Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

To the family of Trooper Richard T. Gaston,

I wish to offer my deepest sympathy to you at this time. I am the Aunt of the
Goshen Police officer, Thomas E Goodwin, that was killed by a sniper on
December 11, 1998. I know the pain you are feeling, we have been there. I
pray God will give you strength for the days to come. May you feel his
presence near to you. I have found comfort in remembering all the good things
I have shared with our Tommy. Keep your memories alive and share them with
each other. I know it hurts now but in days to come you will cherish the
memory of your Richard's smile and his touch and all the things you have
shared together. I will pray for your family and keep you in my thoughts.
May you find your strength from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Love from one who has been there.

Amy,
Thank you for you continued prayers and thoughts for other officers. I worked bot accidents of our "FALLEN HEROS" in Haywood County. They were so similar that you just can't believe that it was happening again. You having been there before with the loss of Richard, I'm sure that you always reflect back to your time. Thank you so much for your continued prayers and support. Anthony was indeed a Christian, and even before the metal stopped sliding he was sitting at the feet of JESUS.

I pray for all officers across the United States, that we still continue forward. We are all stung so deeply by each loss. But I just thank the LORD for the opportunity to be a servant of him and just to help and protect other people daily.

May many blessings come to your family, and you now have also been added to my prayer list.

Sgt. Michael Benfield
NC State Highway Patrol

To Rich "Shakey" Gaston, his wife, daughter and family, Rich and I were stationed at the Marine Barracks, Washington, DC for more than two years together. Over that time, we spent hundreds, if not thousands of hours together. We slept in the same room, shared the same beer and "humped" the same training ranges. We would visit each others apartments on Sunday and watch football together. Shakey was one of my best friends. As the years past after we went our seperate ways, we kept in touch for a while. But as more years passed, we lost touch with each other. Today, I decided enough time had passed and I would give Shakey a call. Only to find out that one of my best friends was no longer here. I was devestated. I did not know what to say to his wife. I was speechless. I do know that Rich only wanted to be a Police Officer. Rich died doing what he loved to do. I only wish that I met Rich sooner and had the chance to be friends with him longer. My heart goes out to his family. To Rich...Semper Fi my friend. I will never forget you.

STAFF SERGEANT JEFF MANCUSO
NEW YORK ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

Rich has been gone now for three years. Although the time passes on he touched my life in ways no one will ever really know. His heart was so great. I was one of Rich's training officers in the State Police Academy and came to know what high character he had, but above that he had a deep love for his wife Amy and their daughter Jeanie that was immeasurable. Rich took time out one snowy day and drove to my Father's home where he shovelled the drive and sidewalk for him asking for nothing in return. I will forever be indebted to him and know he is watching over us and awaits the time when he will welcome us into the Kingdom of God.

First Sergeant Gary Dudley
Indiana State Police