Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

The men and women of the Kansas Highway Patrol continually honor your memory and will never forget you sacrifice.

Colonel Terry Maple
Kansas Highway Patrol

May 8, 2010

To Neely and the rest of Trooper O'Brien's family:

I did pushups on Conroy's memorial nearly every day out at the academy. His story has always touched many of us on the Patrol from a time even before we were hired, and will continue to do so now that we're here.

I can't thank you enough for all of the effort you put into the parole hearings. Where many people do what's easiest for them and forget, you do what's best for the rest of us and see it through.

Thank you.

Trooper Sage Hill
Kansas Highway Patrol

November 12, 2009

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE, REST IN PEACE.

N.J. TROOPER
NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE

January 12, 2009

To Trooper O'Brien's family: I am so sorry for your loss. In 1999, a Kansas Trooper took me and 2 other KHP Academy classmates to Conroy's final resting place. What an emotional visit. It was a reminder that life is so precious and the profession we had chosen was dangerous. Although Conroy paid the ultimate price, please know that he has affected many people, and he will never be forgotten.

Shantel Smith
Former Kansas State Trooper

November 6, 2008

Well its been 30 years. Forgiveness is what I spoke about to the parole board this time and to the news crews at the parole hearing. It will be 5 more years before I have to do that again. 2011. Your boys work very hard to keep them in prison, mom has yet to learn to forgive, I wish she knew it was hurting her more than those men.

Thinking of you often...I can't believe I will be 30 soon...We'll celebrate when I go home too.

Neely Goen
Daughter of Conroy

August 13, 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
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

October 25, 2007

The 29th anniversary of your tragic death was a few weeks ago. I'm sure the pain your loved ones feel is just as strong now as it was then. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of your friends and family. Thank you for your dedication and sacrifice. You will NEVER be forgotten and FOREVER be a hero. Until we meet, keep "walking a beat on the Golden Street" and look after your brothers and sisters on earth.

DET SGT, Retired
AR

July 17, 2007

Trooper O'Brien, I remember the day you were executed, gangland style, on the highway. I had just been graduated from high school and was working at the Dolgin's store in KCKS. I heard on the radio at lunchtime that you had been murdered. I repeated the story to an older male janitor where I worked, and was stunned when he said it was good that you had been murdered, and that more policemen should be. I was taken aback by his vileness.
At the time, I had dreams of joining the local pd, which I did later.
After becoming a lawman myself, I realized that there is always someone out there on the streets ready to take a cop's life. I left my department 7 years later with an alcohol problem because I couldn't handle the stress inside.
I know that one day, our loving God will awaken you from your sleep to a beautiful new life.
You will be with your family again, including the daughter you never met, and her children. Everytime I hear that your killer comes up for parole, I pray it's not granted.
May God be with your survivors, and may they always be comforted by the resurrection hope.
Thank you, trooper, for a job well done.
You are a credit to your patrol.

Steve Brandon
Former KCKPD Policeman

July 7, 2007

My prayers are with you and your family.

Former Police Officer (Dist.Hghts. MD)
Warrenton, Virginia

May 24, 2007

May The Lord bless you and your loved ones.May He shower them with may blessings.

May 24, 2007

Father for the sacrifice that you made to the state of Kansas...Thank you. I know that I never got to meet you in person, but I know that you are with me all the time and have been from the beging. Out of a tragedy rose miraculous blessings...May God remind me daily to never take for granted the price you paid. I love you. BTW You have 3 BEAUTIFUL grandkids.:)

Neely Mayree O'Brien-Goen
Daughter

October 29, 2006

Trooper O'Brien & family, it has been 25Y 7Mo 9Ds since your
life was taken by those 3 no accounts. I was living in Harvey County Ks. at the time and still remember to this day where I was & what I was doing when I heard about what had happened to you. It was in May of 1978 that I went to work for a small town police dept. in central Ks. This is probably why I remember it so vividly. I was so releived when I heard they had caught up with them in western Ks. a day or so later.
Please know that we will never forget the sacrafice you made. Although we never met, you can rest in peace knowing you will be remembered by coworkers and the citizens of Ks. that you worked so hard to protect.

Eddie Schantz
Oklahoma City
12-29-03

Eddie Schantz
citizen Oklahoma City

December 29, 2003

To Trooper O'Brien family and friends our hearts and prayers go out to you


God Bless you

Terry Miyares, surviving spouse
Officer Emilio F. Miyares, Hialeah PD, FL, EOW 11/6/86