Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

my deepest sympathy goes out to your family and your co-workers. you are a true hero. rest in peace.

officer r. lavalley
tallassee police department (alabama)

August 24, 2006

With sadness of heart I read this officer's sacrifice.
How do you define hero?
look under S in the dictionary and find Sutphin.
Rest well Brother.

August 24, 2006

To the family of Corporal Sutphin, his co-workers and everyone including the citizens you so bravely protected. Words can not express how much we mourn for a hero like Eric. I lost my Sgt in 2005 to selfish crime as well. You must rely on the prayer's of others and time. It will take time and you must remember what a special person Eric was to everyone. Speaking on behalf the Kirkwood Police and all Law Enforement Officers in Missouri our prayers are with you. Respectfully your brothers from Missouri. God Speed
PO Brand

Patrolman Tim Brand
Kirkwood Police, Missouri

August 24, 2006

Rest in Peace, Corporal Sutphin.
"In Valor there is Hope.........."

Detective
Chicago P.D.

August 24, 2006

My deepest sympathy!!

Officer Scott Mitchell
Hillsville Police Department

August 24, 2006

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived. - Gen. Patton

Sleep easy son, your time here was served, your family is now our family.

Sgt. D. Kevins
HGPD

August 23, 2006

Rest in Peace, Brother. You will never be forgotten.

Deputy
El Paso County Sheriff's Office-Colorado Springs, CO

August 23, 2006

CORPORAL SUTPHIN WAS A VERY COURAGEOUS MAN MY HEART AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO MR. SUTPHIN'S WIFE CHILDREN FAMILY FRIENDS. I GIVE ALL OFFICERS MY THANKS FOR ALL THE HARD WORK ON EVERYONE'S PART.I DID NOT KNOW CORPORAL SUTPHIN PERSONAL BUT I CONSIDER HIM A GREAT MAN WITH SPECIL VALUES.MAY YOU REST IN PEACE FOR YOUR WORK HERE IS DONE!MY SYMPATHY GOES OUT TO ALL HIS WIFE CHIDREN FAMILY AND FRIENDS. EXTENDED THANK YOU FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO RISK THEIRS LIVES FOR US ALL EACH AND EVERY DAY.CORPORAL SUTPHIN MAY YOU ALWAYS REST IN PEACE.

MILDRED WHITESCARVER
CITIZEN

August 23, 2006

Hero seems like such an inadequate word to describe you. Thank you for giving us all that you possibly could. You followed in the footsteps of our Savior and laid your life down for those of us who needed rescuing. Thank you for the life that you have lived, the amazing example you will always be, and for the legacy you have left behind. My heart goes out to your family and they will remain in my prayers. We will see you again soon.

Debbie Machingo, LEO wife
Blacksburg PD

August 23, 2006

My prayers are with the friends and family of Corporal Sutphin... God bless your hero and never let his memory fade.

Invest. Mike Bradford (Ret)
Tallahassee (Fl) Police Dept

August 23, 2006

Brother, may you rest in peace and live forever in our hearts. You are a true hero. My prayers and thoughts go out to your family and co-workers. I found this poem for you.

MCSO
U-9

"To Serve and Protect"

I would give my life for you in an instant, whether you are a Stranger or Friend. I do not ask what in your life you have done wrong up to this point, I act on instinct to protect and save whether you are a perfect saint or a convicted violent Offender, Because that is my job.

I am a Police Officer and When I chose to wear the Badge, I chose to help those in need. Each call I take could be my last. I accept that and each day put on the Uniform and the Badge, I say goodbye to my family as I walk out onto the streets, knowing that today could be the day I don't come home at the end of my shift.

You look at me and criticize the choices that I make I am wrong when a felon pulls a weapon and I have to pull my trigger, knowing that if I don't one of you might die in his stead because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time. The choice I make is a split second one and it is a choice of his life, my partners, yours or mine. That is what I am trained for.

I go to a call of Domestic Violence, I walk in and pull a man off of a woman who has been beaten bloody. Yet as I walk him to the door in handcuffs, the same beaten, bloodied woman stabs me in the back, to save the same man that would have killed her only moments before.

I go to a call for a car jacking, the suspect comes out with a gun. The same gun he had just used to kill the owner of the car. In a split second, knowing about the life he has already taken I have a choice, take his life, lose my own, lose my partners or lose some one else's because this man has killed before. My choice comes to slowly and my partner falls, a bullet to his head ends his life and widows his new wife. Who of you will mourn his loss as he bleeds to death at my feet? I make my choice, the gunman falls. TV camera's roll in and the Felons family screams that I am the murderer.

I am the one who has done wrong, as I look at the ambulance driving my dead partner to the hospital. I go out every day and wonder if today will be my last because I wear a Badge and a Uniform. I protect you and your family, some times at the cost of my own. I protect your life and your property with my fellow Officers who choose to wear the Badge and Uniform. We all made the same choice, the choice to 'Protect and Serve' those in need. We don't ask questions when we have to act to save a life, we act.

You mourn the punks and the gang bangers, the murderers, the thieves, child molesters and killers. You mourn the innocents killed in the gang wars, robberies, car jackings and murders. But on the day I don my Uniform and place the Badge upon my chest, say goodbye to my family and the first call I take that day is my last, Who of you will mourn me as they put me to my final rest?

Who of you, that I have chosen to 'Protect and Serve' will stand beside my brothers and sisters in uniform and look my family in the eye as they lower me into the cold dark grave?

