Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I love you very much sweetheart!! I miss you too. I wish you were here!!

Beautiful

March 25, 2005

I love you! I will love you forever! I miss you !

Beautiful
"GOODBYE"
Lyrics by: Lionel Richie

I wanted you for life
You and me
In the wind
I never thought there come a time
That our story would end
It's hard to understand
But I guess I'll have to try
It's not easy
To say goodbye.

For all the joy we shared
All that time we had to spend
Now if I had one wish
I'd want forever back again
To look into your eyes
And hold you when you cry
It's not easy
To say goodbye

I can remember all those great times we had
There were so many memories, some good some bad
Yes and through it all
Those memories will last
Forever

There's peace in where you are
May be all I need to know
And if I listen to my heart
I'll hear your laughter once more
And so I got to say
I'm just glad you came my way
It's not easy to say
Goodbye

March 21, 2005

Gene,

We can't begin to say what we feel inside. I remember when your mom called us we were both in shock. We both sat down and cried. It couldn't be real. We left for Summerville as soon as we packed. I remember the whole way down uncle Sam kept saying this can't be true, this can't be true. You know in your heart you and Tab were his favorite and always will be. Uncle Sam loved you sooo very much. We sit back a lot and talk about all the times we would come down every weekend and go to the beach and of course take you bowling. Just this past weekend we went to have dinner with your mom and dad and went bowling and all those memories just came flowing back and brought a smile to our face. We had some shirts made up in your memory and they turned out so pretty and we all will wear them with such pride. We just want you to know you will always be in ours hearts and not a day goes by that we don't think about you. Rest in peace we love and miss you dearly.
Uncle Sam & Aunt Vanessa

Vanessa Hood
no agency Family member

December 6, 2004

Gene is a great person and I will miss him. For those who know Gene are blessed to have his great spirit in their lives. Gene always had a smile to bring you up when he knew something in your life had you down. Gene is a great person whose presence on earth will be missed. There is not a day that goes by that I don't give thanks to God for some of the people that are in my life, and Gene and his family are in our prayers daily. For those who were not given the privilege to know Gene, just imagine those times when you really needed a friend and one came along... well, that is Gene. To Gene's family and especially his child, you are in our prayers every day.

Cpl. B. O'Rourke
Berkeley Co. Sheriff's Office

DEPUTY WRIGHT: YOUR DEATH OCCURED IN NOV. 2002, BUT I JUST DISCOVERED IT TODAY (3/17/03) WHILE READING THROUGH OFFICERS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.
SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS HELPING A 10-46 WHICH WE ALL HAVE DONE LED TO YOUR UNTIMELY DEATH. WHAT STANDS OUT IS THE FACT THAT YOU WERE OFF DUTY AND COULD OF PASSED BY THAT STRANDED CAR, BUT YOU DID NOT. INSTEAD YOU STOPPED, OFFERED ASSISTANCE AND ATTEMPTED TO HELP A CITIZEN BEFORE BE STRUCK BY A DRUG IMPAIRED DRIVER. YOUR EFFORTS WENT ABOVE AND
BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND YOUR PROFESSIONIALSM AS A DEPUTY SHERIFF.
TO THE FAMILY AND SHERIFF'S OFFICE, DEPUTY WRIGHT WAS A TRUE PROFESSIONAL. HIS LIFE ENDED WAY TO SOON BUT HIS SERVICE WILL CARRY ON. AN OFFICERS DEATH IS NOT EASY TO OVER COME BUT KNOWING THAT OFFICER SERVED HIS COMMUNITY WELL IS REASSURING.
MAY GOD BLESS DEPUTY WRIGHT'S FAMILY AND FELLOW DEPUTIES!

Anonymous

I WAS AT SCCJA WITH GENE AND I HAVE NEVER KNOW ANYONE SO DETERMINED. YOU HAD A HURT KNEE AND WHEN THEY TOLD YOU YOU COULDN'T KEEP UP PHYSICALLY, THROUGH THE PAIN, YOU WENT ON. THEY MADE YOU GO HOME BUT YOU RETURNED THREE WEEKS LATER TO FINISH AND DO WHAT YOU LOVE. IT'S JUST TOO BAD YOU DIDN'T GET TO DO IT AS LONG AS YOU WANTED. I'M SURE YOU ARE MISSED IN BERKELEY COUNTY BECAUSE YOU ARE MISSED ALL THE WAY UP IN SPARTANBURG.

