughts are with his family down in Franklin and we will all miss him very much. I love and miss you Michael.

Your Cousin,
J.D. Bancroft & Family

J.D. Bancroft
Family Member / Cousin

August 25, 2005

Rest in peace brother, you will not be forgotten.

Officer Shaun McCready
Greenfield Township (PA) Police Department

August 25, 2005

I come to this site just about every day and hope that another warrior has not been brought home on his shield from battle but again another has fallen. You are a true hero and will never be forgotten. Keep wacth over you family and the officers still out on patrol. Comfort your loved ones as they now have a long road ahead of them.

Bob Gordon, father of fallen Chicago Officer Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

Bob Gordon

August 25, 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.

Cpl. Justin Marquis
Sutherlin Police Department, Sutherlin, OR

August 25, 2005

God Bless you,your family and your entire Department Deputy Bancroft.

Officer Bardwell
Grand Prairie PD

August 25, 2005

Thank You Deputy Bancroft for your service and dedication, you will never be forgotten.
To the wife, children, family, friends and Deputy Bancroft's LEO family...
My thoughts and prayers are with you as you must walk down his tradgic and terrible road.
Mrs. Bancroft know that when your husband raised his hand and took an oath to be a police officer you gained a family that stretches throughout the nation. Please reach out to us, we will take a step at a time and help give you the strength to keep walking forward. My best friend was killed in the line of duty one year and 7 days ago. You are not and will never be walking life's journey alone!

Wife of an Indianapolis Police Officer

August 25, 2005

The Florida Police Chiefs Association would like to express our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Deputy Michael Bancroft, and the Robertson County Sheriff's Department. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this time of great sadness. Please take comfort in knowing that your extended law enforcement family grieves with you. Deputy Bancroft, we thank you for your service. You will not be forgotten.

Members and Staff
Florida Police Chiefs Association

August 25, 2005

My thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Bancroft's wife, children, family, friends and co-workers. May God be with you and bless you. Psalm 55:22

Denise Nichols - surviving spouse
Alabama State Trooper Brian K. Nichols EOW 2/17/2002

August 25, 2005

Job well done Deputy Bancroft. Look down on us through the clouds of heaven and know that you will never be forgotten. God bless you, your family, and co-workers.

Chris R.
Deerfield Beach, FL

August 25, 2005

God bless Deputy Sheriff Michael Bancroft, his family, and the Robertson County Sheriff's Department

Corporal P.R. OLIVER
Royal Canadian Mounted Police

August 25, 2005

Rest easy, brother. You, your family, friends and fellow officers are in our thoughts and prayers..............

AZ Narc
Yuma SO

August 25, 2005

May you rest in peace Sir. May God bless you and your family during this difficult time.

Kevin Cannon
Brother of Keith Cannon EOW 5/4/05

August 25, 2005

On behalf of the men and women of the Camillus Police Department, our deepest sympathys to the family, friends and co-workers of Deputy Sheriff Michael Bancroft. Rest in Peace Brother, we now have the Watch.

PBA
Town of Camillus Police Department, NY

August 25, 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 25, 2005

My sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of Deputy Michael Bancroft as well as to the Robertson County Sheriff's Department. Rest in peace Deputy Bancroft, you are gone but will never be forgotten...

Dispatcher Sue Rusch
Punta Gorda PD, Punta Gorda FL

August 25, 2005

Deputy Bancroft....you - your family - friends & co-workers are in my thoughts & prayers in their time of sorrow....please watch over them & your fellow brothers/sisters in blue....REST IN PEACE & WITH EASE....YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN BLUE ANGEL!!!!

girlfriend of a leo
michigan

August 25, 2005

Courage is the thing. All goes if courage goes.

Be at peace Brother.

Heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends and colleagues of Officer Bancroft.

Ofc. Scott Bachman
Baltimore County (MD) PD

August 25, 2005