Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

You well obviously well respected. rest in peace motorman for we have the watch now.

Ofc. Michael Walker
Tallahassee Police Dept.

February 25, 2004

~ The Final Inspection ~

The Policeman stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass,
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

“Step forward now, my Policeman,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To my church have you been true?”

The Policeman squared his shoulders and spoke,
“No, Lord, I guess I ain’t.
Because those of us who carry badges,
Can’t always be a saint.”

“I’ve had to work most Sundays,
and at work my talk is rough,
And sometimes I’ve been violent,
Cause the streets are awfully tough.”

“But I never took a penny,
That wasn’t mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got awfully steep.”

“But I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, Oh God, forgive me,
I wept unmanly tears.”



“I know I don’t deserve a place,
Among all the people here.
They never really wanted me around anyway,
Except at times to calm their fear.”

“But if you do have a place here for me Lord,
It needn’t be too grand.
I’ve never expected or had too much,
But if you don’t…I’ll understand.”

There was silence all around the throne,
Where the Saints had often trod.
As the Policeman waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

The Policeman stood there quietly,
Fearing he wouldn’t be the one,
To enter the gates of paradise,
Knowing he had failed this Final Inspection.

Then the Lord looked down upon him,
And took him by hand
The Lord embraced the policeman in his arms,
As he spoke these words so grand.

“Step forward now, my Policeman,
You’ve borne your burdens well.
Please come walk a beat on the streets of Heaven,
Since you’ve worked your time in Hell.”

Dearest Brother,
There are many things that I wish could have been said between you and I, things we never talked about but that we both felt. Yes we had a few fights growing up, but our love was never lost for one another. Deep down I always knew you were the better man, but I dang sure wasnt going to tell you that. What as children was a constant reason for arguments, became a joke as we grew up. You inspired me in more ways than you could possibly ever know. You, through your endevours, taught me the meaning of the words HONOR and RESPECT. You were a model police officer and citizen. Your contributions to the comunity of Lubbock were a testament of how you lived your life. If there was ever anyone in the world that I wish I could be like, it would have been you. You are and forever will be missed deeply. We will be reunited again one day, and all I ask is that Brother, keep the beer cold till I get there.
I love and miss you,
Your little brother.

Johnny Kendricks
Brother

He was a truly wonderful person. He was only my Cousin but I felt like he was my Uncle. He always treated me very good. He treated all of his cousins that were really little like his own. I miss him so much sometimes I wake up, and hope that it is all a dream.

I wrote a poem for him 9 months after he died and I would like to share it with you:

In July I found my Cousin was dead,
And to this day it's still in my head.

I sat there in shock with nothing to say,
I went to his funeral in a warm summer day.

I had tears in my eyes and my voice had no tone,
Even with the room full I felt all alone.

That was one of the hardest days of my life,
The months have passed the number is nine

I wondered as I looked up at the sky,
He only 34- way to young to die.

I love you Rodney!

Amber (Cousin)

HE is a very great person and I truly miss him so much he is a very wonderful person to be around and I miss that!

Renee

To the family and friends of Officer Kendricks,
My prayers go out to you all, I did not Officer Kendricks personally, and only learned of his sacrifice recently, but anyone who would put their life on the line for the safety of others is a great person, God bless you all and thank you for your service Officer Kendricks you may rest in peace now.

Michael Morgan
La Vergne Police Dept.,Tn

I saw the Heavens open up.
And the earth shook with fear.
For evil, knew God's Army.

They were Hero's, men on steel horses.

Cpl. James J. Crawford
Lower Providence Twp Police, Montg. Co. PA.

Many days and nights our daddy left our home to do a job that no one else wanted to do. Last month daddy didn't come home. We will never get to see our daddy again. But we are very proud of him. He was the best daddy and the best cop. He loved his job and his motorcycle. He wanted to do nothing else. We hope that people will start paying attention and remember that the policeman who writes you a ticket for doing wrong probably has a little boy or girl just like you. Be nice to them and remember that they are there for YOU. Our daddy left us serving others. Our daddy is a TRUE HERO. We love you and miss you so much daddy....please watch over us.

Victoria & Madilynn Kendricks
Daughters

Officer Kendricks, your watch is over and our department salutes you and your tour. May you watch over the gates of heaven, as you watched over the citizens of Lubbock, Texas.

Deputy J. Allen
Hidalgo County Sheriff's Department, Texas

On behalf of the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #1,
our deepest heartfelt condolences on this tragic loss.We will always remember your dedication, bravery, and ultimate sacrafice in protecting our Nation and your communtiy. This service was not in vain, for it displayed uncommon valor in this collective effort to make our Nation free from the evil that exists in our world today.
"The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name will trust in you, for you Lord have never forsaken those who seek you." Psalm 9:9-10

John D. Sainz, Chaplain
Tucson Police Department

Are though's are with him. We just lost a Deputy on Saturday. We all will remeber!!

