Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I look at your picture often Chris and it reminds me of what is important in my life.

I wish you were here. It hurts so much.

Cliff Gibson

To the family of Officer Betts I pray God's strength to help you continue through the day. Remember to lean on Him and don't be afraid to cry. Crying is a part of healing, every tear is a small step healing. Our department recently lost a rookie officer and it was a hard thing to go through. Always know that you have law enforcement down this way. I have read the wonderful reflections left and wish I had met him. I pray blessing over baby Trenton. He will grow up to be a blessed child and young man.

To Officer Betts, you have done your duty and we thank you for your courageous efforts. You gave your job your 100% and for you will never be forgotten. Rest in peace.

Communications Officer Hardy-Williams
Glynn-Brunswick 911 Center GCPD/BPD

Blessed are the few who live life for the masses. It is an Honor to have these Officers in our ranks. It is the calling of God, when we are called upon to make the highest of sacrafice. Until the day we patrol a zone together on those streets of gold. It will be my honor to cover your sector. You will not be forgotten as I complete my duties. All I ask is that you and the other Angels are in route when I call for back up.
10-8 (in service) 10-63 ( no report made ).

Ofc Walters
East Point

My heart goes out to the family of Officer Betts. I remember the days in the academy when everyone would look at u to answer ever question, cause no one else knew what we were doing. During PT pushing everyone to keep going and do your best. Chris you are my classmate, my friend , and my brother. You will never be forgotten

Officer B. Daniel
City of Stone Mountain

Hey there Chris! Just wanna thank you for telling God to take Gramma Lu. She's been thru a lot in the past couple of months, although she didn't make it to her 91st b-day like she hoped, she is in a much better place! I hope you made her arrival to the gate a very good one (as I'm sure you did!) and I hope you helped her get re-united with Grampa, whom she has been separated from for almost 10 years.

I miss you Chris. Tomorrow is 4 months, and it seems like forever. I haven't seen you in almost a year and it is starting to hit me hard. With everything going on it's been one tough year. I'm graduating from high school here in 7 weeks...I am not ready. I always thought that all my brothers and sister would be there to watch me, but as we all know, that isn't the case. I'm not even sure if Jason will be there, considering he is having a tough time trying to make survive living down in Georgia. It's my senior year Chris, and I'm suppose to be happy and having fun, but how's that to happen if nothing but crap has been coming my way. I'm telling you, it's the luck of the Irish...I think I've lost my lucky charm! I'm not ready for Thursday, I'm not sure if I can go through another funeral....I'm soo not ready.

Well for now I'm going to let u go. I'll talk to you later

Stephi Marie

Stephi
sister

Hey Big Bro!! Just thought I would come here to straight up tell ya' how i'm feeling, if you don't know already. These feelings I'm about to share, I haven't shared with anyone, so you're the first to know. I miss you Chris. I still cry at night for you to call. It hurts to know that my oldest brother isn't going to be there on the day that I actually get all pretty and dressed up and walking down the aisle...and you to crack up laughing when I fall on my boney butt!!! It hurts to know that I've known you for 18 1/2 years and loved you all 18 1/2 and you are no longer here to share the sad times, the happy times, or the embarassing moments...it hurts to know that people are actually coming up to me to ask me what is wrong with me, or it's been 3 months, get over it...How the heck do you get over this? my god, my oldest brother was killed in the line of duty, something that I wish never had happened, so I dreamed never would happen....and they are telling me to get over it? no it's not like that. I have sooo much anger building up in me. I don't know what's wrong, but driving around Lima, I find myself to be racist (and I never was racist). What the heck? Because of one person's mistake, I'm taking it out on everyone. That isn't fair to those who had nother to do with it. I just wish you would hear my cries at night, I wish you would call up and say something stupid like you use to. Call up just to make fun of me, anything that you use to do...I wish I could hear your voice one more time. Instead the only thing I have running through my head, is your "last call" that was presented at the funeral, that is the only thing I hear...and it is tearing me up inside. I'm not ready to give up on this family. I'm not ready to give up on me. I'm not ready to get over the fact that you're gone. I just wish you would come back and be here for us. I wish Trenton could see his daddy, I wish you could see him, growing up, smiling...in the pics, he looks just like you...you would be proud of the way he is growing up. Well bro, gonna go. I'll talk to u later

I LOVE YOU!

