Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Patrolman Jeffries,

On this the anniversary of your leaving us in the physical sense we pay tribute to your spirit. Today the Day Watch of the Henry County Georgia Police Department’s Central Precinct will hit the street in your honor. Please watch over us as we continue your fine work.

For the entire shift,
Sergeant V.T. Rosen

Sergeant V.T. Rosen
Henry County Police Department

July 20, 2007

Tom, it has been almost 10 years since you went EOW. I miss you more than you know. My kids are growing and i hurts that they did not get to know you. This week we laid to rest one of our Deputies, and the feelings of you leaving all came back. You were a great friend. I miss you brother....Jon

Sergeant Jon Cook
Marion County Sheriff's Office

June 23, 2007

There is a cross mounted high on a telephone pole near the place Officer Jeffries died. Every time I drive by, I look at it and remember his life, his sacrifice and his wife and son. Even though time passes, the citizens don't forget. We're thankful for our protectors.

M Runyon

May 24, 2007

I attended Tom's funeral many years ago and sadly have attended many other since then. It was IMPRESSIVE. My partner Det. Glenn Fairall went to the police academy with Tom and was a good friend of his. I think there is something that people need to know about Tom that will fill their hearts with overwhelming pride.

I learned a lot about Tom and what a cop's cop he was. A very intelligent and learned man, with a passion for history, honor, truth, and chivalry. It is no wonder my partner and he got a long so well.

I learned during my conversations with my partner that with the gallantry of a true heroes spirit, as a recruit at the police academy Tom told my partner that if he were ever to be killed in the line of duty that he wanted it to be in a running gun battle with a dangerous felon while protecting the life of women, child, or fellow officer.

It makes me peace knowing that if Tom had to go, he went in a manor that was worthy of a true hero spirit, who came into this profession for all the right reasons.

I wish we had a million more just like him.

Detective Damon Struble
Albany P.D. Oregon

February 7, 2007

God Speed, Brother.

P.O. K.Murphy
Union PD, NJ

October 4, 2006

Rest in peace, Sir! You are not forgotten.

Police Officer

September 27, 2006

...and, "Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the son's of GOD"

Matthew 5:3

July 20, 2005

Our thoughts and prayers go out to This Officer, as well as the Family, Friends, Department and Community.

This is a loss that will never be forgotten. Hours will turn into days, days turn into weeks, weeks into months and months into years but, the difference that these officers have made will last forever.

We lost Our Deputy Morris Taylor on September 14, 2002. When he joined the other Angels in Blue.

God Bless Our Law Enforcement Officers and Those Who Love Them.

Jack & Tracy Van Dolah
Former LEO/U.S.M.C. & Wife in Sutherlin, Oregon

May 22, 2005

I salute you for your service and honor you for your sacrifice.

A hero never dies.....

Rest in peace, hero.

September 29, 2004

In the world of law enforcement the department is often referred to as a family. In this family Tom was a brother to me. As I write this it is over two years since his death and I am sitting here with tears in my eyes after reading the other reflections from those who knew him. Tom was special and touched each of our lives in ways that only we know. I find consolation in the fact that when I go to heaven I will have a friend waiting for me.

Officer Elizabeth Slyter
PPB

I was working the night Officer Jeffries was killed. I heard "Shots fired." and then "Officer down." I immediately called my Lt. since he lived just down the street from where the
officer was shot and he responded to the scene. I didn't know who the officer was until I got home and the dispatcher who relieved me called and told me his name and that he had died. I remember crying harder than I had ever cried in my life and then I called a friend of mine who is a PPB Officer and I told him what happened. I didn't want him to hear it on the news the next morning. I didn't know Tom personally but his murder has left a wound on my soul that will never be fully healed. I will never forget that day and the one thing I learned was to hold the ones dearest to your heart very close and tell them you love them. My sister-in-law is a police officer. Not a day goes by that I don't worry about her. She was also a friend of Colleen Waibel. One minute they were talking about her engagement to my brother and the next Colleen was gone. I remember her telling me what a wonderful person Colleen was and how she had reached out to her when she was a rookie when no one else had. At her funeral several people spoke and said almost exactly what my sister-in-law had told me about what kind of person she was. Tom and Colleen I hope you both have found peace. You gave the ultimate sacrifice. I know you must be in a wonderful place. Maybe look down on us once in awhile and remind us why we do the job we do.

