Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I am truly sorry to hear about Jon passing on. I moved to Augusta Georgia in 2005 from McKeesport Pennsylvania. I worked in the McKeesport Police Department for 15 years. I really enjoyed being an officer/detective.
I received a phone call from my mother asking me did I know Johnathan Schroder and instantly his smiling face popped into my head. I was shocked to hear that he was fatally wounded. My prayers go out to all who knew him. I remember the smile on Jon face when we were in Penn Hills High School together. We had a lot of fun while in school. God Bless you Jon. Scott Campbell Augusta Georgia

Scott Campbell
Classmate (1987)

September 9, 2006

I am just an office worker at the Administration building in Cleveland but I felt it my duty to walk down to the funeral and pay my respects to this Police Officer who gave his life protecting the citizens of this city. May AJ rest in peace and may God provide love and support for his family. God bless. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

September 8, 2006

"THE ONLY THING NECESSARY FOR THE TRIUMPH OF EVIL IS THAT GOOD MEN DO NOTHING."

Another Brother

Phil Galer
Pittsburg Police Department, Pitt, CA.

September 8, 2006

God Speed Officer. Watch over the rest of your department, they'll need you. I saw the pictures in the paper today of your procession to the church and there were a lot of folks there to remember you. They weren't kidding about your smile, either. Thanks for all you have done. Your family will be in my prayers. "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God"

Citizen in Mentor, Ohio
Concerned citizen

September 7, 2006

May God bless and comfort the family of this fallen hero. God Bless you. My prayers will be with you.

Lt. Jeff Miller
Middleport PD Ohio

September 7, 2006

Rest in peace blue angel. God Bless.

Shannon
Collins Fire Dept. (Mississippi)

September 7, 2006

Brother may you Rest in Peace,Your gone but you will never be forgotten...... To the Schroeder Family I'm so sorry for your loss.

Deputy John Williamson
Fairfield County Sheriff's Office, Ohio

September 7, 2006

To Amy, Eric and Family: My heart goes out to all of you and I can't even begin to know what to say to ease your pain but please take comfort in all of the love and respect that all of us have for your husband/father/son and in your memories for they will keep him alive and with you forever. In seeing your picture in the paper watching your husband's casket going into the church, I can only imagine what you must have been thinking; the disbelief and sorrow but right behind you is your biggest reason to go on, you and Jon's beautiful little boy Eric who will only know his daddy through all of your memories, pictures and stories. My son is a police officer and my husband is retired CPD and I worry about my son all the time and it this just brings back to me all of my nightmares when my husband was on the job. I pray that my son will be the kind of officer that Jon was and as beloved and respected as he came to be. I grew up in West Park on West 159th Street and went to school at OLA. Just living there will be a great support to you as it was always a wonderful place to live. God Bless you Amy and Eric and I'll pray for you every day.

Sue
Wife of Retired CPD & Mother of Policeman

September 7, 2006

Thank you for your service. You, your family, and your department are in my prayers during this difficult time.

Ofc. S.L. Coffman #15174
California Highway Patrol

September 7, 2006

You will never be forgotten. Thank you for your great service to the city of Cleveland. I felt safer driving into work in the city knowing there were police officers like as you, protecting us.

Susan Sheppard
sister in law is New Jersey Detective

September 7, 2006

Mrs,Schroeder Iam so sorry about your husband He was a good man my father is a retired cleveland police officer.So its like family when we loss one of are own .But plese always remember that we love you and are prayers and are thoughts will always be with you and your son. Lisa,Kapantas

September 7, 2006

It is sad to have to mourn the loss of any poolice officer. This is a job that gets little respect, until now. To keep A.J. reasons for being a police officer alive, lets all show respect for our men in blue. Thank them when you see them, even if they did nothing. Because they do something everyday, they put their lives, and their family lives, on the spot each and every day. Thank you AJ for being there for the citizens of Cleveland. You will be missed!!!!!

TIS Patrick J Whalen
FBI

September 7, 2006

AJ,

Although I didn't know you, we in the law enforcement community know that we lost another great police officer to the hands of a coward. May god watch out for your family, and infant son. God bless you my brother.

Patrolman Matt Butcher #1414
Brimfield Police Dept. Portage County

September 7, 2006

God bless the family, friends, and coworkers of this fallen hero. Thank you AJ for your dedication and bravery. Rest in peace.

Andrew, Narcotics Detective
Baltimore City Police

September 7, 2006

I feel the hurt and pain this Officer Family feels. My heart goes out to them. I to just lost a friend and Officer also.
Samuel Corey Beckley WV

September 7, 2006

I watched part of the coverage of your funeral Mass today via Channel 3's website. Your brother's in blue, and Cleveland as a whole, gave you the send off that you so richly deserved.

In the days and weeks ahead, as people go back to their normal routine, may your wife and son be comforted by a merciful God, and close family and friends. As your son gets older, may those close to him share some of the stories I've heard of you in the last few days. He'll have his own Guardian Angel watching over him.

May your soul, and the souls of all the faithfully departed, through the mercy of Christ, Rest in Peace.

Civilian
None

September 7, 2006

Once In A While

Lyrics by Billy Dean

Once in a while
Somone comes along
That one in a million heart
So pure and so strong
They can face up to the tears
And somehow still find a smile
We only get
Every once in a while

Once in a while
Someone has the eyes
That one in a million look
That never tells lies
They can get you on your feet
To walk that extra mile
We only see it
Every once in a while

That's why we call them heroes
That's why we know their names
And once you've heard their stories
Your never quite the same

That's why we call them heroes
The best thing they ever do
Is point to the best in us all
And say, "If I can, you can to."

