Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

2007, the first year without you. I know we will make it. So don't like it though. I think of you every day man. You will always be my hero. You have become a great strength to me. I know you are in Heaven watching over us. I know we will met again one day. In God's own time, we will be reunited. I love you brother.

Joe Williams
Brother

January 1, 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR MATT & DIOGI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

January 1, 2007

Happy New Year Matt & DiOGi..missing you both. Keep watching over all of us here. Your in my thoughts daily.

Diane Dodge
PCSO ~Bartow FL ~

January 1, 2007

Matt I love you and Miss you so much
The year is at the end and a new one
is on us. I know it want be the same
without you here in person but you will
always be here in our HEARTS . I look back at
all the things we shared the good times and the
bad, there sure were more good then bad..
The Holidays sure were hard this year , but we
we all had you in our thoughts and in our heart.
Give Diogi a hugg for me . I love you guys,.
Love Oma Mae your sister

December 31, 2006

i think of you ever day and miss you so much i will take your place as a k-9 handler and stop all those who do wrong

i love you dad

chris
oldest son

December 31, 2006

There is no way to express the feelings that come to the surface with this kind of senseless act of violence. deputy matthew williams went to work every day to make the world a better place to live one block at a time. This was his thanks...sinfull.

Deputy Williams, your sacrifice, and that of your family, will not be forgottent. Thank you for your service and dedication. Thanks as well to your fallen partner. Good bye brother, see you when I get there.

Officer
Pooler Police Dept., Pooler GA

December 28, 2006

I remember the day that all happened, Even though I live 2 hours away I was prying fo you and your family, I did alot of soul searching. I knew someone you went to school with he talked real good about you, like what a kind person you are. Your life inspired me to become an Law Enforcement Officer. I only hope I am half of the Officer you was. Though I never knew you, you have inspired me. God bless you and your family. you will be missed. I just wanted you and your Famoly to know you are still making an impact.

December 25, 2006

Thinking of you Matt and Diogi.Merry Christmas.

December 24, 2006

Thinking of you and your family this holiday season.

Merry Christmas Matt and Diogi!

I can just imagine the size of those heavenly rawhide bones!

Sterling Hgts PD, Michigan

December 24, 2006

Matt,Merry Christmas to you and your family,still thinking of you every day and of your family.

Bob

December 24, 2006

MERRY CHRISTMAS MATT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

December 24, 2006

Matt my brother,

I never thought I would have to go through this life without you. Christmas is here and you are not. Everyone in the family is holding tight. I just wish we would have been this close before we lost you. Trina is spending tomorrow with mom. Ashton will be with them, they will have a blast. MAn I miss you. I love you.

Joe Williams
Brother

December 21, 2006

Matt,

It's been a while now since you were taken from us. I know your family, friends, and co-workers have to be missing you every day. You were one of the best role models I ever met while I worked for PCSO. You seemed to treat everyone the same regardless of their rank or time in service. That meant alot to brand new deputies who were looking for guidance and support. You and your family are in my prayers. God Bless you Matt and DiOGi. You gave your lives doing something you loved. God Bless Deputy Spiers and my prayers are with him also for a complete recovery.

E. Fazekas
Former Polk County Deputy Sheriff

December 18, 2006

I love you Matt. Christmas is upon us and for the first time in 36 years, I will not get to see you, hear you, laugh with you. You are forever my hero.

Joe Williams
Brother

December 7, 2006

Matt,

It has been over 2 months since that day and I still find it hard to believe you are gone. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about you, and everyday I walk into that briefing room I look at your seat and can still see you sitting there. I can't put into words how much I miss your friendship. You were one of the few people who really knew me. I miss our many conversations "ON THE SQUARE", I miss you "buying" my smokes when I wasn't looking, and I miss our fellowship at Lodge. Our bond as fellow deputies and brother Masons made us very good friends on earth and will continue through eternity.

I will cherish all my memories of you, from great times like the cruise to Cozumel last year to the time just weeks before you left us when you helped me fight a resisting suspect. I never worried about any dangerous situation when you were with me on a scene brother. You were a good man, a good Mason, and the finest law enforcement officer that I have ever worked with. I will carry you in my heart for the rest of my life.

Until we meet again my brother....