Tina Nelson - Dispatcher
Portland School Police

I never met you, Tom Jeffries. I've only been with the Portland Bureau for less than a year. I watched the news when Vicki spoke about you and what kind of officer you were. I listened with awe. I checked the internet so that I could read the transcript of her words. I work at East Precinct, so her words painted a picture for me. I could see you coming through the front doors "making an entrance." I was impressed when she described how you were always civil if civility was at all possible. I hear that your suspects would sometimes even thank you for your treatment of them. You walked the line of professional kindness; You were kind enough that the suspects knew they had been treated fairly, professional enough that you knew when to stop being so nice. I believe the stories I hear. That is why, though I have never met you, I hope to be as good an officer as you.

Anonymous

I was a reserve police officer at the time of your death and you funeral was unfortunately not the first that I had attended. It doesn't seem to matter what agency you are from or whether or not you know another law enforcement officer or not, at times like these everyone bands together to help get through the grief and the loss. It's too bad that it takes someone to lose their life for us to sometimes realize how precious life is, especially in the close knit law enforcement family. Although, I did not know you, you have affected my life forever. God Bless and Rest in Peace

Comm Supervisor Megan Smith
Albany Police Dept

Tom was my brother. We were only 15 months apart. I miss him very much.
My family was deeply touched by all the kindness shown to us by public.
Tom's son is growing into a big, smart, happy boy. He is light of our lives.

Lee Jeffries
Brother

I knew you as someone to look-up to as I worked near you during my training rotation period. Never did I hear an ill word spoke of you. You were admired by and respected by your peers. I watched the kind side of you displayed when it was needed. I saw the warrior in you deal appropriately with those that gave you no other option. I saw the smile on your face when you spoke of your true love. I saw how you carefully inspected your duty gear prior to roll call. I ate with you at 10-82 time on several occasions, always quick to share a joke or tell the tale of the last call you rolled on. I rotated out to the next precinct, but I remembered you.
Many months later, I saw you in the Grand Jury waiting room as you prepared to testify. That was the last time I saw you. Two weeks later as I dealt w/ our citizens on a petty theft call, info was broadcast, "East precinct stopping a car involved in a shooting, 162 and Glisan "......
Moments later as I continued my very minor investigation, info was broadcast that shots had been fired. I learned the worst had happened as I switched nets to listen. I was numb. A sense of numbness overwhelmed me. I followed the updates and ,with a sense of hope, learned that you were being transported to Emanuel Hospital. I prayed hard with tears in my eyes. I learned, with overwhelming sadness, a short time later that you had been killed in the line of duty. I wailed in anguish. I cried. The details came in fragmented pieces. I learned the details from our brother and sister Officers. You died a hero in the eyes of your peers and the community. You did your job, over and above what could be expected. Those that were with you that night talk of how they respected you. You may have known that in those last moments of your life, a sea of blue was racing your way. They came in numbers to finish what you so rightfully started. You were whisked away by very capable Paramedics who tried to save your life. The responding Officers pursued your slayer. They got the coward, and justice will be served. I watched in awe, at your funeral, as your beloved wife and soon to be mother, along with several thousand officers filled the streets with blue in a procession in your honor. I watched as 30 yr veterans , and rookies alike, cried in grief for you. I heard the taps. I heard the bagpipes. I saw your face in my memory. I think of you every time I hit the streets my fallen comrade. A part of me feels very guilty for not being at your side when you were so wrongfully slain. Rest assured my friend, I will use you as an example of a true professional Officer all the days of my life. You may have left this world Officer Jeffries, but rest assured you will NEVER be forgotten. Vicki gave birth to your son, as I am sure you have been graced to view from Heaven above, and he will know you as the real Officer and Gentleman that you were.

God Bless you Tom.......We will meet again.

