Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

So sorry your department has lost another fine officer.
I regret that you have to endure another funeral so soon, but I know it will also be a wonderful tribute to
an outstanding person and officer. May God give you
comfort and strength to overcome this tragedy and to
heal your broken hearts. With deepest sympathy from one coast of America to the other.
Lynn Kole
Washington State

May 20, 2006

We can't hope to understand the evil in our world that allows such violence to be directed at innocent people . . . at our friends. While we feel pain, loss, anger and rage, we seek to know and communicate only words of comfort, reassurance and healing for the families of our brother and sister; our brother and sister who have made the greatest sacrifice.

The world doesn't understand such sacrifice. The world doesn't understand women and men that willingly place themselves as a barrier against evil; officers that move towards the danger, rather than away; that face the unthinkable. Officers that face danger to protect the unknown citizen – or each other

Even more than 2,000 years ago, Jesus tried to explain such sacrifice to the world when He said:
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.” (John 15:12-14 MKJV) The world doesn't understand this – but everyone that has sworn the oath and worn the badge does. We understand it from the first day of duty to the last day of our lives.

We can only move forward from losses such as this because we have the sure knowledge that that one day evil will be wiped from this world and we will be reunited with those brothers and sisters that have gone on before us. Until that day comes, we will continue to pray for God's comfort and blessing to be upon the families of Vicky and Mike and His abundant protection to be over each officer and detective serving across this land.

Dana Libby, Major (Ret.)
Fairfax County Police

May 20, 2006

My thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Garbarino. I am very sorry that you must endure the pain of his tragic, senseless death. May you rest in peace, sir. You are remembered as a true hero.

Mary Kay Balchunas
Mother of Jay Balchunas, EOW 11/5/04

May 19, 2006

My thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Master Officer Garbarino.
Never forget your hero.

Invest. Mike Bradford; Ret
Tallahassee Police Dept

May 19, 2006

Rest in peace Officer

Jayson Mills
Oakville, Ontario, Canada

May 19, 2006

Rest in peace Officer

Jayson Mills
Oakville, Ontario, Canada

May 19, 2006

Fairfax County lost two heroes due to the malicious act of a coward. There may be some who will mourn his loss, but not the hundreds of thousands who now mourn the loss of Officer Garbarino and Detective Armel, many of us having never even met them.

God Bless Officer Garbarino and those he left behind and may he Rest in Peace.

Ptl. Jim Leahy, Jr.
Harvard University Police Dept.

May 19, 2006

Hello,
We did not know you and we are not part of the police family ourselves, but we still love you! Your presence and work here in our community (London Towne) has been nothing less than outstanding, and we feel blessed. We also feel heartbroken to lose two from our own Sully Station District. Please know that we thank you, are proud of you and honor you. We are behind our police department 100%. Thank any and all officers reading this... especially from the Sully Station District - we appreciate you more than you will ever know.

The Mallon's
Centreville (London Towne) Residents

May 19, 2006

Mike,
For some reason I could never call you "Gabby" not sure why, but to me you never looked like a Gabby. Now I know what to call you "Hero". You have always been a Hero to our department, the citizens of Fairfax and my Hero. Well Hero, you've done your job and now its time to rest. We will miss you and we have one less Hero in this world, but we never forget Heros. Thank You

Tom Black
FCPD

MPO Thomas Black
Fairfax County Police

May 19, 2006

To The Garbarino Family

Mike was truly a Hero on May 8, 2006. Thank you for sharing Mike with us.

He always gave his welcoming and pleasant smile. It was always such a pleasure when he would stop by the office to chat with me. I will truly miss him.

May the Garbarino family find peace in holding your memories close in their hearts. God Bless you. Mike, rest peacfully in God's loving arms.

Joan Edwards, Admin Assistant
Fairfax County Police-Central Records

May 19, 2006

To the family and friends of MPO Michael Garbarino,

He is not a hero because he died, he is a hero because of how he lived.

As a Police Officer and Survivor you and your family will always remain in my prayers.

God Bless You and Keep You.

Det. Christopher Hodges
Miami-dade Police Department

May 19, 2006

Mike,

We will all be praying for you. Rest in peace.

Lt. Steve Kovacs
Fairfax County Sheriff's Office

May 19, 2006

Again......Just so extremely sorrowful.....My son spoke highly of Officer Garbarino. May he rest in peace. To his loving family I offer my deepest sympathy and to the Officers of the Fairfax County Police Department I offer the same. May the Lord watch over all the men and women who are our public servants and keep them safe.

Mother of a Fairfax County Police Officer

May 19, 2006

In Valor there is Hope.

Policeman's 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want,
His comforting hand reduces fear to naught;
He makes me walk through streets of crime,
But He gives me courage and peace of mind.

He leads me by still waters in the path I trod,
And He says in Romans I'm a "minister of God,"
He leads me in righteousness as He restores my soul,
For His name's sake He keeps me whole.

When I walk through death's valley, right up to the door,
I will fear no evil, for He comforts me more;
For Thou art with me every step of the way,
As thy rod and thy staff protect me each day.

He prepares a table, especially for me,
As I work daily among life's enemies;
He gives me authority to uphold the law,
And He anoints my position in the midst of it all.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me,
Each day of my life through eternity;
As I long to hear Him say, "Well done...,"
When I lay down my life, my badge, and my gun.

