Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I just traveled from Cleveland and was on your memorial highway. Just wanted to leave a special thought for you. I didn't know you but lost a relative last year to gunfire. Rest in peace.

May 1, 2005

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

A hero never dies...

Rest in peace, hero.

January 19, 2005

Though I did not know you well, I remember your friendly smile and professionalism when our paths have crossed in the E.R.
I was saddened to hear of your death and as all who knew about what had happened to you I kept thinking "Why"....
I passed by the place it happened just days later and felt pride in the fairness, determination and professionalism that was such a part of you and sadness for your grieving loved ones. I said a prayer for you.
Then for many nights in a row I "saw" you in my dreams and I would again think "why" and you would say "The answer is in my name...."
"Tell Them"
I did not understand.
The final night you answered me quietly, softly, but without hesitation.
"The answer is in my name......
GROSS...."
G - Gun
R - Ready
O - Only
S - Safe
S - Solution

So simple and yet ... true.
If officers approach "guns ready" they have been criticized by society as trigger happy and other unflattering remarks.
I did share this with one of your fellow troopers , but do not know if he ever told others.
So since I found this place, I will "Tell them" now Jim.
For all who remain..
Listen to Gross....
Be ready for anything and go home to those you love every night.
G - Gun
R - Ready
O - Only
S - Safe
S - Solution

God Bless You Trooper Gross!
God Bless all who Protect and Serve.

Someone who remembers Trooper Gross

October 16, 2004

I passed a memorial to you on 05/18/2004. It is a cold reminder of what happens to fellow brother and sisters. Extra emotion is felt when you pass the place it happened.
God bless your surviving family
Rest in Peace

Robert C. Pettit
Hartselle P.D.

May 19, 2004

I will never forget the day that I learned of your death. I was sitting in the chair of my uncle's barber shop watching the news while getting a pre-homecoming dance hair cut. I could not belive what I observed on the television. My uncle and I spoke about your murder, he was an Ashland County Sherrif's Office Deptuty Sheriff when I was younger. The memory of your death is always with me. I think about it everytime I am on I-71 and I always make a point of showing respect for the memorial off the roadside in your honor. I am now a police officer and a lot of the reason has to do with what I remember the day I learned of your murder. Sadly, it was only about one year and four days since Dep. Gliscon was murdered. I am a resident of Ashland County and I am proud that there were brave people like you who would take on hell for a living. We are a small population but we are a proud population. I am happy the community dedicated a baseball park in your honor. Rest in peace my brother, YOU have certainly deserved it! My prayers continue for your family. Rest in peace my brother.

Ptl. Bryan Hackedorn
Shelby Police Dept.

December 26, 2003

My name is James Gross and i to am a police officer in the state of ohio. I cant say how sorry i am that this tragic thing happened to you and your family. I'd like you and your family to know that since your death i have worn a braclet in your memory. I took a MIA braclet and had it engraved with your name, organization, and date of death, and since jan of 1996 it has never been off my wrist. It reminds me that in this line of work that it can happen to James Gross and it keeps me on my toes and keeps my guard up. I can only say thank you for being with me everyday that i go to work and so far bringing me home every night. Only GOD knows how many times it has saved me, but i and my family thank you for being with me every night.....GOD BLESS

police officer
hamilton city pd

December 5, 2003

Cadet Gross, we went through the patrol academy together and that is probably the way I remember you the most, we sat right next to each other in class, and if I remember right we were even roomates in the academy. Well Jim it has been four years since you left us. Since then Trooper D. Holt has also come home with you after a lengthy battle with cancer. Many of our classmates have since gone on to other things, making the final decision that this career was not for them, as for me I'll retire from this line of work in one manner or another and will also remember you Jim Gross as one of my classmates. I know you were looking down on that cold and dreary day, there was a misty haze and a freezing drizzle was falling. The weather that day very well suited the occassion. That was the last time the entire 124TH class was together and it was to say goodbye to you. I know that anyone from the 124TH class that reads this will know what I mean when I say, I would love to h!
ear you say on a Friday afternoon just before it was time to go home, "Cadet Gross, Sir". Sadly missed and not forgotten.

