Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Gary, I still think of you often. I miss you.

Stephanie /Daughter of:
Dianna (Dee)Jones /Dispatch
And
Sgt Jimmy Coleman / Police
Officer

Steph

August 24, 2023

My grandfathers death is a very big tragedy.I thank you for everyone that showed there support and wanted to thank Haltom police department for all y’all have done .I love you grandfather gary I know you are watching over all of our family and all your fellow officers.

Kylee Emily hires
Granddaughter

October 16, 2022

The circumstances of Gary's death came up in training today. I was a brand new officer at a neighboring agency when this happened and stood guard over his body. I did not know Gary personally, but I wanted him to know I remembered him and pray for his family.

Lieutenant Neal Maranto
North Richland Hills Police Dept

February 2, 2021

Rest in peace.

Lt. Jim Russo

March 6, 2018

Officer Hires,

Thank you for your dedicated service to your community and your department. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May they never forget your faithful service to your community and department and the brave HERO that you were. To Stephanie and sons, our heartfelt prayers are with you now and forever. May God continue to be with you all, especially today, as we remember your dear Gary. Words will never compensate the loss you have suffered. We pray that He gives you all strength in your sorrowful times. May you find peace in the thought, that we as family and friends in law enforcement, take this time to lift you up in prayer.

For your act of unselfish bravery and courage Officer Hires, we salute you. Blessed are the peacemakers.

Denise & Erin Hunter, Widow and Daughter
Sgt. Gregory L. Hunter, Grand Prairie, TX Police Dept., EOW 6-18-04

March 6, 2017

I was there that day. Still to this day its the most horrific thing i have ever seen. Watching you fall.... still burns in my mind. i wanted to get to you but that kid was shooting anything that moved and i was a 17 year old kid. The only thing i could do was pray. i watched one of my friends take a round to the shoulder and another friend narrowly escape a round to the head. I remember it like it was yesterday. i still pray for you and your family often Sir. R.I.P.

Joey Dietrich
friend of son

January 26, 2017

Still on my mind and in my heart after all these years. Shows what kind of a person he was. Look forward to seeing you again Gary.

Sgt. T. Myers 1144
Haltom City Police

September 27, 2016

As a Haltom City Firefighter/paramedic. I worked with Gary on many calls. He was a kind and gentle man. I think about him often.

Firefighter, Driver-Paramedic
Haltom City Fire Dept

April 9, 2015

You are not forgotten today on this mournful anniversary, nor will you ever be. Thank you for your service to our Great State, and your community.

You shall live in the hearts of those who loved you, those who admired you, and those you helped in their times of need; thus you will never be forgotten.

Most respectfully Officer Hires, although I never knew you, I dedicate this day to your memory.

D.O. Kaboutari
Harris County Sheriff's Office, TX

March 6, 2015

With all of the cop hating that is going on these days, I've been reflecting on my time in law enforcement and some of the people that made an impact in my youth. Gary Hires was one such person. When I was 16, Ofc. Hires stopped me for burning my tires off on my hot rod Chevy. He was polite and gave me a stern lecture about driving recklessly and gave me a ticket. A few years later, I hired on at HCPD and he was my shift sergeant. They hired a bunch of us young guns and put us on midnight shift. I'm sure we drove him, Robert Hobbs, Robert Hill, Eddie Collins, to name a few, nuts. I left in 1984 but never forgot my friends in law enforcement and how they shaped my life.

Billy S. Cox, Jr.
Former Haltom City PD

December 22, 2014

Its bee na little over 20 years ago. That your watch was done here on Earth. I now know that you are watching from up above. We do miss you I will stand strong on my watch and keep LE a honor in our family.

Patrol Officer
Tulsa Public School PD/ Cousin

March 22, 2013

Your heroism and service is honored today, the ninettenth anniversary of your death. Your memory lives and you continue to inspire. Thank you for your service. My cherished son Larry Lasater was a fellow police officer who was murdered in the the line of duty on April 24, 2005 while serving as a Pittsburg, CA police officer.

Time never diminishes respect. Your memory will always be honored and revered.

I pray for solacer for all those who love nad remember you for I know both the pain and pride are forever. Your family is in my heart's embrace. Thanks to your famiy and friends for sharing their memories and devotion to you through their reflections.

Rest In Peace.

Phyllis Loya
Mom of fallen California Officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

March 6, 2012

Rest In Peace Brother Hires.

