Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Chief of Police Cecil F. Gurr

Roosevelt Police Department, Utah

End of Watch Friday, July 6, 2001

Leave a Reflection

Reflections for Chief of Police Cecil F. Gurr

It has been 2 years now. i took law enforcement this year and wayne talked about you all the time.
my dad does too. i just wish you were still here. i knew you but not as good as i wanted to. ever
since that day 2 years ago i have thought really hard about becoming a police officer or something it
that proffession. i just hope if i do i will as good of one as you were. you will always be in my heart
and so will your fa

Anonymous

Hi Honey, never thought I would resort to a web site to talk--but the semintary is the worst!!! We have past the 2 year mark and when does this get any easier?? Through the years, the thousands of times we talked of this possibility, never once did you said how devastating the trama would be. I miss you!!!! The challenge has come in living without you.
I dont know who coined the phrase "Moving on" But I'm sure they have not had a loss as great as you/ I have sold our dream home, I hope that is OK. I cant find peace here any more. Moving closer to the kids will be a good move and you will always be here with me. I can't stand the thought of leaving the folks, I will be here often to check in on them and hopefully feel some of their needs. This has always been "Your Town" and I have loved life with you. Now I must find out where I fit and how to live without you.. You are my eternal friend... Take care my love, and God be with us all.

Anonymous

Well dad,
This is the 5th time I have came to this page in the last 3 days. It sets me back every time... I feel guilty as hell for not spending more time thinking about you and trying to remember, but it just hurts so damn bad. I am still in shock... I think I am going to be making some pretty big decisions here pretty soon, sure could use your guidence.... this sucks..................... I never in a million years thought I would be trying to talk to you through some distant void web page..... damn this sucks...... I love you, and dont worry about Grandpa and Grandma, Ill make sure they are taken care of untill you can take over.

Dear Chief Gurr, it is July 6,2003 and I am on duty. I have been spending most of the night helping people with there problems and thinking about you. It has been two very long years since the night you were taken from your family. Chief I want you to know that there is not a day that goes by that I have not thought of the great man and teacher that you were to me and to those who knew you. Chief I will be forever greatfull that I was able to have you as a friend, teacher and a boss. Chief I know that you are still looking out for your men in black and that you ae with us on every call and that you are still leading us by example. Chief I am sorry that i have not left a reflection for you earlier but I did not know what to say. Once again I would like to thatk you for the great man that you are and let you know that I do miss you and I will always remember what you expect from me as an Officer.

Patrol Officer Shaun W. Denver
Roosevelt Police Department

Well my brother it has been two years, and my heart still hurts like it was just today that you were taken. I miss you and always will. You are in my thoughts dailey. I miss you so bad it hurts.

Your friend and brother Mel

Lt Mel Curtis
RPD

Chief, 07-06-03
Two years have passed, but your sacrafice has not been forgotten. Thanks for your service.

Deputy S. Cochran
Bradford County Sheriff's Office, Florida

Rest easy, brother. You are not forgotten. Never.

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

Not gone...Just gone ahead

Anonymous

My heart still breaks

Anonymous

My heart still breaks, and my eyes still water.

Anonymous

I didnt really know you personally. My mom worked with you, and my favorite teacher, Mr. Embelton, worked with you, and speaks so highly of you. I know i saw you in the stores talking to my mom a couple times, and i said hi, but nothing else. But from what i heard, you were an awesome person. I wish i would have known you, and I wish you were still here with the agency. I also wish that people killing cops would stop, because of how many there are every day. I hope you rest in peace with the angels, watching over everyone.

Sarah
Student

I met you on a beautiful sunny day in June of 1999. I was in an interview with you and your department members. As I was asked questions, you could see that I was very nervous and was having a difficult time talking. You stopped me and said, "can I get ya a glass of water". Not only did that help me make it throught the interview, at that moment, I knew that you were a true leader and would do anything at anytime during any situation to help someone. Chief Gurr, you and your family will always be in my prayers. You were a true hero!!

Patrolman, Jack Richens
Rangely Police Department

Cec,
Thanks for being there for us always. Thanks for keeping watch over my boys. We all know that you are always close, keeping us safe in unsafe situations and still offering your hand and support.

Anonymous

rest in peace

REST IN PEACE CHIEF YOUR KILLER RECEIVED LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE. YOU SAVED YOUR OFFICERS LIVES THAT DAY, A TRUE HERO.

When the Lord was creating peace officers, he was into his sixth day of overtime when an angel appeared and said, "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And the Lord said, "Have you read the spec on this order? A peace officer has to be able to run five miles through alleys in the dark, scale walls, enter homes the health inspector wouldn't touch, and not wrinkle his uniform.

"He has to be able to sit in an undercover car all day on a stakeout, cover a homicide scene that night, canvass the neighborhood for witnesses, and testify in court the next day.

"He has to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half-eaten meals. And he has to have six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands... no way."

"It's not the hands that are causing me problems," said the Lord, "it's the three pairs of eyes an officer has to have."

"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.