Stephanie Betts
sister

Hi Chris,
It's been almost 3 months now and it seems like just yesterday you stopped by the front gate just to see how we were doing. You had already started with East Point when I got to Ft. McPherson, but nevertheless I heard the wild and crazy stories about your antics. Eventually we met, through friends of friends of friends. It's amazing how tight of a family we brothers and sisters in blue can become, no matter where we come from or where we've been. I remember getting tossed back and forth and eating some dirt after Jamie let his K-9 loose on me on Ft. Gillem (it was time for a new sleeve bro). It hit hard to hear that you were hurt, and that Chris was not with us any more. I would never trade the memories I have, however few, and I am glad to be able to call both of you friends. I am also honored to have had the opportunity to serve with you both. Chris, the fight will go on. You did not die in vain. We'll take up the slack becaue you wouldn't have it any other way. My heartfelt prayers are with you, Shannon, Trent, all your family and friends and all my brothers and sisters in blue in East Point.
Keep'em on the run guys!

Ptl Norberto
Griffin PD, Griffin, GA

Chris~
There are so many things I need to tell you and there are so many things I wish I could do. I miss you my brother, I wish it had never happened. I wish you were never taken away. Your birthday was 2 days ago, and we're s'pose to celebrate your life, but how can we if you are no longer alive? Mom & Dad are taking your death hard, and I'm scared because I don't know what to do for them. I feel like a failure. I don't want them to cry every night or worry about things or question everything. I want them to be happy like they were before. I want the whole family to be happy, I want to be happy, but how can I if little things irritate me like crazy and I am constantly worried about Mom & Dad? I love you Chris, and I am trying my best to live up my dreams like you did. I made II honors last 9 weeks, and I believe that is because you were by my side. Thank-you. Thank-you for being there for me when I was growing up. You may not know this, but growing up in our chaotic house, I felt safe having you as my oldest brother. You were always there to protect me and you were there to pick-on me and I cherish those memories. Thank you for moving back to Ohio in 2000 when Dad had to have emergency open heart. It felt great having all my brothers and sisters here again. It was just one of those times that we all needed everyone. But things happen for a reason and I hope someday I'll realize the reason of you leaving us. Some day when I am old and laying on my death bed, I won't be scared to take my last breath because I know you will be standing there, waiting for me on the other side. Things should have been different. You should have survived because you were doing something heroic and something not everyone would do. You were trying to save the bad guy's life. You didn't have to and I know if it were me, I wouldn't have risked my life. I just pray that you didn't suffer when you were hit by the van or when you were dragged. I just pray and hope that you didn't suffer. It is tearing me up inside not knowing the answers to every unanswered question. I just need to know.
Well bro, I think I am going to say good-bye for now, until I can say hello again.

Love,
Stephi Marie (Punk)

Stephanie
sister

Hey Mo Mo Happy Valentines Day / Birthday,

One of the members of MAPES wrote a short, but true story for you about us. I don't think either one of us knew him, but he definately knew our friendship. Shannon seems to be doing ok, she has a new job and T.J. is growing like you wouldn't believe. Anyway BOSS here is that story, and I'll talk to ya later.

Love Always, Jame

?They Were Friends?
In Honor of Christopher R. Betts

They were friends for most of their lifetime,
Through school and even beyond,
They both served in Uncle Sam?s Army,
Doing police work, of which they were fond.

But on a highway, on a night in December,
It all changed for the inseparable pair,
James Weinmann lay broken and battered,
And his buddy no longer was there.

Usually when an Officer has fallen,
There is a reason, and somebody to blame,
But when Christopher left us for heaven,
It was just the cold, hard facts of the game.

Christopher Betts loved the work he was doing,
Making the world better for his wife and his son,
But now he?s received a promotion,
To be in God?s Army, doing the work he?d begun.

Shannon will often speak of his Daddy,
And tell Trenton stories about the man that she loved,
They will look at the stars in the evening,
And know that Daddy is looking down from above.

He gave his all on that night in December,
Wearing his shield and a gun on his side,
Doing his best to help make the world safer,
For the son that he loved and his bride.

Written By: Danny Dunbar

jamie
Hey Mo Mo!!!

On that fateful night in November 2002, when we heard about this sickening incident, which had just happened so close to us, we were all in shock, and so saddened. To the young wife whom lost her husband and confidant, and to the brave little man whom lost his father, and mentor, and to the family whom did lose such a great member. We are all so very sorry for your loss, our loss, and thank you all for sharing him with us, even for such a very short time.

