Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

"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
Sergeant
Richland County Sheriff's Department
Columbia, South Carolina
Used with Special Permission of the Author
Copyright © 1999 - All Rights Reserved
and may not be duplicated without permission

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

December 26, 2007

We remember you todayand thank you Sir for your service.

pat van den berghe - NH

October 14, 2007

My prayers are with you and your family on this anniversary.

Former N.H. Police Officer
Fauquier County, VA

October 5, 2007

OFFICER NOBLES, YOU HAVE SERVED WELL. MAY GOD BLESS YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND SACRIFICE. A HERO FOR SURE. MAY YOU REST IN PEACE.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RET.
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.

October 5, 2007

God bless your family. You are a true hero to law enforcement everywhere. Thank you for your service and dedication to the citizens of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sincerely,
Cpl. J.W. Lowder
Union County Sheriff's Office

Cpl. J.W. Lowder
Union County Sheriff's Office

July 12, 2007

Andy,

I sure have missed you and John and Gene and Terry and Robert and Tim. We lost another two officers recently to the same senselessness that accompanies every officer killed. I grieve for all of you and for us that are left behind. May God bless you and keep all of us until we can patrol again together someday.

Paula Forest
CMPD-Ret.

June 8, 2007

Andy, it has been almost 14 years ago since you left us. Your memory is still alive and well not be forgotten. God Bless you for your sacrifice.

Sgt. Jim May
CMPD (ret)

April 17, 2007

You did make a difference...Thank You Officer Nobles. You will never be forgotten. Rest in Peace my friend.

Debi

January 7, 2007

Rest in peace, Sir! You are not forgotten.

Police Officer

December 10, 2006

One of my best memories of Andy was at the alter on my wedding day. He was my Best Man. My bride was so scared she was shaking. Andy saw it and cut his eyes at me with an unmistakable look. I looked at her then back at him and we both nearly started laughing.

He and I had some great experiences growing up. I miss him everyday, but still smile about all the things we got into. He was everyone's best friend and he did make a difference.

Battalion Chief Christopher Gilmore
New Hanover Regional EMS

October 31, 2006

Officer Nobles you are a hero. May God continue to bless you and your loved ones. Rest in peace my brother.

State Constable J.L. Green
S.C. State Constables

October 5, 2006

To a legend that will never be forgotten. I have had the honor to work with your comrads and friends that think so highly of you. Not a day goes by at CMPD that you are not remembered.
We have had a recent scare of a fellow officer that was shot in the head by a suspect while serving a warrant. By the grace of God and his angels above, his life was spared!
Thank You for watching over him!!

CMPD Officer's Wife

April 23, 2006

Andy,

These other folks are right, you will never be forgotton. Here it is over 10 years since your death and they still speak of yours and John's sacrifice in the academy, they have a video memorial to the two of you, and other officers still tear up when they speak of you. How awesome a legacy is that! I work with a few of your closest friends and it warms my heart to enter their offices and see your pictures on their walls. You will forever be heroes to me. God bless and thank you.

Officer
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department

November 17, 2005

We Miss You Andy.
Love
Grayson Pressley

Grayson Pressley

October 21, 2005

When God Made Peace Officers

When God made Peace Officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, 'You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.' And the Lord said, ' Have you read the spec on this order?

A peace officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn't touch, and not wrinkle his uniform. ' He has to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day. 'He has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals. And he has to have six pairs of hands. '

The angel shook her head slowly and said, 'Six pairs of hands ... no way.' 'It's not the hands that are causing me problems,' said the Lord, 'it's the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have.' 'That's on the standard model?' asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before he asks, 'May I see what's in there, sir?' (When he already knows and wishes he'd taken that accounting job.) ' Another pair here in the side of his head for his partners' safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, 'You'll be all right ma'am, when he knows it isn't so. '

'Lord,' said the angel, touching his sleeve, 'rest and work on this tomorrow.' 'I can't,' said the Lord, 'I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck.'

The angel circled the model of the peace officer very slowly, 'Can it think?' she asked. 'You bet,' said the Lord. ' It can tell you the elements of a hundred crimes; recite Miranda warnings in its sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five learned judges to debate the legality of the stop ... and still it keeps its sense of humor.