Deputy Sheriff Greg Tomlin
Polk County Sheriff's Office and Brother Mason

December 5, 2006

To the family, friends, and co-workers of Officer Matt Williamss:

Several weeks ago I sent the below letter to the editor of your local paper, The Ledger. I do not know if they printed it, but I hope that they chose to publish it.
I did include all the identifying information they require for publication.


"I am a California mother of a police officer shot in
the line of duty in April of 2005 in similar
circumstances to the brutal murder of Officer Matt
Williams. Your website has allowed me to follow the
news coverage of his tragic death and that of his K-9
partner and the wounding of Officer Spiers. The
support of the entire law enforcement community and
police survivors throughout the U.S. is with the
family and the Polk County Sheriff's Dept.

I also read with great interest the coverage of the
apprehension and shooting of Mr. Freeland and the
concerns of his family and their attorney. That
evening I said a prayer of thanks that the swat team
members were able to return to their families safe and
unharmed, because there should be no doubt they put
their own lives at risk during the manhunt for a
dangerous armed suspect who had proven he had no
regard for the lives of anyone who stood in his way of
remaining free. To me, the badges of Polk County
Sheriff's Dept. shine brighter than ever.

It is with the utmost respect that I thank Officer
Matt Williams and his canine partner for their
dedicated duty to your community, and the supreme
sacrifice that they and the Williams family have made
to safeguard the citizens of Florida.

Phyllis Loya, mother of Pittsburg Officer Larry
Lasater, eow 4/24/05 "

November 29, 2006

Wow! I am sure you are proud, and you must have been the angel watching over your fellow deputies. 4 of them jumped in the swamp this morning to save a man from an alligator. What brave and selfless souls! It takes a special kind of person...but you know that already.

My brother is a K-9 officer in D.C. We know how you guys feel about your parters, and how much you can count on them to the end. you are together forever, where we will all see you again someday. Rest in Peace.

God Bless You and your loved ones!

Kelly Gulich
FCSO

November 29, 2006

Matt, I think about you daily and cry often. I wish it didn’t have to be that way. This tragedy should make each of us aware - that at any moment our loved ones could be taken away
I read this guest book everyday and I am proud and amazed that people from all over the country are still journaling to you and Nancy. That just shows how much you touch everyone, even if you did not know them.

You and your family will always and forever be in my prayers.

Like Mike said “A man remembered never dies”

I want to personally "Thank you, Matt and Diogi" for what you did that day.

With all my love, prayers and tears

Christine

Christine Speirs
Wife of D/S Doug Speirs

November 29, 2006

you will always be in our hearts, your family always in our prayers. thank you for being a friend

November 28, 2006

still thinking of you everyday...

Lori
Iowa

November 25, 2006

Deputy Williams, you paid the ultimate price so that everyone around you can have their freedom. Rest in peace my brother, your watch here is over, but your new watch in Heaven is just beginning.

The Civil Rights group is pushing for more investigations into the shooting of Angelo Freeland, the man who shot and killed Deputy Williams. They are claiming that the police used excessive force and that authorities showed "disregard for human life when they shot at Angelo". Do they realize how much REGARD FOR HUMAN LIFE did that killer show for Deputy Williams and Spiers!!! By them even asking for these investigations is showing dishonor to the slain deputy. Why should we show mercy to this cold blooded killer? If any investigation concludes that the officers used unecessary or excessive force when shooting the killer, then my friends, Deputy Williams DIED IN VAIN for that matter.

Anonymous

November 24, 2006

Matt, it has been almost two months and I've just now gotten the composure to get on here and place a reflection. Today is Thanksgiving and I thank God today and everyday for the friendship we had over the years at PCSO. Dogs have a way of bringing people together; whether it be a husband meeting a wife or one canine handler being touched by another through their common canine bond. I have been, and will continue to be, touched by your patience, generosity, compassion, courage, and impeccable communication skills. You are a model for me and many others to follow. I thank God today for Nancy, Christopher, Amanda, Jimmy and the great family you left behind.

I miss you terribly Matt. I miss our talks about North Alabama and Southern Tennessee, I miss our talks about tracking dogs, and I miss our talks about... about... well... just about anything... I miss our talks.

I have told myself I don't know how I made it through that horrible afternoon in September, but looking back I know how. God used us as His instruments to make it through the day. In the woods, just after you were found, we were all huddled around and for several momemts there was a feeling of hope being lost. We prayed. We prayed for you, Doug, DiOGi, and we prayed for God's will to be carried out in our search for your assassin.