Sgt. Jarrod Wilson / K9 Officer
West Virginia Division Of Corrections

March 6, 2012

I was there on that call. I can say Gary was a hero. The address he was reponding to was the home of a Hurst police officer. I honestly believe that Gary felt a pathological criminal was terrorizing the family. Gary was honest, hard working and a Christian man.

paramedic-firefighter...retired
Firefighter Haltom City Fire Dept

January 20, 2012

Merry Christmas

A person who remembers

December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas Officer Hires.

Anonymous

December 25, 2010

I got to thinking about you today and though I have left a reflection before I felt compelled to leave another one. You never really know how a person or an incident can affect a person. You were murdered over 17 years ago and still I am reminded of you often. I’m not sure if it is because I was young and I had never experienced a tragedy like this before, or if it is the impression you made on me the times I saw and spoke to you, or a little of both. Either way I still remember and respect you for the person you were and the sacrifice you made. I have experienced the loss of fellow Officers several times since I became an Officer. Some I knew as friends and others I was bonded to through the blue line. And though it is a sad reality that this is a dangerous job and sometimes Police Officers must die to secure a safe society for all, it gives me comfort to know you are all riding shot gun with us as we continue where you left off. With much respect and remembrance Sir I want to say thank you. I continue to pray for comfort for your family when they think of you, and that the great memories of you completely obscure that tragic day. I hope I have made you proud.

May the Lord Jesus Christ watch over all Police Officers across this country and give peace for those left behind. Amen.

Hero's are never forgotten.

Sgt. R. Morris P278
Grand Prairie PD

April 3, 2010

Thinking of you and all of your loved ones and close friends on the day. You are missed by many and will never be forgotten. I see by reading your reflections that you touched many while performing your duty. You are a true hero.
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us:
What we have done for others and the world, remains
and is immortal." By Albert Pike

Bob Gordon
Father of Chicago Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

March 6, 2010

I remember Officer Hires, it's funny how I am sitting in my little area in Iraq and I think of him. So I searched for him and found this page. Here is my memory of him...I was 10 years old when the tragedy occurred, not to long before then my biological father was putting my mom and myself through hard times. Officer Hires was there and helped us. I remember after our first call, he would regularly patrol the area to make sure my father wasn't around. He stopped by a couple of times. He was always a good man, too bad there isn't many more like him.

SGT Cook
US Army

September 25, 2009

Officer Hires,

I met you when I was far too young to understand who you were. You were my father's friend and his mentor in many ways. He was on the scene with you that night, and if only you could see how he has shaped his career based on the events that took place.

As an outside observer looking in, I have seen how he has personally struggled with the loss. I just wish you could have seen how he truly looked up to you and considered you one of his only friends.

I am honored to have gotten to meet you, even though I am just now to the point where I can respect that.

I thank you, as does my family and my city, for everything you have done. Godspeed, sir.

M.

March 29, 2009

Gary, is a pathfinder for all of us and will be waiting for us with a legion of angels on the other side to show us Heaven and all of its glory. After all of the years not a day goes by that I don't think of him and his family.

I was Gary's FTO when he came to HCPD. The first 10 minutes I really drilled him and of course he got so nervous he thought he could not do anything right. After this I asked him if he had a friend in the police department and of course he said, no sir. I told him well you do now! This go get some coffee and have fun!

Johnny L. Wilson - Retired Police Office
Dallas/ Fort Worth International Airport, Department of Public Safety

March 24, 2009

Gary, I never met you as I was working at the Sheriff's Dept when this all occured. I do remember it very well though. Thank you for your service. I find myself patrolling by the spot often and it definitely makes me more aware of what could happen. You're always remembered here..God Bless

Officer Bunch #1243
Haltom City PD

March 11, 2009

The wicked fleee where no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28:1

May God be with you and all who mourn you. May he give them the strength to carry on. You are in my thoughts and prayers. You died before I was born, but I want you to know how greatly appreciated you are. Never forgotten, hero.

Friend of Off. Kris Fairbanks RIP 9-20-08

K.L.

March 6, 2009

Gary was a good-hearted person who was willing to go out of his way for others and he paid the ultmate price for for that willingness. I am honored to have called him my friend and fellow officer. Even now, years later, I think of him and miss him. Thank you Gary.

Sgt. Jackie Bussey
Haltom City Friend/co-worker

March 5, 2009

Uncle Gary,
Thanks for all that you did for this country and for the times we were able to spend with you and the family. It doesn't seem like it was fifteen years ago, but it has been. It seems just like yesterday that the nine members of our family were taking vacations to Disney World or Washington, DC. You are not forgotten! We look forward to that day when we can all get together for that big Vacation in the Sky!

Sincerely,
Charles H. Tucker

Charles H. Tucker
Relative

July 18, 2008