PSO J.HORTON
SPSD

Gene,

You are missed, especially by me. I heard the news when I received a call from one of the dispatchers at my work and all I could say was, "you are not serious, it can't be him." (I worked for a police agengy at the time) There are so many things that I would love to tell you. I hopefully will have that chance one day. You made such an influence on my life, I learned so much from you. I wish I could tell you everything that I have done, and everything I would love to do. I was going through a hope ches about a month before the accident and I found pictures, notes and even the dozen of roses that you hand delivered to my work. I miss you so much, and you will ALWAYS have a special place for you in my heart as I did in yours.

You are my blue angel.

Erika

Erika Hansell

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

Rest in peace brother.

Anonymous

I knew him as Eugene when he was five years old and his family lived in Montgomery, Alabama. He was a sweet boy. His whole family will feel his loss forever.

Sandra White
friend

May God bless your family,friends and fellow officer, let them know some kind of peace, knowing that you are safe in Gods arms now, no longer in a place of pain but in a place of happiness and peace waiting for them. Thank you for your service and the impressions that you left on one of my friends that loved you so much.

Anonymous

May your soul find peace brother.

Dan Dalley EOW 06-04-01

Officer John T. Coughran
Fruita Police Department

Gene,

I thank God on a daily basis that I got the chance to know you and be someone close to you. I have many happy memories from our time and many good friends. You helped make me who I am today and have helped me see what life
is really about. I prayed that this day would never come and now it has and I don't know what to do. I plan one day to be able to follow in your footsteps and join the ranks of you and other fellow officers. When that day comes I will do it in your honor. Never will I forget you, or our times together. I will always love you and think of you. I send my condolences to your family, friends and your fellow officers. Thankyou for all you have ever done in your life as a person and a public servant.

Anonymous

As I read the reflections written by others, I was hesitant to write one myself. I am afraid that no words could I find to express how much you meant to me. Even in our friendship it was hard to pinpoint and then express what I felt for you. You were a truly unique person. And I miss you deeply. Rather than reading about someone else's loss and imagining what they must be feeling,I am feeling this first hand. I have never lost someone so close to my heart. I had imagined what I would feel when that day came, but now it has come. And, it was you that I lost. I want everyone who reads this to know exactly what kind of person you were. Yes, you were a hero. You were a proud officer.And you were someone that deserved the recognition you recieved, even if it came after you were gone.But you were much more. You were a friend and in my heart a part of my family. You were someone I knew would ALWAYS be there when I needed you. And you always were. You were always there to make me laugh. Not enough can be said about your outlook on life and on people. It was simply unique. You found humor in things that would normally be well, not that funny! And yet, somehow showed me the humor and made me laugh till it hurt. At times we fought and I would get so angry at you. And as stubborn as I was, I could not stay mad. You would say my name in that way that I couldn't ignore. You would tell me to relax and then do something hilarious and I just would start laughing. You meant so much to my children.You never let them call you anything but "Gene"....and we would argue about that!But, I know how much respect they had for you. You were like their uncle and they loved each day you were around. You would wrestle with them and play video games.....watch movies,go fishing,or just let them ride with you in your patrol car because you know what it meant to them. If it brought a smile to someone's face, you would do it. I will never forget how you made me laugh till it hurt when I was in labor with my daughter.If I could have gotten up and strangled you that day, I would have. But looking back on it over the years, that was a memory of you I will never ever forget. And, I will never be able to eat fried chicken without smiling and thinking of you. It was just back in late August that you went birthday shopping with me for my son and helped me by his gifts. Then, you even drew 'Spiderman' on his cake for him. And, he loved it! You even bought him his first fishing pole.You would sit up for hours with me and just listen to my problems and do all you could to give me advice. You should have been paid for the marriage counseling you did for Jason and I. But, you really cared and that's why you listened. I had the pleasure of being your friend for over 11years.You will hold a place in my heart that noone can ever fill. One day I will see you again.And when I do, I will hug you and thank you for being such a wonderful person and ask you to tell me something funny....because noone makes me laugh the way you do. Until then, I will miss you...and I love you,Gene.

Susan L. Digby

Gene,

I miss you more than you could ever imagine. You meant everything to me and to a lot of other people. We always talked about forever. Our forever was just very short. I can't tell you how much I miss your laugh and your smile. I even miss your sarcastic remarks. Monday before the accident when you came over before work you were so excited. You said guess who is getting an unmarked unit soon. Of course my response was who. You looked at me and smiled and said me. I asked you why and you said that you were getting a promotion. You were going into warrants. Coming off the streets, working regular nine to five hours, and home every weekend. I was so happy for you. You came up and put your arms around me and said "now you don't have to worry about me."