This officer also has phenomenal personal control. He can deal with crime scenes painted in hell, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim's family, and then read in the daily paper how law enforcement isn't sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects. '

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the peace officer. 'There's a leak,' she pronounced. 'I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model.' 'That's not a leak,' said the lord, 'it's a tear.' 'What's the tear for?' asked the angel. 'It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, for justice.'

'You're a genius,' said the angel.

The Lord looked somber. 'I didn't put it there,' he said.

- Unknown

CMPD

May 18, 2005

On the anniversary of your death, I salute you for your service and honor you for your sacrifice.

A hero never dies.....

God bless, hero. Rest in peace.

A grateful citizen.

October 5, 2004

"Someone only dies when they are forgotten,
You will live on in our hearts forever,
Although you are far away,
In our thoughts you are very near."
Authour: Steph Adams

Rest in Peace... never forgotten

Wife of CMPD Officer

June 18, 2004

The policeman stood and faced his God,which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward now, policeman. How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?
The policeman squared his shoulders and said.
"No, I guess I ain't because those of us who carry a badge can't always be a Saint."
I've had to work most Sundays
and at times my talk is rough,
and sometimes I've been violent,
because the streets are awfully tough.
But I never took a penny that wasn't mine to keep...
though I worked a lot of overtime when the bills got too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help
though at times I shook with fear,
and sometimes, God forgive me, I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place among the people here.
They never wanted me around except to calm their fear.
If you've a place for me here, Lord, it needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much, but if you don't...I'll understand"
There was a silence all around the throne where the Saints had often trod.
As the policeman waited quietly for the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, policeman.
You've borne you burdens well.
Come walk a beat on Heaven's streets.
You've done your time in Hell"

G. HOUSTON
SOUTH CAROLINA

June 9, 2004

Andy,
It's been several years since your passing, and I've been in law enforcement for five years. I wanted you to know that you are the reason that I've become what I am today. You really did make a difference and I am proud to be your cousin. We all miss you very much. Every day that I go to work, you are the guardian angel that brings me home to our family. You are a constant reminder that a difference can be made in this job. I miss you and will never forget you.

VICE/NARCOTICS DETECTIVE S.O. WORTHIINGT
COLUMBUS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE

May 17, 2004

I stop by this website often after the death of two dear friends with the NCSHP (Troopers Calvin Taylor E.O.W. October 3, 2001 and Anthony Cogdill E.O.W. May 30, 2003).

We all grieve over the lives lost in the line of duty. I hope you can find some comfort knowing that there are countless prayers that go out for your family.

These are senseless tragedies that never seem to stop. God Bless the men and women who continue to serve their communities in our great Nation.

...Gone, but never Forgotten....

Marti (EMT-Paramedic)
Haywood Co EMS (NC)

April 5, 2004

Andy,
I did not know you personally but you were a "brother". I remember hearing about this tragedy, I watched your memorial on TV and I cried so much since this was a tragedy that should not have happened and you and John did so much for your community that you served and protected. I taped that memorial and watch it every now and then just to remind me of the great work and ultimate sarcifice that you and John paid, and I cry just just as hard today as then. You will always be remembered.

Anonymous

February 27, 2004

Andy,
I did not know you personally but you were a "brother". I remember hearing about this tragedy, I watched your memorial on TV and I cried so much since this was a tragedy that should not have happened and you and John did so much for your community that you served and protected. I taped that memorial and watch it every now and then just to remind me of the great work and ultimate sarcifice that you and John paid, and I cry just just as hard today as then. You will always be remembered.

February 27, 2004

"The guardian angels of life sometimes fly so high as to be beyond our sight, but they are always looking down upon us."
Jean Paul Richter

It's been ten years but you're not forgotten ...
October 5, 2003

Anonymous

October 13, 2003

Thank you for protecting us citizens from the violent predators who make us victims. We are so sorry to see that you were taken from us violently, while only trying to keep our communities safe. God bless your family, I hope they are doing well after all these years. It is 2003, and your sacrifice is not and will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, your brothers and sisters now have the watch.

Pat
Baltimore, MD

August 25, 2003

Greater Love hath no Man than this
That He lay down His Life for His Friends.

May your memory be always like a candle in our hearts
that causes us to do good for others and brings hope
to the less fortunate.

You did make a difference.

Chuck Spell
United State Treasury Department