Anonymous

I met Thomas Jefferies while I was working as a bouncer in a local bar that was a part of his beat.  The quality that made Tom was the fact that no matter who you were or what kind of job you were in, he never put you down or made you feel inferior.  Tom was just a guy who did a job as a cop and didn't view himself to be any higher than the person that he was talking to.  He always encouraged me to seek higher goals and objectives, especially in my school work.  He said to me one night, "Education is the key to success in any endevour that you will undertake."  Now that I am finished with my education and looking for work in Law Enforcement, I hope that I can fill the shoes that he left and be the kind of man that he was.
May God's divine grace shine on him for all eternity.  Rest in peace my friend.

Anonymous

Both officers worked for east precinct, both untimely deaths, both officers very missed. Some think that there deaths don't effect dispatch. I mean afterall, we are only the voice on the air sending them on calls and keeping track of stops and doing checks. Although, this might be more true of years ago before MDT's. It didn't stop any of us dispatchers from caring and considering them family like anyone up at the communications center. We do care. You hurt we hurt. You get hurt on our air time, we send the calvary and hope and pray to hear that code 4!!!!!!

Both Colleen Waibel and Thomas Jefferies were very good officers. They both cared deeply about the public and their jobs. They did it to the best of their abilities and they did it beyond what bureau G.O. required.

They are both dearly missed and will be missed. From Tom's most common response to a call "Oakley dokely" to Colleen's "Copy that on my way, from 102/Sandy area" when the call was light years away. And you could tell w/total sincerity that it didn't matter that it was long ways off to go.

May they both rest in peace and be the eternal light that helps us all keep going at our jobs.

Dispatcher Kathy Vanecko
Portland Bureau of Emergency Communications

I did not know Officer Colleen Waibel when I attended her funeral, but when I left I felt a deep understanding of what a wonderful person she was. She had qualities that all of us would look for in a friend. We are unfortunate to have lost one who has touched so many lives.

Officer Waibel - thank you for your dedicated service and may you soar freely with the angels.

Anonymous

At the beginning of every shift I supervise, myself and the other officers on shift dedicate the day to the memory of a fallen officer. Today, July 20, 2003 we dedicated the shift to the memory of Patrolman Thomas Jeffries who died on this date six years ago.

When one law enforcement officer falls, we all stumble for a while, but we will carry on.

Patrolman Jeffries' sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Sgt. Paul Bissonnette
Royal Canadian Mounted Police - Surrey, BC

Rest easy, brother. You lived and died a hero. May your son grow into the man that you were and may he know that you are missed but never forgotten. Never.

Deputy M. Moore
Warren County S.O. (OH)

I never had the chance to meet Tom in person, I had just joined the explorer program at East Precinct less then a month prior to Tom being gunned down. My heart sank when I had heard what had happend to Officer Jeffries that July night. I traveled to the spot where Tom was shot, I placed flowers beside the telephone pole where he died at 162 and Glisan.

I remember crying my eyes out for about two weeks for a man I had never met. I was completley overcome with emotion by the out pouring of support and love so many people showed this man and his family. I attended Officer Jeffries funeral again my heart sank every time I looked at his wife Vickie. I could not even begin to understand what she might be feeling, about to give birth to Tom's first child.

I just want Tom's family and friends to realize that his life spawned for me a much deeper desire to do this job and to become a Police Officer. I have Tom's picture still in my bedroom as a memory of how special and fragile life is. I look at it everyday and his picture is my reminder of why I chose to be something better, why I chose to live my life selflessly.

I do hope Tom's family is aware that in the midst of this horrible tragic incident, his death taught me so much, and brought so many people together. Tom's is my supper cop always!

Officer Chris Leahy
San Diego Police Dept.

Although i didn't know this officer, the story is heartbraking. A scumbag took the life of one of our BROTHER's. My sincere condolences to his wife, and his precious son that will know one day what a HERO his dad truly is. GOD bless his family and friends. Rest in peace BROTHER!

" THE WICKED FLEE WHEN NO MAN PURSUETH BUT THE RIGHTEOUS ARE BOLD AS A LION" - Proverbs 28:1

Recruit Don Reichhardt
60th Crater Criminal Justice Academy
Prince George, Va.

Officer Don Reichhardt
Virginia State University Police Department

It's coming up on 4 years since Tom was taken away from us. The feelings still burn like it was yesterday. We will never forget. His bravery. His valor. His dedication. Our friend.

Officer Michael Weinstein
Portland Police Bureau