Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Rest in peace, friend.

Trooper
MSP Richmond

June 18, 2006

HAPPY BIRTHDAY,BABY!
Your soulmate

February 24, 2006

To the family and friends of Officer Richard Vauris and most especially to Officer Vauris himself:

On this the fifth anniversary week of your untimely death, please know you are not forgotten. Your valor and dedication to your job will always be remembered. Rest In Peace, Officer Vauris.

In reading the reflections about you, it is obvious you were well-respected and cared for by many whose lives you touched. It also seems like you had an incredible sense of humor and that you were a person of light. Your light is still shining.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for your many years of distinquished service to your community and the citizens of Michigan, and the supreme sacrifice you and your family made on February 19, 2001.

Phyllis Loya, mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD eow 4/24/05

February 23, 2006

THANKS RICHARD FOR ALL THAT YOU HAVE DONE FOR ME. YOUR WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE I WILL CARRY THROUGHOUT MY LIFE. IT IS A HONOR TO KNOW YOU MY FRIEND.

February 23, 2006

We still miss you....

God Speed Brother.See ya when we do roll call up there....

January 9, 2006

We're thinking of you and miss you every day. Be with the angels in blue where you so rightly belong

ANONYMOUS

December 21, 2005

I know that you are with me every day, and that makes it somewhat easier.
I still pray every single day that I will be with you in heaven, someday. Until then, know that I love and miss you every year more than the last!!
"Infinity"

December 15, 2005

Dickie, we toasted you again at hunting camp. What's a night out with the boys without a Dickie Vauris story? Dick and I were friends and worked together many years in the Armed Robbery Unit. He was a good person and a dedicated and diligent detective. He was a fun friend to be with and he is missed by me as well as my wife and children. I recall vividly the night that he was shot and then at the funeral standing in ranks with all the white-haired retiree’s thinking “this can’t be, you’re supposed to be retired and taking it easy” but that’s the kind of take charge cop that he was. I-we have many good memories of Dick, it was hard to sit down and write this reflection, I’ve checked this page many times and just thought of old war stories. I think about you and Shawn often Dickie and you are both in my prayers. Save a seat at the bar for me.

Retired Investigator Dan Buds
Detroit Police Department

November 27, 2005

My reflections about Dick are many, and all are the good times I had with Dick and a the group of men and women we hung out with. He was not only a great police officer, he was a dear friend, a great euchre player, and a drinking buddy, we had some great times up north in grayling and gaylord at my mobile home. He is missed by my wife and I, God Bless you Dick.

Retired Sergeant Roy C Gray
Detroit Police Department

October 13, 2005

I first met Dick Vauris in the spring of 1971. He was assigned to the Western District Morality Unit, housed at the Thirteenth Precinct, Detroit Police Department. Dick was still a probationary Officer in his first year on the job. I worked with Dick most every day for over a year and could see that he was going to be a good officer. After the unit was disbanded we worked at different assignments but remained good friends. The best description I ever heard of Dick was by Deputy Chief Mike Hall, who said in his eulogy, "colorful? he was a 52 pack of crayolas". I wrote his confirmation report when he completed his first year in 1971, went to his DPD retirement party in 1997 and to his funeral in 2001. Dick left us much too suddenly, he left us much too soon but he left us doing what he loved to do. He became what I could see early in his career, "A Policeman's Policeman".

Inspector Ray Murray, DPD (Retired)
Detroit Police Department

October 13, 2005

My New Watch

I began my new watch today and everything’s going fine.
I just wanted to let you know that I would be checking in on you from time to time.

It’s really different here, but in a good way,
Although the change was sudden, rest assured there is nowhere else I’d rather stay.

I work with a crew of true heroes, who always do their best,
They always do their part, and watch over all the rest.

I can’t change what happened on that fateful night
But remember that I will forever continue to fight.

Please tell my family I love them and I’m with them all the time.
Help my wife when I can’t and give a kiss to that sweet child of mine.

I walk a new beat that seems so far away
But you can reach me, and I’ll back you up, you only have to pray.

I have to go now for there’s a rookie on the street.
I have to do my part, for it’s not his time to walk this special beat.

In memory of all our fallen brother’s and sisters of Law Enforcement

D/S T. Arnold 416

Deputy Tim K Arnold
Cherokee County Sheriff's Dept. GA

September 21, 2005

Dick,
It seems like yesterday. We all miss you. God Bless Brother...
See ya in time....

March 13, 2005

I will miss you forever! Not a day goes by or a Mass on Sunday that I do not pray for your soul. Good-bye my darling.