You and I had a lot of fun and I miss that. I will never forget the day you told me that you loved me. I melted inside. I think for the first time in my life I was speechless. You even said that. I waited along time to hear those words from you.

The Tuesday of the accident, you were on your way home when you called me. You asked me to come by the house while you were working on your truck. I told you that I couldn't because I had to help Jamie with his homework and make dinner. I wonder now if I would have come over if it would have made a difference. Everybody just keeps telling me that everything happens for a reason. I don't think that I will be okay until I find that reason.

I am so glad that you called me that night on your way back from the part store. You had never done that before. Just called to say hi. You sounded so funny. You were fussing about the traffic moving so slow. Little did we know at the time.

I have called your cell phone everyday since the accident, just to hear your voice. I called it the other day and it had been disconnected. I think that it really hit me that day.

I miss you, Gene. I will love you forever and always. At least I know now that you are safe.

I love you - Kim

kimberly

My thoughts and prayers are with Deputy Sheriff Wright's family, friends and co-workers. You are never alone in your pain and sorrow. Psalm 55:22

Denise Nichols - surviving spouse
Alabama State Trooper Brian Nichols EOW 2/17/2002

God said through Peter, "BELOVED, DO NOT BE SURPRISED AT THE FIERY ORDEAL AMONG YOU, WHICH COMES UPON YOU FOR YOUR TESTING, AS THOUGH SOME STRANGE THING WERE HAPPENING TO YOU; BUT TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU SHARE THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, KEEP ON REJOICING; SO THAT ALSO AT THE REVELATION OF HIS GLORY, YOU MAY REJOICE WITH EXULTATION."
I wish i knew Gene better than the few weeks we spent together at the academy. my prayers are with his family and his department.
Thank you Gene for setting a great example of what a law enforcement officer and peace keeper should be like....
God bless,
226

PFC. J. DANDRIDGE
DORCHESTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFC

Rest in peace Deputy Wright. May GOD BLESS, the Wright family and the Berkeley County Sheriff's Office with the loss of a true American HERO.

Recruit Don Reichhardt
60th Basic Police Academy
Crater Criminal Justice Academy

Virginia State University Police

We recently lost two officers about the same age in a vehicle accident, I know the pain your friends, families, and co-workers are going through. It saddens me to know that another brother has passed at such a young age. But you are now protecting us from above, my god be with your family, friends, and co-workers.

Clarksville Police Dept.

Gene,
Although I only knew you a short time, you have made an impression on me that will last a life time. You and William gave the ultimate sacrifice, and now you will recieve your rewards. You took so much pride in your work, and were always willing to go the extra mile. My wife, Daryan, and I appreciate everything that you did for us. YOU WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. To a true brother in blue, we love you, and miss you, the radio will not be the same without County 137.

Officer Matthew Woodall
Hanahan Police Department

My condolences to the Wright family and all of the Deputy Sheriffs at the Berkeley County Sheriffs Office. His sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Sgt. Blaine Locklair
Trident Technical College Department of Public Safety

To lose your life while being kind and serving others, no greater love have any man for his fellow beings. May God Bless and keep his family and friends.

CO Loyd Williamson
Alaska Dept of Corrections

Deputy Wright was a fine officer who gave his life in the service of others. My heart goes out to his family, fellow deputies and the citizens of Berkeley County who lost a fine man. No greater love can a man have than laying down his life for another. He and Ofc. William Bell hold a special place in heaven. The families together these two wonderful men have made the ultimate sacrifice. God Bless them.

Chief Roy Whitehead
Summerville Police Department

Having only met Deputy Wright on a couple of occassions it was evident he was truly a caring and giving person. His dedication to the community is second to none and an example for all of us to follow. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and co-workers

Cpl Steve Allison

Cpl Steve Allison
Summerville Police Department

My heart goes out to the Berkeley County Sheriffs Dept, the dispatcher on duty at the time, Deputy Wrights family and all who knew and loved him.
Godspeed!

Nadalee Nunnelley-dispatcher
SL Valley Emergency Communications, Utah

I am Patrolman William Bell's (step) daughter. I am so sorry this tragic incident occurred to these two fine men. I just wanted to let the family and friends of his know that my family feels terrible for what happened to Gene as well as Willam. It just doesn't seem fair that something like this could happen to two wonderful people. I just hope that they were at least having nice converstions and enjoying their last minutes. From what I know of William and have heard about Gene, I am sure they were. Again, may peace and love come to Gene's loved ones and friends. I know what you are going through....

TRACY MCELMAN