Author Unknown

P.O. Chris Welby
Bridgeton, Mo

May 19, 2006

Gabby,
Thank you for laughing at my jokes. Thank you for giving me your shoulder to lean on when I needed it. Thank you for sharing stories with me about our children. Thank you for backing me up on calls, making me feel safe because I had a damn good officer with me. Thank you for helping me out in our SRO functions. Thank you for your humor. Thank you for being a friend.

Although I had not seen you since I retired, a wave of emotions hit me as I watched Fox news and heard your voice once more. I cried all morning. I couldn't get over the fact that a decent human being and great cop has been taken from us.

I pray that your daughters know that you are with God and that you will still be with them and Susie whispering the "I love you's" in their ears.


I am a better person to have known you! May God bless your soul, your family, and your co-workers.

God, I'm proud to say I worked for a damn good, professional police department. I am impressed by the way everyone has handled themselves from the day of the shooting till now. I'm sure you are just as proud, Gabby, as you watch from Heaven.

I will always remember the actions you and Vicky took to save your fellow brothers and sisters. You both are heros.

Goodbye my friend!

Bibi

MPO Brigitte "Bibi" Griffin
Fairfax County PD retired

May 19, 2006

What a shame to lose another hero, by a cowardly act. You will remain in our thoughts and prayers always, you will never be forgotten.
A Part Of America Died,

Somebody killed a policeman today,
And 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 he walked was a battle field too
just as if he had 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 locked doors,
A cop put his life on the line.
Now his ghost walks a beat on a dark city street,
And stands at each new rookies' side.
He answered the call,of himself and gave his all,
And a part of America died.
God Bless You All,
Marilyn Robinson
aka MamaWolf
the Chauffeur Internet Radio
Canon City, Colorado

Marilyn Robinson aka MamaWolf
The Chauffeur Internet Radio

May 19, 2006

Mike,
I know it is supposed to hurt when you loose someone but I did not know it would hurt like this.
Working with you in Mclean all those years was a blessing in itself. I pride myself on the memory that we were the "terror of the toads" in 310 and 320. we did alot of good police work and I learned alot from you just watching you "do your thing."
I find pride in the fact that after all these years you were still out on the road a true "patrolman" until your last breath. You were a great cop a great friend both to me and my father. I find comfort in the fact that you are in a better place and will "back that unit" from gods side

321D rest in peace

A J ABDO
HPD

A J Abdo

May 19, 2006

may god bless officer garbarino and his family as well as all his friend's and co-worker's.he will never be forgotten in the law enforcement.god bless and r.i.p.

deputy
fairfield county s-o lancaster,ohio

May 19, 2006

You are in our prayers and thoughts. God Bless.

P.O. M. Simi
Chicago Police Department

May 19, 2006

Gabby....it is with an immeasurable sense of disbelief and loss that I write this reflection. Even though you were severly wounded, you managed to warn and protect other officers who were responding to you and Vicky's aid, and by doing so, prevented further tragedy from happening. Your actions were truly heroic, and may you rest in peace knowing that your courage, sacrifice, but most of all your memory will never be forgotten.

Second Lieutenant John P. Naylor
Fairfax County Police Department

May 19, 2006

To the family, friends and sibling officers of Master Police Officer Garbarino, may God be with all of you during this terribly difficult time. Rest in peace our brother!

Detective Mark Techmanski
City of Syracuse, NY Police Department

May 19, 2006

God bless the family of this officer. Our hearts are with you all. Thank you for your service, Sir. Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Warmest regards,
The Tillmans

Sergeant John Tillman and Jaime Tillman
Sand Springs Police Department, Oklahoma

May 19, 2006

My thoughts are with your family. Thank you for your work. Rest in Peace Brother in blue

T. Owen
D.C.C.C.D Police Department

May 19, 2006

You have made the ultimate sacrafice and now it is time for you to rest. You will not be forgotten! My sympathies go out to everyone with the Fairfax County P.D.



AWAY
-James Whitcomb Riley

I cannot say, and I will not say
That he is dead. He is just away!

With a cheery smile and a wave of the hand,
He had wandered into an unknown land.

And left us dreaming how very fair
It needs must be, since he lingers there.

And you-oh you, who the wildest yearn
For the old time step and the glad return-

Think of him faring on, as dear
In the love of There as the love of Here;

And loyal still, as he gave the blows
Of his warrior strength to his country's foes-

Mild and gentle, as he was brave,
When the sweetest love of his life he gave

To simple things; where the violets grew
Pure as the eyes they were likened to,

The touches of his hands have strayed
As reverently as his lips have prayed;

When the little brown thrush that harshly chirred
Was dear to him as the mocking-bird;

And he pitied as much as a man in pain
WA writing honey-bee wt with rain.

Think of him still as the same, I say;
He is not dead - he is just - away!

Robert McMillan, Animal Control Officer
Modesto Police Department

May 19, 2006

To the family friends and fellow Officers of M.P.O. Garbarino.

Please know that your husband, father and partners sacrifice will never be forgotten. His memory lives on in the hearts of those who knew and loved him and in the lives yet to be live out by all who wear the badge.

May God be with you all in your hour of grief.

Retired Deputy Sheriff D. Chris Schultz
Missoula County Sheriff's Department Missoula Montana

May 19, 2006