Anyonmous

February 26, 2005

Rest well fallen brother,There by the grace of God go I or any other who has chosen to draw the line in the sand and say you will not cross on my watch with out a fight. I hope knowing he made a differance will bring some comfort to all your family and friends.

Officer Steven Amiott
Calvin OK. Police Dept.

November 1, 2004

To the family of Officer Vauris,
I said a prayer for you tonight. My first husband was also killed in the line of duty in 2001 and as I looked at some pictures I had taken of the NLEOM wall, I wanted to see the face of the officers who are on the wall beside him. I wanted to know more about them and let their family know that I am thinking about them. I pray that God is helping you through life without your loved one...I know how difficult it has been for me. Take care.

Denise
Survivor of Trooper Calvin E. Taylor

October 15, 2004

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

A grateful citizen.

September 23, 2004

I am a patrol supervisor at Radford City Police Department. Each night we dedicate the watch to a fallen brother or sister. Today we are dedicating the watch to Officer Richard Vauris who was killed in the line of duty 3 years ago today. Officer Vauris, your sacrifice will never be forgotten. Today we honor your legacy.

“People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because tough men and women stand ready to do violence on their behalf.” - Steve Robinson, Seal Team One, 1971-1973

First Sergeant J.L. Slaughter
Radford City Department of Police

February 19, 2004

Dick another year and we are preparing for your memorial. Its hard to believe its been three years. Not a day goes by without a Dicky V story from someone. God Bless You. You are missed!

Anonymous

February 18, 2004

Dick, you are greatly missed. Your laugh, your sense of humor, your intelligene, and your empathy that you did have for others. I still recall the water buffalo story you told me with tears in your eyes as you felt remorse for something you and others had done many many years before. That story told me a lot about your character Dick. You were proud to be a detective, and to be a police officer....and the peope whos' lives you touched were proud to have ya' as a pal.

you are not and will not be forgotten

Anonymous

February 11, 2004

My boyfriend worked with Dick Vauris at the Clinton Township Police Dept. I also work at the township so I would see Dick come in to take prisoners or to testify in court. We would have conversations about the latest videos,(The Horse Whisperer was one of his favorites at the time) his car that he loved, and he would ask about my son, who was away at college for his first year. He was a person who genuinely cared how you were doing. I saw a poem just recently and it reminds me of Dick:

Footprints on our Hearts

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.

Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts and we are never the same again.

We have a small picture of Dick in our living room and we are proud to say that he considered us his friends.

You will always be remembered. We miss you. Dan and Linda

Linda Lopez

I did not know Officer Vauris. I work in a neighboring department, and my brother is a Clinton Township Police Officer. I attended the funeral out of respect for Officer Vauris and to support my brother as well as other officers I know from Clinton.

I wanted to share this with all of you:

The Police Officers 23rd Psalm

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, His comforting hand reduces the fear to naught, He makes me walk through the streets of crime, but He gives me courage and peace of mind. He leads by still waters in the path I trod, and He says in Romans I'm a "Minister of God". He leads in rightousness as He restores my soul, for His name's sake He keeps me whole. When I walk throgh death's valley, right up to the door, I will fear no evil, for He comforts me more. For thou art with me every step of the way, as thy rod and thy staff protect me each day. He prepares a table, especially for me, as I walk daily among life's enemies. He gives me authority to uphold the law, and he anoints my position in the midst of it all. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, each day of my life through eternity. As I long to hear Him say "Well done..", when I lay down my life, my badge and my gun.

Deputy Sharron Furno
Macomb County Sheriff

Dick you are so very much missed, especially by those of us who had the honor of working by your side day in and day out. There is not a day that goes by where you are not forgotten and the peoples lives you've touched is a never ending list. There's an empty feeling in the locker room now without you replying to my, "how you doing Dick?" and you'd always say, "fair to midland buddy!". You are a true hero Officer Vauris and I know your rest with God is much more satisfying than the streets of Hell you protected.

"It's not how you died that made you a hero, it's how you lived!"

Anonymous

Dickie V, as we so lovingly called him was a man we all looked to for advice. No matter what was going on in our lives, Dickie V had been there, seen it and knew just what to say to help us through it. There isn't anyone in our department who isn't hurting by this incrediable loss and now we no longer have him to turn to. His life wasn't easy and I pray he is finding the happiness he so deserved here.

Anonymous

My father (who is also a police officer) and I attended officer Vauris's funeral, even though we did not know him. My brother was killed in the line of duty also last July and I knew that he would have went to the funeral to show respect to the officer and his family. It was very hard to attend another police funeral so soon after my own brother's but I wanted to be there and maybe help a family member by having gone through the same thing a short while ago... Godbless and you will be in my prayers

CORRINA HETRICK

We miss you every day.

CTPD