Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Happy Spring! We miss you every single day.

Anonymous

May 2, 2010

Bob, thank you for everything you have done for me from above. Please keep watch over your family, it's working. You are truly loved and missed!

Anonymous

March 5, 2010

I was thinking about you Bob and wanted to stop by and say

Hi

Anonymous

February 25, 2010

It breaks my heart to think of your kids growing up without ever knowing you. As a mom, I can't imagine all your wife has missed out on and faced alone. Even with family and friends, it isn't the same. At least I got to have my daddy for 37 years before he was killed. I'm so sorry for the loss, even 9 1/2 years later, I know the void they feel. God bless all those you loved. Thank you for your service, dedication and sacrifice. Heroes really do live forever.

Lori Johnson Rowley
Daughter of Sgt. James Johnson, EOW 11/11/04

January 27, 2010

At your twins 9th birthday party today. God you should have been there. I kept imagining how you would have been that day...still kills me to think about what might have been.

Anonymous

January 16, 2010

Happy New Year Bob! Please keep watching out for us all.

Anonymous

December 31, 2009

Merry Christmas Bob!!!! Everytime a Bell rings and angle gets his wings

Anonymous

December 26, 2009

Merry Christmas Bob!

Anonymous

December 25, 2009

Merry Christmas George Bailey, Merry Christmas !!!!!!!!!

Clarence

December 24, 2009

Thinking of you and all of your loved ones as Christmas arrives. Continue to keep watch over all of them and protect them from harm. You have not been forgotten.

Bob Gordon
Father of Chicago Officer: Michael P. Gordon, EOW: 8/8/04

December 24, 2009

Miss everything the way it was...watch out for us all and ask God for His help for each of us in need. Love and miss you.

Anonymous

December 2, 2009

I never met you and I began SLMPD Academy training a month after your E.O.W. I have worked with some of the men that worked with you and I see and understand the passion they learned from you. Thank you, I will not forget your service. God Bless You. 5982.

P.O.
SLMPD, 305

November 9, 2009

I just wanted to leave a note to say thank you for your service and ask that you take care of your recent fallen brother in blue from STL. I imagine his loss dredges up memories for your family and friends. I'll say a special prayer them today.

Please know that the police community will never ever forget your selfless service, nor will we forget your family.

Officer's Wife
Cincinnati, Ohio

November 1, 2009

Happy Birthday, Bob

DSN 4212- Class 93-3

October 28, 2009

Happy Birthday, Bob.

SLMPD 4212, -93-3

October 28, 2009

Happy Birthday a day early! It kinda stinks that we are getting older (and grayer) and you are still 29 in our memories! Well, one of the gazillion things that stink about this! Maybe I'll call Laux and we'll celebrate with lunch tomorrow and a trip to Value Village...ain't no shame!

Anonymous

October 27, 2009

You were so lucky to have Mark and Lisa as friends. What terrific people!! Wish you were here to grow old with them...glad you brought them into our lives!

Anonymous

October 10, 2009

Tomorrow Mike is in and Saturday another golf tournament in your memory...how can you be gone 9 years? Turned the page on the calendar to see you would have been 39 this year. I can't believe it. Sure miss you and the life you brought to the family.

Anonymous

October 1, 2009

Fallen St. Louis police officer is an inspiration for mystery book character
Posted: 09/23/2009 2:22 PM
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By Patrick M. O'Connell - ST. LOUIS — A fictional Robert Stanze first appears on page 88, leaping to life in Missouri mystery writer Robert J. Randisi's new book, "You're Nobody 'Til Somebody Kills You." The character, described as tall, slender and dark-haired, has a tendency to pepper the end of sentences with "comprende?"

A real-life Robert Stanze was a St. Louis police officer killed in the line of duty nine years ago. He, too, was tall, slender, dark-haired and tended to use a burst of Spanish in his speech.

The similarity is not a coincidence.

The character who plays a supporting role as a detective in Randisi's novel is modeled on the fallen St. Louis officer because of the real officer's sister, Deb House.

On a whim, she contacted Randisi, who lives in Clarksville, Mo., after talking with her mother about the author's books. House said Stanze's mother, Dorinda Williams, is a voracious reader who had been reading a few of Randisi's mysteries, including a series that centers on St. Louis.

House figured the author might have heard of her brother's Aug. 8, 2000, slaying. Stanze, 29, was fatally shot by a suspect who had concealed a gun and fired from the back seat of a patrol car after being arrested at Marcus and St. Louis avenues.

House e-mailed Randisi out of the blue. She asked if the author ever used real people's names, and if he might consider using her brother's.

To her surprise, Randisi replied within an hour, saying he would be happy to comply in the next installment of his "Rat Pack Mystery Series." It centers on a Las Vegas pit boss, Marilyn Monroe and the 1960s "Rat Pack" of entertainers Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Joey Bishop.

"I was thrilled," House said.