Once in a while
I still hear his voice
That one in a million sound
Like two laughin' boys
He would hate it if we cried
That never was his style
Oh, we still miss him
Every once in a while

On, they can face up to the tears
And somehow still find a smile
But we only get
Every once in a while

Oh, how I miss him
Every once in a while

Anonymous

September 7, 2006

AJ - Your life was taken when all you were trying to do was make the city a better place to live and keep us all a little bit safer. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We will always think of you as one of our own West Park heroes. May God wrap you and your family in his arms.

September 6, 2006

"I am the Officer"

I have been where you fear to be,
I have seen what you fear to see,
I have done what you fear to do -
All these things I have done for you.

I am the person you lean upon,
The one you cast your scorn upon,
The one you bring your troubles to -
All these people I've been for you.

The one you ask to stand apart,
The one you feel should have no heart,
The one you call "The Officer in Blue,"
But I'm just a person, just like you.

And through the years I've come to see,
That I am not always what you ask of me;
So, take this badge ... take this gun ...
Will you take it ... will anyone?

And when you watch a person die
And hear a battered baby cry,
Then do you think that you can be
All these things you ask of me?

(Author unknown)

City Of Cleveland

September 6, 2006

"Angel Of The Blue"

I knew he was an angel,
For his hair was of gold,
And when I looked into his eyes
I knew that he had been an angel from times untold.

Upon his blue chest
His badge still shined so bright,
And within its silver and gold,
Danced flickering starlight.

The words to serve and protect
Were woven into his shirt of blue,
And pride and honor
Were woven there too.

Silhouetted against
The soft moonlight,
His wings seemed to whisper to me
I'll walk with you this long night.

Though there was glory for him in heaven
He choose an earthly beat,
Watching over his brothers in blue
As they walked the dark streets

Wriiten By
Lydia Warner Miller

God Bless You my Brother!

PO Drew #04
CMHA Police / SWAT Unit

September 6, 2006

AJ, from the days at Kent all the way upto the day you sacrificed your life and left behind your beautiful wife Amy and your pride and joy Eric, I will never forget you!! Every time I seen you, you were so full of life and energy and alot of times it made me jeolous, leaving me wishing I had the pride and joy that you displayed everyday. I will help look over your family, just as you would mine if this happened to me. Words will never ever express the pain and sorrow that this tragedy has caused me, but I know your sacrifice will make us all stronger. You are in heaven now, looking over us all as an angel, and I know you will do your best, just as you did hear in this cruel world, to protect us. I say goodbye to you now but not forever. I will join you one day again at heaven's gate where I know you'll be standing guard. I can sit here and type forever, wishing you could reply, but I know your in a better place. Here is a prayer for you and your family AJ, God Bless You!!

Somebody Killed A Policeman Today

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 who shot him will stand up in court,
With counsel demanding his rights,
While a young widowed mother must work for her son
And spend alone many long nights.
The beat that he walked was a battlefield, too.
Just as if he'd gone off to war.
Though the flag of our nation will fly at halfmast,
To his name, they will add a gold star.
Yes, somebody killed a policeman today.
It happen in Cleveland.
While we slept on 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 and gave us his all,
And a part of America died.

R.I.P "AJ" You will forever be missed but never forgotten. Thank You for the great memories, I will cherish them a lifetime. Our Department has suffered a great loss and your familt and friends an even greater loss. Thanks again AJ for being a true friend.

Your friend, P.O. Jeff Grabski #2204

P.O. Jeff Grabski #2204
CPD

September 6, 2006

Dear AJ:
This is becoming an all too often event; writing a reflection to a fallen brother. But AJ, the Good Lord has something better in mind for you, something we mere mortals cannot understand. But I am certain, that you are patrolling the streets of Heaven with our Heavenly Father.
But my heart aches for your wife and son. I only wish there were some way that I could do something for them to ease the pain they are feeling. My prayer for them is that they realize, in time, they will NEVER be alone, and that they can call upon me, or all of us, for whatever assistance they need.
The animal that did this, I am confident, will pay. JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED. By dying, you and all our fallen brothers, only spark the determination and dedication that each of us possess, to take the fight to the criminals, full speed ahead, and "damn the torpedoes". Rest well AJ, and may God hold your family close to His heart, and you in the palm of His hand. Amen.

Detective Ron Tomassi
Palm Beach Sheriff's Office

September 6, 2006

My deepest sympathy goes out to the family and friends of this officer. I attended the funeral and it was very heart warming to see the support from all of the other agencies from all over Ohio that attended. Rest in peace brother. You will not be forgotten.

Officer Yeckel
Perry Village Police Dept.

September 6, 2006

When Jenn was in the Cleveland Clinic a couple of years ago, you met with us and her family. I enjoyed hearing your "police stories", as much as you enjoyed telling them. I could tell that you loved your career. There aren't too many people out there that can say the same. You are and will always be an inspiritation.

My deepest sympathy goes out to your family. Your son will be very proud of you. You are a hero.

Chris Lammlein
Friend of Family

September 6, 2006

Please accept our condolences and prayers.

It was earlier today that my wife, Susan, and I learned of Officer Schroeder's passing. Susan is from Cleveland and we still have family living in the area. Thank you for all you did to make the City a better place. Your watch is over.... we'll take over from here.

Though your son will never have the chance to know you, he will be forever comforted by the fact that you had the courage to go where few men dare. He will be proud of you. You were truly a hero. It takes a special person to willingly put everything on the line for those around him. You looked death in the eye and still willing did what needed to be done.

Rest in Peace. You're in our prayers and thoughts.

M.O. and Susan Miller

MPO M.O. Miller #2263
Dekalb County Police Dept., Atlanta GA.

September 6, 2006