Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

"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

December 31, 2007

10 Years ago i remember hearing about this on the news i was 10 at the time. You will never be forgotten my father then retired in 1998. I remember he worked with you or jeter before this happened. You will always be remembered here in cincinati.

Steven Kuhn
Son Of A RET. Cincinnati Police Officer

December 5, 2007

10 Years! Never forgotten.

HCSO

December 5, 2007

You are remembered today and thank you Sir for your service

Pat Van Den Berghe, Manchester, NH
Neighbors for a Better Manchester, NH

December 4, 2007

I hate to see that no one has left a message for you!
Rest in peace and not forgotten even 10 years later!!

August 6, 2007

Officer Pope I didnt have the pleasure to work with you or Specialist Jeter. But I do ride with an officer who was in the christmas task force with you, he tells me all the time about how he and the other officers felt that awful night. But I would just like to say Thank you for your service and please protect us and keep all the officer's safe while they do their job.

Thank you .. and God Bless

Explorer
Cincinnati Police

December 24, 2006

Hero's and the sacrifices they make are never forgotten. Officer Pope, you are a ture hero and you are not forgotten.

SPO
Salem, Va

December 5, 2006

You are a hero amongst heros........Thats all that their is to say

Ohio Police Officer

May 4, 2006

Not a minute goes by that we don't remember you dan. Rest in peace brother

anon
anon

April 16, 2006

Merry Christmas.....

Officer Jim GIlbert
Columbus PD

December 24, 2005

Linda~
Thinking of you on Dan's EOW marker. I am so glad that I met you at the Spouse's Retreat this year. You have given me much comfort in your words of wisdom.
God Bless~

Juli Verkler
Widow of Ptlm. Bryan S. Verkler EOW 12/13/03

December 5, 2005

Not a day goes by that you are not thought about...you will always be remembered....stand tall in heaven for we have the beat here on earth brother

August 31, 2005

To my brother in blue, may you rest and peace and may God be with you forever and always

July 28, 2005

To my brother in blue, may you rest and peace and may God be with you forever and always

July 28, 2005

Dan,
I wish I could of known you. I have heard so many stories from Linda and know how much she cherished the short time you had together. You would be so proud of Linda. She will not let any of us walk alone on this journey. She is a truly amazing woman. We will never let anyone forget the sacrifices our families made. We will honor all of you in everyway possible.

Sara Winfield
Wife of Brandy EOW 10/14/04

January 13, 2005

It seems like yesterday that you were taken away. Your memory lives on...you must be so proud of your wife and all the good that she does. She is so strong and supportive of other survivors. Thank you, Linda, for all that you do. We saw you and the other survivors at Deputy Winfield's services. I can only imagine how much that meant to his family. God bless you and your family.

LEO Wife
Delaware, OH

October 19, 2004

God bless you Dan. We all will miss your smiling face. You gave all to your community and paid the great price.
Linda, I hope you find peace and happiness in knowing that he was a great guy.

Amanda Burchfield-Hamm

August 9, 2004

I used to patrol with Dan on occasion many years ago while serving as a Cincy PD Officer. Dan, you are missed and I will always remember the good times we had and the things you taught me when I was a young rookie Officer fresh out of the Marines. God Bless.

P.O. Rutledge
Veterans Affairs Police Officer

May 16, 2004

05/13/04

Each day I try to read the ODMP. Today I read your story. Any officer who dies in the line of duty will always be remembered for his sacrifice. You died a hero. Rest in peace Officer Pope.

Captain Robert W Cannon, Ret.
Vermilion Co, Il. Sheriff's Dept.

May 13, 2004

Your sacrifice will never be forgotten.

Future CPD Officer

April 13, 2004

On angels ...

"The wings ain't anything but a uniform that's all. When they are in the field so to speak, they always wear them."

Dan,
You're not forgotten ...
December 6, 2003

Anonymous

December 8, 2003

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.

Tonight, December 5, 2003 we dedicated the shift to the memory of P.O. Daniel J. Pope and Police Specialist Ronald Jeter 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.

Officer Pope's and Officer Jeter's sacrifice will never be forgotten.

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

December 5, 2003

I did not know Dan, but I have been very fortunate to meet Linda. What a fantastic person. Dan lives through her. Her strength and her cause is so admirable. God Bless you all!

Ofc. Lisa Fox
Perkins Police Department

November 18, 2003

I was serving a Felony D.V. warrant the night you and Ron were killed. The radio crackled with "two officers killed...BOLO for....". The knot in my stomach was sickening. God bless you Dan. The two of you are heros for ever, never to be forgotten. Thank you for your service.

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

October 19, 2003

We in the Greater Cincinnati area have gone over 10 years without losing a fellow officer in
the line of duty. During this time, our community/police relations have been relatively good,
until recently. Within the past year, Police officers in the City of Cincinnati and the Greater
Cincinnati area have been the subject of intense scrutiny over actions, and decisions made by
them in the performance of their jobs. It has been trying for us all. With the recent tragic
loss of P.O. Pope and Spec. Jeter, the outpouring of support and grief from the entire
Tri-State community has been overwhelming for all in the law enforcement community who feel we
have lost 2 members of our family. Dan Pope was a friend of mine with whom I worked with before
either of us became police officers. His friendly smile, warm handshake, and quick wit will be
what I will always remember. They say that the Lord works in mysterious ways...and even though
we are struggling at the loss of our brothers at this most difficult of times, it would be a
lasting tribute to their memories that the community take note of the fact that we have
feelings, we hurt, and we care about the communities that we serve. This would be an
appropriate legacy to 2 officers that, in a short period of time, touched the lives of those
they came in contact with both personally, and professionally.

This is a profession that we do not choose, but on that chooses us...We will think of them
often......and they will be with us always.....

Sergeant Scott Middendorf
Springfield Township Police Department, OH