Anonymous

Jim, I remember a time when you had a vision.  A vision to protect and serve.  You worked hard.  Between school and managment you struggled to achieve.  I always knew you would reach your goals.

I never had a chance to tell you that I myself was going into law enforcement.  Even though we went our seperate ways and years had past since I saw you, I know that your sitting in the passenger seat of many patrol cars each day, keeping other officers safe.

I miss you, and will continue to pray for your family, and I thank you for your friendship.

Sometimes we take things for granted.  A couple weeks before you past, I was traveling home to Tennesee, I stopped at your post in Mansfield to say hi, and thank you for helping my parents when the horse trailer had a flat.  I was advised that you had been transfered to Ashland.  I left a message, and continued my journey home.  I wish now that I would of turned around.  I can only hope that you got my message.

Rest in peace Jim.

Colleen Patton
Sumner County Sheriff Department

My dad who is the police chief here in Mt. Gilead said he remembers meeting you in a training class. He was deeply saddened by your death and many officers in the department attended your funeral. I am a law enforcement cadet right now and plan to follow in the footsteps of my dad. I am   grateful that you sacrificed your life so that others may live. We are safe because of people like you that protect everyone no matter what race color or gender they are.

I just wanted to say thank you for the sacrifice you made so that others may live. When you pulled that  guy over you didn't know what he had just done. You did  your job and died because you were doing what you got paid  for. You loved to do the job and you loved to serve and  protect. Thank You for not being selfish. Your in a better place now. And again I thank you for being someone who cared.

Cadet Matthew Carey
Mt. Gilead Division of Police, OH

We as Class 124 came together in the most kaotic manner a group of individuals could. How best to begin our careers with the Ohio State Highway Patrol cold, nervous, and uncertain of the 24 week road we would journey down. We started with many, lost several along the way, but we finished as a cohesive group of motivated Ohio State Troopers! We were and always will be confident in our training and never afraid of the unknown.

Reality struck that morning when I was awaken by the ring of the telephone. It was the Post 9 Dispatcher advising all Troopers of the 124th Class that you were down. I was speechless! The fear that I saw in the eyes of my wife was bone chilling, because in just a few hours I had to suit up and go SIGNAL 2.

As our classmate articulated, the day of your funeral was the last time we as a class were together in the physical. But we will always be together in spirit. You and Trooper Holt keep watching over us until we meet again.

Rest in peace!

"Unit 555....ONE....TWENTY-FIVE!"

Special Agent A.E. Pleasant, IV
SSA-OIG-OI Columbia, SC

As my family and I were driving back from Columbus to Cleveland, we saw a road sign "Trooper James Gross Memorial Highway". And I thought "that's nice, to name a stretch of road after a fallen officer." Then I saw the memorial that was placed on the side of the road where it happened. Such a feeling of despair and anger came over me. WHY did this have to happen? WHAT did Trooper Gross do to warrant a death sentence? WHO is responsible for the tragedy? I could feel the anger building up inside , until my wife looked at me and said "The Lord works in mysterious ways.He died doing what he loved, and he's in a better place." I thought about it, and she is right. Life on Earth is Hell, and leaving for the eternal reward is OUR reward. God Bless and keep all my brothers (and sisters) in blue.

Anonymous

Tpr. Gross:
I was a OSP cadet a year ago. Seeing your name everyday on the wall in the courtyard and seeing the 124th class photo helped me through those long 28 weeks. Wanting to hit the streets and do what we are trained to do. Many of nights (Fridays!) we were in that courtyard cleaning the Fallen Officers' Wall. I don't want to see anymore names have to be put on that wall. God Bless Your Family.
Troops from the 137th

Trooper
Ohio State Highway Patrol