The Lord nodded. One pair that sees through a bulge in a pocket before he asks, "May I see what's in there, sir?" (When he already knows and wishes he'd taken that accounting job.) "Another pair here in the side of his head for his partners' safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, 'You'll be all right ma'am, when he knows it isn't so."

"Lord," said the angel, touching his sleeve, "rest and work on this tomorrow."

"I can't," said the Lord, "I already have a model that can talk a 250 pound drunk into a patrol car without incident and feed a family of five on a civil service paycheck."

The angel circled the model of the peace officer very slowly, "Can it think?" she asked.

"You bet," said the Lord. "It can tell you the elements of a hundred crimes; recite Miranda warnings in its sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five learned judges to debate the legality of the stop... and still it keeps its sense of humor.

This officer also has phenomenal personal control. He can deal with crime scenes painted in hell, coax a confession from a child abuser, comfort a murder victim's family, and then read in the daily paper how law enforcement isn't sensitive to the rights of criminal suspects."

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the peace officer. "There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this model."

"That's not a leak," said the lord, "it's a tear."

"What's the tear for?" asked the angel.

"It's for bottled-up emotions, for fallen comrades, for commitment to that funny piece of cloth called the American flag, for justice."

"You're a genius," said the angel.

The Lord looked somber. "I didn't put it there," he said.

Anonymous

Dad, It has been a whole year now. My heart breaks to think many more will pass without you. I recently read a tribute to a father who had passed 25 years ago, and the remaining pieces of my soul ached at the reality of your absence. My children will miss so much, as will I. Your little buddy cries often in his sleep and misses you more than anyone truly understands. I have hoped for quite some time that you would return from some long vacation you have well earned and deserve. I guess that if you are, indeed on vacation, it will be longer than I had first expected before I see you again. I hope when my babies and I arrive you will come running out the door before we even get there to meet us as you always have done. Or better yet, when the time comes maybe you can come part way and escort us home like so many times before. I miss you like I could never have imagined. I hope I will become someone who reflects your image. I am grateful every day for the years I had to learn from you and be loved by you. I pray each night that you are comforted and feel my love. I think of you every moment. Thank you Papa Bear, I love you.

Anonymous

It has been a year since Chief Gurr was called away. Not a day has gone by when I haven't thought of him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.

Denise Rhoades

Well my brother it has been a year exactly. I sit and look at my watch and count down the exact moment that your life ended one year ago. I seems to me to have been a hundred years since you left, and yet it was just like an hour ago I was looking into your face. I got to spend the afternoon with your family. I played with your grandkids as if it was you getting to spend the time with them. It is not right that they do not get to have you with them. I wanted to leave you this message to let you know that your father misses you as much as ever, as does the rest of your family. You would be proud of them, the way they are carring on in your name. They miss you so much. I still feel like a giant piece of me has been ripped out and will never return. I miss teasing you and learning from you. Rest in peace my brother. We all miss and love you. Your humble cousin Mel

Lt. Mel Curtis
Vernal Police Dept.

Thank you for keeping my family and friends safe for so many years. We miss you.

Anonymous

Chief I am missing you really bad right now hope ya could come back love your friend matt

Matt Draper
student

Dad I sit here trying to make decisions that will effect the rest of my life...I would give any thing to have your sound advice, your listening ear, your desire for my happiness and well being. I have thought often these past few months of what you would say or, more accurately, what you would get me to say to solve my problem. You are so good at bringing out the best in people. I know the answer is somewhere out there I would give anything for you to help me find it.

I AM HONORED TO SAY THAT I WORKED WITH CHIEF GURR ON A REGULAR BASIS. HE WAS THE FINEST EXAMPLE OF A PROFESSIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THAT I KNOW OF. HIS PASSING WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY LIKE THE PASSING OF WILLIAM TIGHLMAN, VIRGIL EARP, AND OTHER FAMOUS LAWMEN OF THE WEST WHO WERE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY WHILE ENGAGING IN THE MOST HONORABLE PROFESSION IN THE HISTORY OF CIVILIZED MAN. CHIEF, YOU WILL BE SORELY MISSED BUT NEVER FORGOTTEN.
GODSPEED AND SEMPER FIDELIS FROM YOUR FRIEND AND FELLOW SOLDIER AND POLICE OFFICER.
SCOTT D. BUSH
UNITED STATES BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
UINTAH AND OURAY AGENCY
FORT DUCHESNE UTAH

OFFICER SCOTT BUSH
US BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS

I worked with Chief Gurr for 17 years while working as a news reporter in Roosevelt. I was constantly amazed at his ability to be compassionate and kind considering the inhumanity he so often witnessed in police work. He was always there with a kind word and encouragement. He was a Christ-like example, a teacher and a leader. I never saw him lose his temper and more importantly, no matter what the situation, his sense of humor remained intact. His death leaves a great void and sorrow. He can never be replaced. May God bless his parents, wife and children and may their memories help sustain them until the time comes when they are reunited as a family.
Lezlee Whiting

Dear Grandpa,
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Love, Keston

Anonymous

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