She told her mom, who couldn't believe that her son would be appearing in a book written by one of her favorite authors. Stanze's father, Robert Sr., was excited for his son's name involved in a mystery with the Rat Pack, because he had been a big fan.

"It's going to be really good to see Bob come alive, even though it's fictional, it's still Bob, in a sense," House said.

Randisi and House exchanged frequent e-mails and phone calls in the writing process because the author wanted to stay true to who Stanze was in real life, even if he took the liberty of bumping him from an officer to a detective.

Randisi said the decision to use Stanze as inspiration for a police character in his next book was a no-brainer. "I didn't see any reason not to do it," he said. "There was no downside to it."

Initially, Stanze was to play a bit role in the book. But as Randisi wrote, Stanze's role grew.

Randisi has used friends' and relatives' names before, but this was the first time he based a character — other than a celebrity — on a real person.

Stanze's family and friends plan on attending Randisi's book signing at 1 p.m. Saturday at Big Sleep Books, 239 North Euclid Avenue.

To House, it was another way for her family to honor her brother, who left behind a wife, Michelle, who was pregnant with twins.

"It's basically a new memory and a way to feel a little closer to Bob," House said. "It's just another bond with him."

House plans to buy at least a box of the books to give as presents to Stanze's family and friends.

"I'm going to be smiling, but there's going to be some tears, too," House said about seeing her brother as a character in print. "It's going to be bittersweet."

STEVE
SLMPD

September 23, 2009

Officer Stanze,
I had the pleasure of meeting your sister Deb this past weekend at a C.O.P.S siblings retreat just outside of Potosi MO. She is a great and very caring person and it was easy to see how much you mean to her. Thank you so much for serving and protecting our communities!
RIP Officer Stanze, You will Never Be Forgotten!

Jim Biggs
Brother of Sgt. William Biggs EOW 2-7-2008

September 15, 2009

It's Labor Day weekend and the weather is beautiful. Fall is around the corner. Before long it will be your 10th annual golf tournament. The time goes so fast...but you are always in our hearts and minds. God I'd love to hear your voice and see you again.

Anonymous

September 6, 2009

Bob woke up for work that day...knowing he was in the doghouse. He heard the sarcasm in his wife Michelle's voice when she left for work that morning, "Late night, huh?" as she shut the door. The Cardinal game ran late the night before and she was not too pleased with him. He got dressed for work, got his young son Wil dressed and ready for Lou the babysitter. He couldn't help but smile at his little guy as he put him in the car seat. Yeah, Bob thought, life was pretty good. They just moved into their new house and found out just two weeks ago that they were expecting twins. He chuckled remembering Michelle's reaction when the doctor told them. She was scared, but he knew they could handle this. All of their family and friends assured them both that they would all help them out. It was just another average day...nothing out of the ordinary. He made sure to call Michelle, not hanging up until she said she loved him. A quick lunch later that day at Biggie's, toasted ravioli and chili on this hot, August day, of course washed down with some iced tea and then back to work. He and his partner were chasing down a lead on a suspect wanted in the shooting of a Berkely Police Officer. Then, they spotted him! They jumped into action and had him cuffed in the back seat of the cruiser in no time. Yeah, life was good on that August 8th afternoon Bob thought to himself...

It's hard to believe that 9 years have passed since that August day. That afternoon, everyone gathered together. Some at the hospital, some got together at a friends house, others sat quietly at work or home, watching the news updates, but already knowing the answer. The weeks that followed were a blur of events. We cried, we laughed, we cried and we laughed. We grieved. Weeks turned into months...months into years in our journey to just "survive."

Today we celebrate Bob's life...the father, husband, son, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend.

In honor of Bob, today when you see a police officer, tell him/her THANK YOU! It is the easiest thing to do, but is the thing that is never heard enough, because you never know what the next call will bring that Police Officer...

Anonymous

August 9, 2009

Bob,
I just wanted to let you and your family know that we are thinking of them and to let us know if they need anything.
I still remember your funeral and being with Nick. He said that he felt so horrible for you and your family and friends. At the same time, he said it was such an honor for you to have everyone there for your family including the citizens of St. Louis. I never thought four short years later, we would be living the same thing that you and your family had to go through. Your family has been such an inspiration to our family. Whenever I get down and think how can we keep doing this without Nick, I think of the Stanze's and how they are making it through. They are just like part of our famiy. They mean so much to us.

I'm sure you and Nick and all of the other guys are up there having a few beers and watching sports. Please keep watching over all of us. I know that we have all kept you busy.

Kelly
Nick Sloan's sister

August 8, 2009

Nine years! Unbelievable still today. Thinking of you hour by hour and reliving those horrible moments. Miss you and love you. Please continue to watch out for us all.

Anonymous

August 8, 2009

GOD Bless you and your family. You are all in my prayers. Life never gets better.....

Terry Sloan

August 8, 2009