Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I went to school with Gary and it was bone chilling to wake and see this on the news this morning. Gary was such a great guy to go out in such an undeserving way. Hope that idiot that hit him has his day. My prayers are with Gary's family and may my fellow classmate and friend rest in peace.
Jersey Village-Class of 1979

Donna Taylor
Fellow Classmate & Friend

June 30, 2008

Gary was my friend! Gary was the Quarterback of my High School and Jr High School football teams. We were friends for many many years. He was a great father and friend. Over the years we have not gotten together much, but it was always a great reunion when we did meet. I will miss my friend very much and wish his family finds some answers for this sad event.

Anthony Stahlhut
High School Friend

June 30, 2008

Rest in peace my friend.

Bonnie Thompson
Citizen, Pasadena, TX

June 30, 2008

rest easy brother, god bless you and your family

deputy
WCSO

June 30, 2008

May you rest in peace with the rest of our fallen heroes. You are our saving grace. You will forever be in my prayers and in my thoughts, along with your family.

Cody Irby (Cadet)
Son of HPD officer Jim Irby

June 30, 2008

My thoughts and prayers are with the Gryder family and the HPD. You will never be forgotten.

Police Officer
Dallas Police Department

June 30, 2008

God bless you and your family.

DE
St. Louis City Police

June 30, 2008

My thoughts and prayers are with the Gryder family and coworkers. May God bring you peace and comfort in your time of need.

Amanda Wass
Wife of Deputy Donald Wass EOW 4/23/06

June 30, 2008

Our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Officer Gryder. God Bless him for his long service to law enforcement and to HPD. Rest in Peace sir, you will not be forgotten.

Sgt. Jim May (ret)
CMPD Charlotte, NC

June 30, 2008

May you rest in peace. May God watch over your family and help them in their time of sorrow.

As for the person who took your life, may they live each and every day knowing they took an officer who was just doing their job. Protecting and Serving!!

RIP

Former Deputy Sheriff
YCSO

June 30, 2008

Rest Easy Brother, We'll Take It From Here. Job Well Done.

Bensalem Police Dept. PA

June 30, 2008

Sincere condolences to the family, friends, and department of Police Officer Gary Gryder. May he rest in eternal peace, and may God bless and keep you all.

Leo J. Kennerson #2814
RETIRED TROOPER, NYSP

June 30, 2008

“REMEMBER ME”
Law enforcement officers are, indeed, a special breed of people. Ask anyone on the street and they will tell you that they would not have our jobs for anything in the world. It takes something special to do what we do and at the same time be able to even contemplate retirement. We try to be optimists. Unfortunately, there are a few of us who will never make that date with retirement. By the very nature of our job, we are at risk everyday of losing our lives, either at the hand of some deranged individual or in some other situation that we, by virtue of our occupation, may be unable to avoid. Some people have recognized the hazardous duties we involve ourselves in, the risks we take, and the pride we take in accomplishing that job. There is National Law Enforcement Week, dedicated to us who gladly accept the responsibility of protecting the citizens in our respective jurisdictions. National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Day is dedicated to those who gave their lives in the line of duty. These are but two examples of remembrances specifically for law enforcement personnel. Remembrances that come but once a year. We should remind fellow officers of another type of remembrance, one that will last a lifetime. Sooner or later, a doctor will pronounce us dead. It is inevitable. Regardless of whatever happens, death is the end we will all have to face.
“IT IS IN DEATH THAT WE CAN LIVE FOREVER”
Author Unknown

Jim Moore
New Orleans P.D., Retired

June 30, 2008

REST IN PEACE BROTHER.

INVESTIGATOR BOB CAMERON
CLEVELAND HTS PD (OHIO)

June 30, 2008

Gary,
My thoughts and prayer's are with you and your family. May you rest in peace Brother.

Motor Officer James M. Brunt
Meredith Police Dept. NH

June 30, 2008

Officer Gryder you will not be forgotten justice will be served
10-42 My brother

Kevin Harris
Citizen

June 30, 2008

May the good Lord bless those closest to Officer Gryder. His watch maybe over but his memory and sacrafice will never be forgotten. My deepest sympathies to his family and friends. Rest in peace my honored brother.

Officer C. Stallings
DCSO, Nashville, TN

June 30, 2008

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 killed 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.
*anonymous*

To the family of Officer Grydner, and to his brothers and sisters of the thin blue line:

"I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrafice upon the altar of freedom." -A.Lincoln

Officer
Metropolitan Police Department Washington DC

June 30, 2008

Rest in Peace.

C.O. Stephen D. Celestino
Westchester County Dept. of Correction, NY

June 30, 2008

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9 May you rest in peace, brother. We'll take it from here.

Senior Officer
Federal Bureau of Prisons, FCI Danbury, CT

June 30, 2008

Such a senseless tragedy! May God be with your family in their time of grief. Thank You for your lifetime of service to the citizens of this great country. I am sorry for you and your family and friends that, because of one scumbag, you had to pay the ultimate scarifice! May your son always know that his father was, indeed, a hero! God Bless and Godspeed.

Lisa
GEORGIA CIVILIAN

June 30, 2008

Rest in peace.

Det. A. Hunt#7169
Dallas PD

June 30, 2008

Prayers to the dept and family of officer Gryder. Your service and dedication will never be forgotten. May you rest in peace.

VIP
Ventura Calif. police dept

June 30, 2008

"The Badge"

He starts his shift each day
To respond to calls unknown.
He drives a marked patrol car.
A police officer he is known.

He's paid by the citizens' taxes
To make it safe on the streets.
But he usually has a second job
'Cause a waitress has his salary beat.

Now he doesn't know a holiday
'Cause he works all year round.
And when Thanksgiving and Christmas finally arrive
At his home he cannot be found.

He's cursed and assaulted often,
The one whos blood runs blue.
He seldom ever gets a thanks,
To some he's just a fool.

His friends are always other cops
'Cause people just don't understand
That underneath his badge and gun,
He's just another man.

He knows there might not be a tomorrow
In this world of drugs and crime.
And he gets so mad at the court system
'Cause the crooks don't get any time.

And each day when he leaves for work,
He prays to God above.
Please bring me home after my shift
So I can see the ones I love.

But tonight he stops a speeding car,
He's alone down this ole' highway.
It's just a little traffic infraction.
He does it everyday.

Well, he walks up to the driver's window,
And his badge is shining bright.
He asked the guy for a driver's license,
When a shot rang through the night.

Yes, the bullet hit its mark,
Striking the officer in the chest.
But the Department's budget didn't buy
Each officer a bullet-proof vest.

So he lay on the ground bleeding.
His blood wasn't blue - His blood was red.
And briefly he thought of his loved ones
'Cause in a moment the officer was dead.

In the news they told the story
Of how this officer had died.
And some who listened cared less,
But those who loved him cried.

Well, they buried him in uniform
With his badge pinned on his chest.
He even had his revolver,
He died doing his best.

Written By:
David L. Bell

Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1993 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

Investigator David L Bell
Richland County Sheriff's Dept., Columbia, SC

June 30, 2008

Rest Easy Brother We have the watch now. 1*

Officer
Anne Arundel County Police Maryland

June 30, 2008