Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Bob was a cops cop. I was honored to teach academy with him in Snowflake as well as have the opportunity to work and learn from him. Man did Bob have great stories! His passing was a loss to all.

Dennis "Bones" Evers

Chief Dennis Evers
Taylor PD

April 11, 2007

Rest in Peace, Deputy Sheriff Varner. Your sacrifice is not forgotten.

Officer 11169

March 14, 2007

This person was truly blessed by a circle of love and friendship. I am considering a career with the Navajo County Sheriff's Dept in the future. Deputy Varner's career and death should serve as a testiment to any new officer's commitment to the honor this slain officer upheld. I may wish to apply to this department in the future, as I hope to relocate from the Scottsdale/Phoenix region. My heartfelt prayers and sympathy go out to the surviving family, friends, and co-workers to this officer. The reflection and celebration of this man is one I hope to get to know upon moving permanently to the city of Show Low this spring. I wish to be a good asset to this community and make this my new home. Till we personally meet.....Matt P.

none yet
a caring citizen

March 4, 2007

To my mentor, my training officer, my partner, my friend:

Bob- AKA "Zero", "the Fly" AHP252, DPS438 and Navajo 48!

Everyone had a nickname given freely and humorously by you. Mine was given the day I met you in March 1968. "Pottybody" became my nickname because your 3 year old daughter Cheryl wouldn't say "Peabody". There are still acquaintances of yours and mine who call me by that nickname. I wear it proudly.

I will always miss your smiling face and your infectious laugh. Most of all I miss you. You were my training officer, who taught me how to investigate traffic accidents, fill out all the paperwork without errors, apprehend stolen vehicles and how to be courteous but firm with the people we came in contact with. US 66 between Winslow and Flagstaff was our domain and traffic deaths occurred on that two lane highway nearly every day. You taught me how to deal with that carnage and not lose my sanity. This was due to your off beat sense of humor. I don't use the term derogatorily. Your way of dealing with travelers and bad guys earned their respect and really earned mine.

The night you were shot was New Years Eve and I, along with several of my fellow Special Operations Unit (SWAT) team members were attending a party when I got the call from Captain Mike Denney. I was so shocked I could hardly speak. I told Mike you were my training officer and he didn't know that. We left the party immediately and met at Sky Harbor with all our gear. Cathy and Joan got off the DPS plane and I promised Cathy we would get the guys who shot you. The next 40 hours were the toughest I had spent of my career. Lillian went to the hospital to be with Cathy along with Don Williams and Dennis McNulty. Once we arrived in Holbrook at midnight, we began our portion of the manhunt and were able to track the shooter's footprints west through the high desert. The dogs from ADOC and Gila County were ineffective due to the extreme cold. We followed Douglas Savory's tracks nearly all the way back to Winslow and lost them near the Little Colorado River crossing. Early Sunday morning I was told that you had passed away. That same morning old John Thompson went to his ranch outside of Winslow and found things awry. He contacted the Navajo Co. deputies who went to the ranch and were fired upon by Savory using his AK47. He emptied the rifle and retreated into the ranch house. A short time later my team surrounded the house and pumped tear gas into it. Savory did not respond. After what seemed like an eternity, entry was made and Savory had taken the coward's way out and used his remaining 9mm to end his life. His accomplice was captured earlier that day in Holbrook. Once the all clear was given, traffic on I-40 that had been held up for hours began honking their horns in salute to you. The manhunt for these two killers was and is unmatched in Northern Arizona to this day.

A few days later at your funeral service, hundreds of police officers representing every agency in Arizona, many from New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, California and Colorado, all came to show their respects to you and your family. Trucks were lined up along I-40 and when the procession left the church, all the truckers sounded their horns in a show of respect. "Big George" McGuire and I gave the eulogy and 5 of your Arizona DPS brothers and your neighbor Jerry Stucker carried you to your earthly resting place. We know that you now rest with God and we look forward to seeing you when our time has come.

You would be proud of the efforts of Cathy, Steven, Cheryl and Joan in their work for the survivors of police officers who have met their fate in the line of duty. I know I am.

Bob, Rest in Peace.
Pottybody

Sergeant Colin Peabody, Retired
Arizona Department of Public Safety

February 22, 2007

Having worked for Navajo County as the Trainng Sgt for Navajo County for the last 3 of my nearly eight years there. You are the oen that remonded me of why we train and the importance of our level of commitment. I worked with a close friend of yours, David Burke, and he always spoke highly of you. Your picture hangs on the wall in Navajo County and your story and legacy will be with me forever

Cmdr Tim Graver
Graham County

November 21, 2006

Had I done my job a little better, the assailant may not have had that machinegun. Thank you for your servie, Robert William Varner Jr.

Special Agent, B.K. Uptagrafft
ATF

September 6, 2006

Hello Mr. Varner.... It's Gabe Magallanez, Jake and Jane's son, your next door neighbor from winslow!

I ran into this site... and I felt compelled to share my thoughts!

.. I was more affectionately known as "Rug-rat #1" to Mr. Varner, since i was the oldest of my two brothers! He called me and my brothers rugrats all the time! (well before the TV show!) According to my mother... he named us that because my mom was very strict and we never got to play out in the front yard much without her supervision.

I have very fond memories of Mr. Varner and his family as a youth growing up around him!

Let me tell you though.... I was ALWAYS scared for my life growing up next to him! I used to walk home from Elementary school and I was always mortified of his two 'Gigantic' German Shephards! To get to my house... I HAD to pass by his house.... so I swear, he used to wait for me to come through his house and he'd always let the dogs out to chase me to my house and eat me up for dinner (so I thought!). I would start running about two houses away from his, and I'd be a TOP SPEED as I passed by his house as his front door swung open... releasing the 'hounds' on me, the rabbit!