By

Lorah R. Buchanan

Deputy U-9
MCSO

August 23, 2006

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

deputy
fairfield county sheriff's office lancaster,ohio

August 23, 2006

God bless to the family, friends and co-workers of Corporal Sutphin. Thank you for your service and RIP.

mjw643

August 23, 2006

"We Remember the Officers"
We remember the officers who changed our lives,
The men and woman who protected us day and night,
People who respect for their dedication to the cause,
For when faced with danger, they never even pause.

We remember the officers who always stood true,
Whatever the color of uniform, brown gray or blue,
With pride and integrity they say "To serve and protect",
For the giving of their life, we offer our respect.

We remember the officers who we never really knew,
Persons strong enough to answer the challenge are few,
With heavy hearts we mourn the officers in eternal rest,
There's more to these people than the badge on their chest.
By Brad Miller

Rest In Peace, Corporal Sutphin. You Are A True Hero.

Dispatcher, Cassandra Wilton
Seattle Police Department

August 23, 2006

As the wife of a deputy I can not even fathom getting the horrific news that you received on Monday. You have been in my prayers ever since. May God's love bring you comfort during this difficult time. Hold those little girls of yours closely and never let them forget that their daddy is a TRUE hero-two times over. May his spirit live on in them and may you remember all that he was everytime you look into their eyes.

Wife of a deputy
Loudoun County Sheriff's Office, Loudoun County, VA

August 23, 2006

My prayers & thoughts go to Corporal Sutphin's family, and LE family. Rest in peace, Corporal Sutphin; you are truly a hero.

Victoria
Lynchburg resident

August 23, 2006

As a father of a police officier we always pray that this day will never happen but sometimes it does and changes everyones lives forever. It takes special men and women to do the work that you have done. We as citizens respect your work and solute you. May you rest in peace and look over us as we carry on in this torn world that we live in today. Bless your family and help them get through this shocking time.

Father of a Police Officier
Virginia Citizen

August 23, 2006

This great nation has lost another true American hero. The selfless act that you have displayed to protect the citizens of Mongomery County will not be forgotten.

I may have never met you but I know that you will be looking over all other law enforcemnt officers to help them make it home safe at the end of their shifts everyday.

I hope your family, friends and partners can find peace in the fact that your life wasn't given in vain in vain.

I would like to say thank you to the officers who caught the terrible monster who did this to you. I belive that they showed great charachter by bringing him to justice.

Rest In Peace my brother.

P.O. L.Nimmerrichter
Lynchburg Police Department

August 23, 2006

Rest in Peace Corporal. Your service to this great country will always be remembered by your heroic deeds and you and your family having to pay the ultimate sacrifice. What a waste......we in law enforcement know the value and uniqueness of someone of your caliber.

Sgt.
Greeley Colorado PD

August 23, 2006

As it is true for all Hero's, they are the ones that do not go home, whether it is soldiers fighting for freedom overseas or Officers who protect us everyday at home. I worked with Eric at Charlottesville and you could not find a more trusted, reliable officer and friend in any type of situation. You will be missed! We are all brothers and sisters,and God will watch over your family.

Bill Duncan
Charlottesville Police

August 23, 2006

Cpl. Stuphin, you gave the ultimate sacrifice not only to the citizens of Montgomery County, but to every citizen of this great nation! My sympathy goes out to the Sutphin family and the brave members of the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office. Your dedicated service will NEVER be forgotten!

Officer Keller
Indianola Police Dept., Indianola, Ia.

August 23, 2006

I WOULD JUST LIKE TO EXTEND MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TO CORPORAL SUTPHIN'S FAMILY AND TO ALL THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPUTIES AND STAFF. THIS IS TRULY A TERRIBLE LOSS BUT REMEMBER IN YOUR HEARTS THAT HE DIED WITH HONOR PROTECTING US. AS A POLICE OFFICER AT A HOSPITAL I KNOW WHAT CAN HAPPEN SO QUICKLY IN THAT ENVIORMENT AND TO KNOW THAT WE HAVE OFFICERS AND DEPUTIES LIKE CORP. SUTPHIN OUT THERE HELPING US IS TRULY A BLESSING.
GOD BLESS YOU CORP. SUTPHIN AND MAY HEAVEN WELCOME YOU WITH THE MOST OPEN ARMS.

SCOTT GILES
CARILION HEALTH SYSTEM POLICE DEPT.

August 23, 2006

Rest in Peace Hero...your job is done on this earth..My sympathy to your wife and daughters..You are a true HERO..THANK YOU SIR
Karen Perrucci
Sister of Ofc. Gary D. Pagano EOW 9/14/1982

August 23, 2006

Eric Sutphin was a kind and generous man.

He protected his community and made the ultimate sacrifice. He also served his community through many endevors. We at Special Olympics were lucky enough to call him a friend and Torch Runner. He served his community by being a leader of the Law Enforcmeent Torch Run for Special Olympics. He made a difference for the Special Olympians and believed that everyone should be included because everyone can be good at something if we give them a chance.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family at this time of grief. Rest assured that Eric will never be forgotten. The Virginia Torch Run will never forget the accomplishments and gifts that Eric left us and many more will continue to make a difference, like Eric did for so many.

Roy Zeidman
Special Olympics Virginia

August 23, 2006

There is never really anything you can say to make this tragedy any easier. Corporal Sutphin was highly resepcted and will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the Montgomery County Shefiffs Office.

John 15:13
"The greatest love is shown when a man lays down his life for his friends."

Tazewell Police Dept.
Tazewell, VA

August 23, 2006