God bless you and Diogi. You give us another reason to live our lives accordingly so we may see you and our other loved ones again.

Jon and Stephanie Burcham
Polk County S.O. K-9

November 23, 2006

November 22, 2006
Matt & DiOGi…We Care

In a lifetime there are many nhappy events that really devastate us.

In my life, although I lived in England, the assassination of JFK hurt so badly. He was indeed someone who was very special. Tears flowed all around the world. I was only 18.

Although I was not really interested in royalty, the news of Princess Diane’s demise hurt so badly. She was such a wonderful, respected, caring person.

The death of Steve McQueen reminded me of how fragile life is. He always seemed like he would live forever, he was that kind of guy.

The fatal shooting of Winter Haven Police Officer Jonnie Patterson in the line of duty.He was so young & very brave.

Then came 911 which we can never forget.

Recently the terrible incident that took the life of Officer Matt Williams & his faithful partner DiOGi really hurt although we only crossed paths one time. They were just doing their job. Protecting all of us.

We all do things in a lifetime that might not be totally legal. I don’t think that there is a driver in the world that never exceeded the speed limit at least once. We look around to make sure that we were not seen by a police officer, then sigh with relief when we are not being stopped. When we really need help though, the first number we call in an emergency is 911. We take for granted that we will be protected by law enforcement officers together
with their K-9’s who put their lives at risk to protect ours.

The funeral for our fallen heroes brought thousands of Polk County residents out to show how saddened we were for the sacrifice Matt & DiOGi had made for us. The ultimate sacrifice. It is very important that we continue to show Nancy, her family & all law enforcement officers that we care & that in similar circumstances their families would also be assisted, by you, the people they protect when they put their lives at risk.

I am just business owner & resident of Winter Haven that cares, not a police officer.

On Sunday November 19th 2006 I attended the Matt & DiOGi poker run, to show I cared. As I don’t have a motor cycle I took my camera instead to take photographs of the event & the riders taking part. I knew it was going to be a very well supported yet upon arrival my breath was taken away by how many people were attending.The Chalet Susanne was a wonderful starting point.The weather of course was perfect. I am sure that Matt & DiOGi had a lot to do with that.They must have felt so proud seeing their family, all their friends, law enforcement officers they had worked together with plus all the strangers who came to show how much they cared.All the people involved in this event will carry with them for the rest of their lives a cherished memory of this special day. As I walked around taking photographs I was experiencing intense emotions that I find difficult to describe. One moment heartache then overwhelming pride that so many people had gathered to show how much they cared. Though I wish things were different with no reason to have held this showing of support for Matt, DiOGi & their family I know in their hearts full of sadness a little brightness was restored from which to create new memories.I hope that this event will continue to be held every year.

“A man & faithful partner remembered never dies”

Creative Marine Construction.
Derek Avis (Winter Haven, FL )

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

November 22, 2006

Matt,

I never met you personally, but at one time did dispatch for you when I worked at PCSO. My husband, Deputy Nick Taylor, did know you and talks about what a wonderful person you are. Through the outpouring of support of friends, famiily, and the community, we put on this Poker Run and Concert in your honor. The success was overwhelming! People came from all over the state and even some from other states to honor you.

I personally felt the need to somehow repay what you have done for me and our community. There was no other way, in my opinion, than to help take care of your family and see that they get to Washington DC to the memorial. Your friend said it best when he said "A Man Remembered Never Dies"! We are going to honor that!

Nancy, it was an honor to do this for you and the kids! Thank YOU for coming out and being a part of it, that made it even more special!
To everyone else, See you next year!!!

Debbie

D. Taylor
L.P.D.

November 22, 2006

Matt!
We (PCSO) held a memorial ride for you and DiOGi today ~ OMG ~ the turn out was awesome! There were thousands of bikes from all over! You would be so proud of this community that you protected & served! We just wanted to do something to make sure that your family gets to Washington when they add your name to the wall! I think we accomplished that today. I thank all the PCSO motor guys that put this all together for you and also to the community for their support in making it all come together. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of you and DiOGi and the ultimate sacrafice that you two made!! God Bless your family and I miss you both so much! I can't end this with out asking you what we always cdpd'd to each other....Are You Smiling Today? I know you are as your looking down on all of us! Till we meet again buddy!!
Diane

Diane Dodge
Polk County Sheriff's Office ~Bartow FL~

November 20, 2006