Deputy Brent Martin
Morgan Co Sheriff Indiana

TO THE FAMILY AND FREINDS OF RODNEY

THE PRAYERS OF MY FAMILY, ASSOCIATES IN THE AZ HIGHWAY PATROL MOTOR TRAINING PROGRAM, AND I GO OUT TO THE FAMILY, FREINDS, AND FELLOW OFFICERS OF RODNEY. I HAD THE PRIVILAGE OF MEETING RODNEY IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. RODNEY STRUCK ME AS A GENUINELY KIND PERSON, WITH A REAL DEDICATION TO BEING A POLICEMAN AS WELL AS A DIE HARD MOTOR. LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS LOST ONE OF ITS FINEST. RODNEY, IF THERE IS A HEAVEN, SOMEDAY I'LL SEE YOU THERE AND WE'LL RIDE AGAIN.

CHRIS LARSON & FAMILY
BUCKEYE ARIZONA

CHRIS LARSON
AZ. HIGHWAY PATROL

Another Lubbock Police Officer has joined Gods guardian angels, I want to say I am deeply saddened at this terrible loss, what a waste, a man who dedicated his life to protecting the Lubbock community. No doubt Officer Kendricks is amongst God's chosen few, my prayers and thoughts go to his family, and fellow officers, those he would call his second family, his comrades.....May you all find peace, a way to go on, a way to let his life live on through your work, as his work lives on through you.....

Scott Parker
Former Deputy Constable, Harris County Texas

My thoughts and prayers are with the family and co-workers of Officer Kendricks. I lost my brother, an officer in Fruita CO, last month in a motorcycle accident and it saddens me that another family has to go through the heartache. God bless you and watch over you.

Ronda Martin

I am so very saddened about your department's losses as of late. I will keep you in my prayers for strength for your officers and their families. May God bless you and keep you.

Andrea Fisher
Carrollton, Tx Fire Dept

To the family of this fallen hero, we know the heartache of loosing a Motor Man, we lost a hero here in KCMO not to long ago, and it still hurts to think about it. Rodney has joined the best department in the world. Heaven.

Michael A Baker
Kansas City Missouri PD

My heart and prayers go out to the family and friends of Patrolman Rodney Kendricks.

With our loss being so new, I am saddened to see another officer killed in a motorcycle accident.

Please remember that the Brotherhood of Officers will always be here for you.

Sergeant Tobey Whitney
Fruita Police Department (Colorado)

God Bless you, dear Sir. While I am not an officer, I work with LEs officer every day. The men and women I work for are exceptional. The stories I am told from "the street" shock and terrify me sometimes, yet the officers come out ok. While I can only imagine what a job an LE officer does, I do understand the grief the families and friends of an officer killed in the line of duty do go through. All I can do is offer my prayers and my continued hope that the senselessness will stop. Those that chose LE are a special breed and deserve our prayers each and every day.

Anonymous

Rest in peace Officer Kendricks.

Anonymous

To the Family, Relatives, Friends, and Colleagues of Patrolman Rodney Kendricks,

We are remembering you in our prayers and in thought. The best tribute we can all give to Patrolman Kendricks is to "keep on keeping the peace."

May the Lord bless and keep you now and forever.


In His Name,

Chaplain Jack H. Lanier, Jr.
Longview Police Department (TX)

Chaplain
Longview Police Department (TX)

It is with great sadness that I read about Officer Kendrick's death. I would like to thank him for making the ultimate sacrifice for his community and nation. I never knew him, but I sure find it admirable that he did his best to help honor citizens during their funeral. He deserves the greatest amount of respect for his selfless deeds. God bless his family, friends, and fellow officers. I hope you find comfort through God to help you through this difficult time.

Anonymous

How many times have we done an escort for a funeral possession? We always see people cutting in and out. My thoughts are with Officer Kendricks family, because he was leading a funeral, not knowing that a simple task bestowed on him would have ended like this. I always shed a "tear" when I have heard of a Officers death. He WILL NOT be forgotten!!!

SGT J.R. Tyson
Wilmington PD, Wilmington NC

Sgt Jason Tyson
Wilmington Police Dept, NC

You are not forgotten! We will continue to do the job in your honor and in memory of you and all who laid down their lives so that we could live in a civilized society. We are stronger because of you. Rest in peace.

PTLM. M.W. LUDLOW
Palmyra Boro Police Department, NJ

To the family and friends of Patrolman Kendricks

My thoughts and prayers go out to you. May God bless you always.


Terry Miyares
widow
Officer Emilio Miyares
Hialeah Police Dept, Florida
E.O.W. 11/6/86

Terry Miyares, officer's widow
Hialeah Police Dept.