Officer Cedric Needham
College Park Police Dept

LET ME FIRST SAY THAT I'M SORRY FOR SHANNON'S AND TRENTON'S LOSS,,I DIDNT KNOW CHRIS PERSONALLY,ONLY KNEW HIM FROM HEARING MY SON IN LAW SPEAK OF HIM,AND HE SPOKE OF HIM OFTEN AND SPOKE HIGHLY OF HIM,,,,I WILL PRAY FOR THE FAMILY OF OFFICER BETTS,,,I KNOW THAT CHRIS'S PASSING SADDEN MANY HEARTS,HIS EPPD BROTHERS AND HIS FAMILY...GOD BE WITH YOU CHRIS..AND WITH YOUR FAMILY



RHONDA HANEY
MOTHER IN LAW OF
OFFICER RICK KELLY,EPPD

Chris, I was driving home from vacation the other day and I was just kinda drifting in my mind of days at your house, laughing, dipping and complaining about anything. I was thinking about how true a friend you were and how you always called me, every day, even if to just say something I cannot repeat here. Suddenly I saw that a Trooper was right on my bumper and I was doing 80+ in a 55. I saw the lights come on and I pulled over. The trooper was a tall thin guy with dark hair and a unique smile. I don't know where he came from or when he got behind me but he was surely there. He took one look at my ID, smiled and said " be careful." I said the same and departed. I drove about 5 minutes and my mind went back to you and how that trooper resembled you, a little. I laughed at the morning you died and how I got stopped three times on my way to Shannon's side. I then thought about the conversation with Father Peek and how he said you are watching over me. I began to cry and l thought, just give me a sign, something to say you're in heaven and I will be fine. I looked to the sky and longed for something, a sign that only I would take notice to and only I would know what it meant, a cloud or anything... I saw a jet, way up there and saw that it had just started leaving a stream of white behind it. I thought myself stupid and crazy and then thought, that jet has been up there a while, obviously, but it just started leaving that stream... I looked to my g/f and she was looking out another window. I looked around to the other cars and I was the only one looking up. I miss the laughs. I miss the complaining and taking your dip when I was broke. I miss you, you were my friend and the best. Thanks for letting me know that you are up ther with the best officers and angels. I will always love you.

We know who
East Point PD

My prayers and sympathy go out to the family, friends, and coworkers of Officer Betts. I truly know what you are all going through. I lost my best friend back in September, when Lt. Billy Jiles of the Carroll County Sheriff's Department was shot and killed in the line of Duty.
I pray that you will all look to our Heavenly Father for comfort in your time of loss. I know that if it weren't for my personal relationship with Him, I would not be able to deal with the loss of Billy.
May God Bless you all and guide you through your healing process.

Kevin Bradley
Friend of Officer Billy Jiles, Carroll County, who was killed in Sept.

CHRIS,
WE STILL MISS YOU SO MUCH! EVERYDAY WHEN I DRIVE BY THE EXIT ON MY WAY HOME I SMILE AND THINK OF ALL THE GOOD TIMES! YOU WERE A GOOD OLE BOY FROM THE POINT, YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN! MISS YA

Anonymous

I know we've all heard it a thousand times, but Chris was a great guy. He knew when to make you laugh, and when to make you even more upset then you were. I wish I could of spent more time with him, there was never a dull momement when Chris was around. Even though Chris is no longer with us physically, he's watching, and taking care of his family and close friends. I just wish he knew that I looked up to him and so many ways, which has also lead me (hopefully) to a career in law enforcement. Chris, I feel like a better person, because I knew you. I miss you, all of us miss you! Take care, and see you when I get there, brother.

Almost 5 years ago, I met a young crazy guy named Chris Betts who always found a way to make the workday a little better as an MP at Ft. McPherson. From getting in trouble together, to sticking up for me when I found it on my own, Chris was always the one to take good care of all who surrounded him. Even when times got tough, he really knew how to lift everyone's spirits. I was working when I heard the news, I had to be there for the funeral, even with the war on, I couldn't rest without saying goodbye to a good friend, co-worker, fellow officer that I remember watching graduate from East Point, moving foreward with his life, finally everything going good for him, and then this sad, unfortunate tradgedy struck...I am so sorry for the Betts family, I can only offer my condolences and to say that Chris was a great guy, a good friend and will be sorely missed....may he rest in peace and never be forgotten. He was doing what he loved, and for that we can all be greatful.
God Bless, take care Chris....we'll miss you.

SGT Jennifer Clayton - Smo
US ARMY - Ft Campbell

Chris: I want to pray that you are doing good up in Heaven. I hope you are staying out of trouble. I also want to ask for a favor. We here in Lima are faced with another challenge in life, and I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Grandma Shaner (Dad's mom) is having emergency bypass surgery sometime this week, and I just hope that all goes well and that you will be there with her as the doctors try helping her. I also hope that you are with Great Grandma Lu as she watches her daughter be rolled away to surgery. I also ask that you be with the family as once again we live this nightmare once again. From dad's heart surgery 2 years ago, to grandma's surgery this year....be with us all, and give us all the strength to come through this. I know you can't be in a million places all at once, but this is the only thing I can do to try and help the family. Amen

Stephanie Betts
sister

God be with Chris and his family. You will be missed, you are a hero in our eyes and in God's. Jamie get better and know that you have much support and love.

