Deputy Sheriff Randolph Michael Eng Harris County Sheriff's Department Texas Saturday, December 21, 1996  Leave a Reflection  Return to Memorial  Print This Page  Continue Building Book  Page: 1 of 1

"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
2008-02-07

You are remembered today and thank you Sir for your service

VanDenBerghe
Manchester, NH
2007-12-21

Rest in peace, Sir! You are not forgotten.

Police Officer

2007-01-30

10/27/04

Gone but not forgotten. Thank you for your service. Rest in peace sir.

Captain Robert W. Cannon; Retired
Vermilion County Illinois Sheriff's Dept.
2004-10-27

Randy, the office you worked in is vacant now there are no lines at the window, no guns to check in. I will wander over and stand in the office at times and think back on the days we worked the 11th floor for starters. They took you from us, but they cannot take our memories of you.

R. Townsend
HCSO

For those who lost a commrad, for those who lost a friend, for those who lost a relative, Let's remember them, for the freedom they brought.

FRENCH PARATROOPERS PRAYER:
God, give me what you have left
Give me what no one ever requests.

I am not asking you for rest
Nor tranquility
Neither that of the soul, nor of the body.

I am not asking for wealth
Nor success, or even health.

You are asked for all of these so often
That you must have none left.

Give me, God, what you have left.
Give me what no one wants.

I seek insecurity and disquient.
I seek torment and combat
And, God, give them to me Indefitely.
That I am sure to have them always
Because I won't always have the
courage to ask you.

Give me, God, what you have left.
Give me what others don't want.
But also give me courage, strength and faith.

Andre Zirnheld, Parachutist
Free French Forces, killed in action, 1942

Det. Brian Leighton
Harris Co. Sheriff's Dept

I was recently on the scene of the death of another of our deputies. The event was the inspiration for this story. I hope it brings some small measure of comfort to the survivors of this and similar tragedies.

The deputy stepped out of his car and began to walk to the one in front of his. He saw a flash of light, and felt the sledgehammer blow. He experienced no pain, but suddenly couldn’t stand up. He heard the “pop, pop, pop” of what seemed to be gunfire coming from somewhere.

He saw another, stronger light than the one he had just seen. He felt consumed by it, but he wasn’t afraid. He saw an old friend, one he hadn’t expected to see. His friend said “Buddy, we’ve got to talk.”

His friend said “I see you’ve done a lot with yourself these past few years”. The deputy said “Well, I’ve tried to do my best, I’ve had a lot to live up to”. His friend responded “I know, you’ve always been that way; years ago, I knew that you’d make it”.

The deputy and his friend started talking about old times. They talked about their younger years when they didn’t care how much they drank or how late they stayed up. They talked about the deputy’s marriage, and how it unexpectedly fell apart. They spoke about all the interesting things the deputy had been able to do in such a short time and how grateful he was for the experiences.

Then they began to talk about the deputy’s hopes for the future. They talked about how he wanted to “be in charge” someday. His dreams became so vivid that they were able to actually see him, almost as if his friend were the “Ghost of Christmas Future” from Dickens.

They saw him as a Watch Commander, with his young troops coming to him for advice, and the older ones giving it to him. They saw him as a District Commander, and realized how much work it is, and how exhausting it must be at times. They saw him with his own Bureau, sitting at a staff meeting.

They saw him holding a press conference, and talking to Commissioners Court and all of the innumerable things that people do when they are “running the show”. They saw him at his retirement party, surrounded by friends who would genuinely miss him and his work. They saw him on a cruise ship, on a beach, snorkeling in warm crystal blue waters. They saw him fishing and hunting and hiking in the mountains. They saw him with a new wife, with a home, and healthy, happy children. It was this thought, out of all the others, that brought him the greatest joy.

The deputy realized that he had been selfish, and asked his friend “but what of you; we’ve done nothing but talk about me”. His friend said, “My life is like it was when I left, only I never tire of it now. I’m with lots of new friends, and old friends, and we do lots of fun things. In fact, we do whatever we want to”.

The deputy noticed that he had lost track of time. He had ignored his surroundings while he was talking to his old friend. He didn’t feel any pain, but heard his ribs crack while a stranger compressed his chest. One of his new friends breathed into his mouth, but he wasn’t sure why. He heard someone ask “what about that other guy”. His partner screamed “F**k him, he’s dead”.

He turned to his old friend and asked, “What’s going to happen here? You seem to know the future.” Randy told him, “I don’t know the future, I know the past. There’s something else we need to talk about. I’m here for you like Becky and Scott were here for me. Oscar, Barry, J.C., and Joe are here, too. Joe just got here not long ago. We decided that I would come, because I know you best”

He heard sirens somewhere in the distance, and heard someone roar, “Where’s that f**king ambulance?” He knew that the ambulance would never get there in time. He wished he could tell his friends to slow down, and not get hurt over him. He wished he could tell them that his pain was gone, and that he was with friends, and that they would have lots to talk about. He felt the soft feathers of the angels who carried him ever higher, into the heavens above. He felt the warm touch of God’s embrace, and knew that all was well.

This story is dedicated to the memory of the fallen deputies of the Harris County Sheriff’s Department, especially to Randy Eng, who was killed in the line of duty on December 21st, 1996.

Written by Gary W. Ellington, a Sergeant with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department.

Sergeant Gary Ellington
Harris County Sheriff's Department