Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

THE POLICEMAN’S LAST 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, 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 said, "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 times my talk was rough, and sometimes I’ve been violent because 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 just got to steep. And I never passed a cry for help, though times I shook with fear. And sometimes, God forgive me, I’ve wept many unmanly tears. I know I don’t deserve a place among the people here, they never wanted me around except to calm their fear. If you’ve a place for me Lord, it needn’t be so grand. I 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 judgement of his God. "Step forward now, policeman, you’ve borne your burdens well. Come walk a beat on Heaven’s streets, you’ve done your time in hell."

Author Unknown

Rest in peace brother

Rusty Redican
LAPD

On 11-13-02, I lost a friend, and a mentor. Dale was the best officer I ever had the pleasure to work with. I can only pray that his family knows how much he loved them and talked about them to all of us. His work ethic, his professionalism and his caring personality made him the great person he is. Dale will be missed by his family and co-workers, but at least I had the chance to meet someone I can call a true hero. God Bless You Dale!

Investigator David Bell
Tallahassee Police Department

Dale: It was an honor to be your friend. Your strength and leadership were true examples of what is best in people. Well done, now take your rest. We will miss you and honor your memory. - One of your TPD family

Anonymous

May all of our new recruits grow into the superior law enforcement officer that Dale personified. He could brighten my day with a quip and his sense of humor. God be good to him for he is in your hands now.

Kathleen M. Schoff
Tallahassee Police Department

With sincere sympathy to the family of Sgt. Green and the TPD family: Reflect not on how he died, but how he LIVED. Treasure always the memories you shared.

You loved him, but GOD loves him best!

Records Technician: Timolyn Henry
Tallahassee Police Department

God Bless...

God Bless this hero and all that are like him. To his immediate family: Please know we too are his family, and we shall forever grieve in our hearts for the loss of your HUSBAND and your DAD!

Officer
Orlando Police Department

Dale, Thank you for all you have taught me over the years, and thank you for the ultimate sacrifice you have made. I pray that God may watch over you and your family. Rest in peace my brother.

Investigator Keith Campbell
Tallahassee Police Department

My son is a reserve officer in the Tallahassee Police Department whose active TPD service spanned much of Sgt. Dale Green’s. Learning Dale was killed, now reading messages here on the Officer Down Memorial Page, brings rushing back all the memories of this parent’s fears: cops get killed. TPD gives excellent training, provides the equipment, and obviously keeps real leaders close to young officers. It is easier for other cops to control their natural tendency to become cynical when they hear that good law enforcement officers like Dale Green are Christians. Like my own son, the Christian cop hates to see decent, law-abiding folks in the poorer neighborhoods being victimized by crime. I’m confident that Dale Green was vigilant, well-trained, well-equipped, and ready to defend himself. Like all good cops, Dale doubtless was gifted with a good sense of fear, and wasn’t emboldened by gun he carried. The Romans 13:4 reference to the law enforcer, who “does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil” was never much comfort to me. The radio in my son’s car and on his shoulder is his most important equipment. It connected him to you, his brothers and sisters who know each other’s wives, children, and fathers. That radio …those communications that you have with each other, shared insights, detailed reports, quick responses when you hear the fear in each other’s publicly calm voices …your responses to that information is what is critical. “Wrath” is left to our courts these days, if that gives Dale’s widow any comfort in advance. She will be more comforted by not having another reminder of her own suffering today, though she knows that it isn’t for lack of being good cops that cops go down for good. God’s word tells you that your work will be dangerous, whatever you do (“Whoever digs a pit may fall into it; whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them; whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.” Ecclesiastes 10:8-9). That said, know that preserving your life is not the best thing you can do. Leaving a legacy like Dale Green left is far better. May our Lord be with his family and you be with them as his fellow servants. And may the Lord be with you all, on duty and off.

Dave McClenahan, just a cop's father
Richmond, VA