Sandra Snider, Historian
Blue Knights Law Enforcement Club, TN VII

Its not everyday that the sun comes out and shines upon our lives but for one young family it will be gray for a rather long time .
God knows this and has decided to let one young officer get his angel wings early
this way he can fly and protect not only his god and decipals but his wife and child
and when your not looking he is by your side to
he is now working in heaven as he would have here on earth
protecting , and serving , but now his protection means alot more than can be explained and god knows that he made a right decision by choosing this young man to protect him .

Nicole Meeker
A Friend

Chris,
I have been back at work for about a week now and It still does not seem real. I remember doing reports in the report room many times when you would walk up behind me and say "whats taking you so long? do you ever do any work". But it helps to know that you in a much better place and that still with us on every call. Our prayers are with your family. We love you and miss you brother.

We will 59 with you there when its our time 10-12 for us.

OFC. Michael Phillips
East Point PD

Chris,
I always knew that you were a wonderful brother but after reading and listening to all the "Chris stories" it reassured me. I never told you that I love you but I guess you already knew. Many people have told you not to worry about Shannon and Trenton and I'm going to do the same. Trenton will grow up knowing how great of a person you were. I'll try my best to help raise him to be just as great as you were.

I know now that no matter where I am you are standing right there with me. I miss you Chris and I wish you didn't have to leave but God had much better plans for you. I guess this is the one and only time that I don't get my way.

I know you won't be physically at my wedding I know in my heart you will be there spiritually.

I love and miss you big brother. Until we meet again at Heaven's Gate...

Jeni Betts
Chris' sister

Where do I begin Chris?.? I love and miss you. I don?t remember what happened that night, maybe that?s good maybe that?s the way it?s supposed to be. I know you?re with God doing what you always do best (helping others). I?m mad at God for taking my best friend, my brother, but I truly believe that your needed there more so than here. We have shared so many of life?s experiences together, none of which I will ever forget. You have changed so many lives for the better and I hope I can one day be half the man you are. T.J. may have lost you for now but he also gained more father figures than he will ever need, and I will always be there for him just as you were for me. Shannon is a strong woman, but you knew that when you married her, and she will never be alone either.

I?m going to close this letter now, but I will see you again!
Rest partner? you have earned it.

I?ll talk to you later, love always jame

OFC. J. Weinmann
East Point Police Dept.

Saint Michael, heaven's glorious commissioner of police,who once so neatly and successfully cleared God's premises of all its undesirables, look with kindly and professional eyes on your earthly force.

Give us cool heads, stout hearts, and uncanny flair for investigation and wise judgment.

Make us the terror of burglars, the friend of children and law-abiding citizens, kind to strangers, polite to bores, strict with law-breakers and impervious to temptations.

You know, Saint Michael, from your own experiences with the devil, that the police officer's lot on earth is not always a happy one; but your sense of duty that so pleased God, your hard knocks that so surprised the devil, and your angelic self-control give us inspiration.

And when we lay down our night sticks, enroll us in your heavenly force, where we will be as proud to guard the throne of God as we have been to guard the city of all the people. Amen.


Dear Saint Michael, your name means, "Who is like God?" and it indicates that you remained faithful when others rebelled against God. Help police officers in our day who strive to stem the rebellion and evil that are rampant on all sides. Keep them faithful to their God as well as to their country and their fellow human beings. Amen.

Sgt Snake
East Point Police Department

I started my career as an East Point Police Officer and met my wife their . Both of us were deeply affected by this tragedy as we still have many friends at East Point PD. Though I never met Ofc. Betts he was still a brother and will be missed as a member of the thin blue line. My prayers go out to the Bett's family and all the Officer's at the EPPD. God bless and keep you all.

Deputy B.P. Forrest
Henry County Sheriff's Dept.

I am sorry to say that I wasn't as close as a Godmother should be, but I feel that with the memories and words of your inspiration and dedication and passion for your career that you followed some guiding force that would not or could not have steered you wrong. Even though you've been taken from our mortal world too soon, you showed others how life should be lead, and I praise you for that. May each life that you've touched be inspired by your courage, compassion and love for others. I just hope that I may touch and inspire as many hearts as you have Chris.

May God be at your side forever Bubby, as well as your mom, your dad and brothers and sisters and all of us. I love you and feel your presence each and every day.

Love,

Kathleen

Godmother, Aunt and Friend, Kathleen