Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

My sincerest sympathy to the family and friends of Police Officer Kristian Willhight as well as to the Burns Flat Police Department. Rest in peace Officer Willhight, you are gone but will not be forgotten...

Dispatcher Sue Rusch
Punta Gorda PD, Punta Gorda FL

January 24, 2014

Rest in Peace Officer Willhight - 10-42. God bless his family and fellow Officers.

Det. JP McGrath(retired)
Schenectady Police Dept., NY

January 24, 2014

Rest in peace.

Sgt. Jim

January 24, 2014

Whatever our duty, or wherever we serve, we are all brothers and sisters in this most honorable calling. We have lost yet another brother who we must never forget.

My deepest sympathy to both his family and his law enforcement family. My thoughts and prayers are with them. May he rest in eternal peace.

Sgt. Tom Waller, Cincinnati P.D., Ret.
Greater Cincinnati Police Museum

January 24, 2014

Thank you for your time of service. I salute you and your family.

Randalyn Speer Benson
Survivor Daughter of Chief James Leonard Speer

January 24, 2014

I hope and pray that all who know and love Officer Willhight never let his daughter forget her Dad. A tragedy and a loss for us all.

God Bless and may you forever Rest in Peace, Brother.

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

January 24, 2014

Rest in Peace Sir...........................

Officer Thomas Wiederhold, Retired
Fort Worth PD, Texas

January 24, 2014

Officer Willhight -

It's my prayer that you will know how grateful we are for your service and your dediction, for you laying down your life. I pray that God will give our daughter the peace that passes all understanding.

Officer John Greaves
Alpharetta Police Department, GA

January 24, 2014

May the good lord welcome you with open arms, for you have done your job well.

Douglas J. Maykowski Reserve Deputy
Macomb County Sheriff Mt. Clemens Michigan

January 24, 2014

RIP, prayers for both families.

Sgt Ron Cromer (Retired)
Martin Co, Sheriff's Office, FL.

January 24, 2014

Our thoughts and prayers are with your family, friends and coworkers during this difficult time. Your service and ultimate sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Supervisory FAM, Thomas Kelly Jr
Federal Air Marshal Service

January 24, 2014

Rest in peace brother!

Det. Gutierrez
Ft. Worth PD

January 24, 2014

Our deepest sympathy to the dear family of Officer Willhight. God Bless him for his service and sacrifice he made to keep others safe. Rest in Peace sir, you will not be forgotten.

Sgt. Jim May (ret)
CMPD Charlotte, NC

January 24, 2014

God be with you and your family. In the end it is God who will ease our suffering.

P.O. Medina
C.P.D.

January 24, 2014

A police officer should be remembered not by how he died, but how he lived! A great man has gone to secure a safe path for the rest of us to follow. Thank you to you, your family and the Burns Flat Police Department. Our country is a little less safe without you. Rest in Peace Brother.

Anonymous

January 24, 2014

This poem was written after getting my wife’s 19 years perspective of being a police officer’s wife.

“He Does it For You!”

He doesn’t do it for the money,
Cause surely there’s something better to do,
He says, “Someone has to do it!”
So really, he does it for you.

His eight to twelve hours is from call to call,
From a murder to a cat in a tree,
You say he’s never around when you really need him,
But without him, where would you be?

You curse him when you get a speeding ticket,
And scream there’s something better he could do,
But have you looked at how many deaths there are on the highways,
So really, he’s doing it for you.

He’s always seeing so much bad in the world,
He really doesn’t know what to do,
He wonders sometimes if it’s even worth it,
But he knows he has to do it for you.

Each day when he leaves for work,
And I always kiss him good-bye,
I don’t know if I’ll see him again,
Cause the day might be the day he dies.

So many times he comes home from work,
And I see a small tear in his eyes,
I ask him what is the problem dear?
And he says another innocent person has died.

You always say a cop isn’t human,
Cause at a tragedy he’s cool from the start,
But you don’t have to live with him,
And watch his mind and heart break apart.

I remember one hot June night at work,
His supervisor came, “Your husband’s been hurt!”, he said,
It was such a long ride to the hospital,
They wouldn’t say if he was alive or dead.

Crime is always on the increase,
The streets a battle ground,
And when one in “Blue” is slain,
At the funeral-taps will sound.

He’ll lay in a flagged draped coffin,
An honor for those who die for this land,
Just like the Army, Navy and Marines,
He died by the enemies hands.

Most ordinary citizens won’t be at the funeral,
But you’ll see plenty of people wearing blue,
You’ll see dozens of marked patrol cars,
Honoring the one who died for you.

Written by David L Bell Copyright © 1991
Retired Deputy Sheriff after over 38 years
Richland County Sheriff’s Dept
Columbia, SC

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

January 24, 2014

In Honor of your Sacrifice and for your family and friends, I salute you as a HERO! May God
Give the family and friends the strength and faith to deal with this tragic loss. Words can not express my sorrow!

"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

This may be re-posted in the Honor of his death and the death of any Law Enforcement Officer!

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

January 24, 2014

Rest in Peace Officer Willhight. Thank you for your service. My thoughts and prayers are with thw Willhight Family and the Burns Flat Police Department.

Cpl. Gary Hughes (Retired)
Passaic County Sheriff's Office Wayne NJ

January 24, 2014

Thank you for your service and sacrifice. My condolences to your family, friends and coworkers of the Burns Flat Police Department. May you rest in peace.

Ptlm. William F. Shields
Federal Reserve Police/Philadelphia - Retired/Haverford Police

January 24, 2014

R I8 P PO WILLHIGHT

MICHAEL D LONG
NY STATE POLICE RETIRED

January 24, 2014

My thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and co-workers of Officer Kristian Willhight. Another Hero taken too soon. May God comfort you and your family as you go and touch the face of God.
Your honorable service and sacrifice and bravery to the citizens of Burns Flat, Oklahoma will not be forgotten. God Speed and God Bless. Rest in Peace Sir.


May the daughter of Officer Willhight, know that her Daddy, is a HERO who we will not forget and will forever be in his debt for all he has done for us. Officer Willhight. Thank You for your service and protection to us all, may you rest in peace. God bless you and your family.

Final Salute

VIPS 750 Jeff Claybern
Alexandria Kentucky Police Department

January 24, 2014

Rest In Peace Brother. Your Fellow officers will take the watch from here. My condolences to your Family and the Burns Flat Police Department.

Sgt Fred Nordt Jr.
Lake Success PD, Long Island, NY

January 24, 2014

IN HONORE CASORUM
Our thoughts of condolence and prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues.

Sgt. T. J. Jones
Greater Cleveland Transit Police Department, Ohio

January 24, 2014

Rest In Peace Brother. Your Fellow Deputies will take the watch from here. My condolences to your Family and the Washita County SO.

Sgt Fred Nordt Jr.
Lake Success PD, Long Island, NY

January 24, 2014

Rest, brother.

Cpl Steve Headley
Mishawaka, IN police

January 24, 2014