One time I accidentally slipped in my grass front yard. I thought I was going to be sausage meat for those dogs... when I realized that all those big monsters wanted to do was lick me silly and play!

I remember when Mr. Varner got a basketball hoop mounted to the front of his house. It became our March madness tourney every other day or evening! Boy... I don't know how many games of 'HORSE' we played there with the other neighbors!

I certainly miss you Mr. Varner and you were certainly an inpiration and there for us growing up! I know you're looking down on us 'Three Rugrats' from time to time! Everytime I mention you to friends/love ones...there's not a time where a grin doesn't surface at one point or another of that conversation!

Gabe Magallanez
Rugrat #1

Gabriel Magallanez (aka rugrat #1)
Neighbor of Bob's from Winslow

August 21, 2006

It's been 17 years since we had coffee and Denny's. Since my rookie days on the PD you were my teacher, my back up, and my friend. You still pop up in conversations with the old salts and with those who knew you well.

To your family, you are in my heart and mind.

Special Investigator Robin MacIntire
Arizona Department of Corrections-friend

July 14, 2006

Hey big brother...it has been a long time since we talked but I still feel you near when things get a little rough.
We miss you and love you always...Mother and Harry are with you now and I know you are no longer alone.
See you one day brother...love always ,Ray

Ray Varner

April 24, 2006

To an Honorable Man, Father Figure and Neighbor, It has been 17 years since I said good-bye; I still recall the events of New Year's Eve and the days following. I miss your visits, talking with you and your advice. 2006 is first New Year's Eve celebration I've stayed up for since you went home to the Lord. My children and I went outside in the brisk cold air and watched and listened to the joys of our neighbors ringing in the New Year. New Year's is starting to be a new holiday for me. I often wonder how it could be all different, what nick names you would have for my kids, what we would talk about now. I miss you and know your watching over us all, Happy New Year Bob. Kenny

Park Ranger II, Kenn Evans, II
Arizona State Parks

January 10, 2006

Trooper/Deputy Varner:

We never met, but I was drawn to your Reflections site by the fine work your son has been doing in your name for all our fallen brothers and sisters. Your death has led to positive outcomes and was not in vain.

Rest in Peace Brother.

Retired from US Border Patrol. I had the pleasure of working with many other DPS troopers in Arizona and they are a fine crew.

Chief Investigator Ted L. Bader
Office of Insurance Commissioner,Washington

November 30, 2005

Pop Varner, You are thought about and loved today.

Bob Steinat

January 1, 2005

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 4, 2004

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Deputy Sheriff
POLK County Sheriff's Office, Bartow, Florida

March 19, 2004

I just recently found this web site.

When Bob Varner ("Zero" to his friends) was still with DPS out of Winslow, he was my FTO when I was assigned to Winslow out of the DPS Academy in 1981 and I was the last "rookie" that he trained. Bob loved to work the graveyard shift on I-40 and it was the best training I could have had in learning how to be a highway patrolman.

The training and knowledge I gained while working with Bob has stayed with me throughout my carreer with DPS. Bob was a good officer and a good friend.

I was stationed out of Phoenix the night Bob was shot and I and other officers who had been stationed with Bob stayed with his wife Kathy and family at the hospital in Phoenix where he had been flown by DPS Ranger heilicopter and we all stayed with him till the end. Even though he never regained conciousness, I believe he knew he was never alone and I and his friends were able to say our goodbys to him before he died.

I lost a good friend that night and Arizona lost a good officer. Through the efforts of several retired DPS officers, memorials to all the DPS officers killed in the line of duty have been placed at or as near as possible to the site where they lost their lives and I was able to attent the dedication of Bob's memorial at MP253 on I-40 eastbound. Even though Bob was a Navajo County Deputy at the time he was shot, he received the memorial as a retired DPS officer and it is the only memorial that has the dual emblems of both DPS and Navajo County S.O. engraved on it. A picture of his memorial stone hangs over my desk at work in Phoenix where it serves as a memory of my friend and a constant remimder of how dangerous this job can be.

Detective Dennis McNulty
Arizona Department of Public Safety

February 6, 2004

Upon the loss of one of our own officers, I am reminded of others whom I had the pleasure to know. I remember Mr. V because I was his neighbor and best friend to Joanie when we were children. I remember how he was always kind and loving and I remember his awesome dogs when he'd walk the neighborhood with them. I also remember the day he died and how sad I was to know he was gone. Now I hope he is there with Big John who came to heaven on Christmas day after he met the same fate. God Bless all the Officers who have gone before and comfort all of us who are left behind.

Chris Tilly, former Dispatcher
Kenai Police Department

December 28, 2003

Hi Dad... I can't come to your grave to visit you, and I know you're not there anyhow. I'm really going to miss you on my wedding day in just two short weeks - you should be here with me, so that your grandkids could know you, so that my soon-to-be husband could know you, so that my soon-to-be stepdaughter could know you. I tell them about you, but words just don't quite sum up who you were...
I love you and I miss you - every day. Smile down on me as I move forward in my life...

Cheryl
Daughter

October 9, 2003

Deputy Sheriff Varner,

I had the pleasure of meeting your son recently and feel I have a lifelong friend. Your memory and those that have fallen before and after you will stay alive through his work with Police Survivors. I share in his loss and pain, as I too loss my dad in the line of duty. Together, we will work together to help others get through life with the pain they feel.

Thank you for your part in ensuring the safety of others. Your memory will always be kept alive. God Bless your Soul.

Ann Becker Alexandrino

Surviving Daughter
Hialeah PD