Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for his or her comments on the memorial page. Having worked with Dennis as a Police Officer for the Bloomfield Police Department and later as his supervisor with the Davis County Sheriff’s Office, there was no better law enforcement officer then Dennis. He constantly did what ever he could to better himself and truly loved his job. He was dedicated to the mission of the Sheriff’s Office and to protecting the citizens of Davis County. He truly lived the reason why he became a Deputy Sheriff, in his own words, “to make a difference”.

I find it difficult to even write these words, but know everyone who came in contact with him will miss Dennis and it is unfortunate that I must say good bye to a colleague and a very good friend. My deepest sympathy goes out to Dennis’ family, fiancee and children.

And to Dennis, you will be missed here in Davis County, we will never be the same without you and this is proof, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you did “make a difference”.

Chief Deputy Clayton A. Slater
Davis County Sheriff’s Office
110 W. Franklin Street
Bloomfield, Iowa 52537

Chief Deputy Clayton A. Slater
Davis County Sheriff's Office

Our thoughts and prayers to the family, friends and officers of the Davis County Sheriff's Office and Bloomfield Police Department. It was nice to see the support shown by the many officers who attended the funeral. I'm sure Dennis thought we made way to big of a fuss. It won't be the same going to Davis County and not seeing Denny Mac standing at the door, arms crossed, with that big ole smile. But as Monte said "we will continue forward". Dennis would want no less. Rest easy 26-3.

Tom McAndrew
Southeast Iowa Inter-Agency Drug Task Force

To my good friend Dennis, The long lonely nights will be a lot lonelier without having you around. The funny calls, and experiences just wont be as funny, and the delight in catching the bad guys just wont have the same satisfaction without you there to share it with. For four years you have backed me up, and I have tried to do the same for you. You were a good man Dennis, and a good officer. I am glad I was with you in the end. You will always be remembered Dennis. You can now go 10-42 with peace, you did good.

Sgt. Shawn Armstrong
Bloomfield Police Dept.

I would like to say how sorry I am for the loss of Dennis. He was a fine officer and a great person to be around. I am honored to have had the opportunity to work with him. It was a great site to see yesterday as the funeral procession went through town. Not only was there a large turnout of officers from around the state but surrounding states as well(119 vehicles by one account) but there were members of the community that took time out to step outside of there business to pay their respects. My deepest sympathy goes out to Dennis's family. You will be missed Dennis. Thanks for all that you did to make the community safe.

Trooper Douglas E. Rupe
Iowa State Patrol

My deepest condolences to the family of Deputy McElderry. He gave the ultimate sacrifice doing what he loved. Rest in peace brother, we will take it from here.

Reserve Deputy Travis Bell
Lucas County Sheriff's Office, Iowa

Thank you for your service, you will not be forgotten.

Andi-Criminal Justice Student

We feel the lose of Davis county Sheriff's Dept. Truly sorry for your lose.

Patrolman R. M. Walters
East Point Police Dept. EAST POINT Ga.

Today I witnessed one of the saddest things in my life. I stood in ranks today as Deputy McElderry was buried in Bloomfield IA. I had come to show my support to a fallen brother and his family. I came away from his funeral with a deep sadness but also a profound gladness in my heart for the amount of support shown by all IA agencies. Deputy McElderry's serice was truly honorable and I was proud to be there. I'll end with this note. Dennis's family has my deepest condolences and know that no matter where my career takes me I will proudly carry his memory with me.

Patrolman Christopher W. Rowland
Knoxville Police Dept.

Many ask why we do what we do, and face the dangers that we face. Only officers truely understand what drives us. My heart goes out to the family and friends of Dennis, may you find comfort in the Lord and in each other.

I Am The Officer

I have been where you fear to be.
I have seen what you fear to see.
I have done what you fear to do.
All these things I have done for you.
I am the person you lean upon,
the one you cast your scorn upon,
the one you bring your troubles to.
All these people I've been for you.
the one you ask to stand apart,
the one you feel should have no heart,
the one you call the officer in blue,
but I'm just a person, just like you.
And throught the years I've come to see
that I am not always what you ask of me.
So take this badge, take this gun,
will you take it? Will anyone?
And when you watch a person die,
and hear a battered baby cry,
then do you think that you can be
all these things you ask of me?

Unknown Author

Rest in Peace Brother

Mount Pleasant Police Department

May God's grace and comfort be with Deputy McElderry's family and co-workers for years to come. It's hard to learn to go on without your loved one, but talking and crying with friends has helped us thru our own tragedy.

God Bless,
Kris Rao Haimbach
Sister of SCHP Mike Rao
EOW 6/12/02

Kris Rao Haimbach
Sister of Sr. Trooper Michael J. Rao

God Bless this man and all he stands for. Bless his department and all police officers alike. That thin blue line is one man thinner. Rest in Peace, Deputy McElderry.

Explorer Cheif Beau T. Murry
Des Moines Police Department

To the family and co-workers of Dennis McElderry - be strong and remember that Dennis will watch over us. " . . . 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 men."

Trooper Kevin McMahon
New York State Police

May your badge and all it stood for shine on throughout eternity. Iowa salutes you!

Police Chief Kevin W Rollins
Remsen, Iowa Police Dept.

On behalf of the Davenport Police Department I would extend our deepest regards to the family, friends, and colleagues of Deputy Sheriff Dennis Ray McElderry. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

The following is a poem I found several years ago and it found a spot in my heart. It is written by Lisa k. Borchers, January 16, 1986.

"Your Daddy Wore a Badge"

Your daddy wore a badge, she said,
So cry your grieving tears,
Then dry your eyes and lift your head;
He lived to lessen fears.

He wore a badge with pride, she said,
And Justice was his dream;
He lived to serve and serving died,
And though it may not seem
That one cop's death could make this land
A better place to be,
His life was where he took a stand
And forced the blind to see.

So dry your tears and lift your head
And make your Daddy proud;
Be strong in heart, for he's not dead-
Just lost amid the crowd.
His dream lives on in you, my son
(the widow softly spoke),
She squeezed his hand,
Then sorrow won;
I watched as her heart broke.

Then something changed:
A sigh half-sighed escaped her lips unfininshed,
She straightened up;
Although he'd died, his life was undiminished!

Your Daddy wore a badge, she smiled,
Be proud of who he was.
He did his job, (she hugged her child)
Because, my son, because...


Officer Clif Anderson
Davenport IA Police Dept
Crash Investigator/ Honor Guard

Ofc. Clif Anderson
Davenport IA Police Dept

My prayers and condolences go out to the Department, friends and family of Deputy McElderry. keep the fight going for Deputy McElderry, it IS worth the effort.
Stay strong, stay together, help each other and support Deputy McElderry's family during this horrible time. This Deputy is now in a much better place. Rest in Peace, brother.
Mike Bradford
Ret. police officer, deputy sheriff-Tallahassee,Fl.

Inv. Mike Bradford, Ret.
Tallahassee Police Dept

Although it can never be enough, nor can it be said enough, my heartfelt condolence goes out the family of Deputy McElderry. From what little I have heard of Deputy McElderry, he sounds like a brave and hardworking foot solider for the citizens he served. It is my belief there is a special place in heaven for officers just like him.

USPO Justin Thompson
U.S. Probation- Southern Iowa

A loss of a loved one is never easy. Neither is the loss of a fellow officer regardless of the distance in states between us. Please know that your loss is our loss as well. See we are all "Family" despite the color of uniform that we wear.

May you now relish in working a kinder beat.
May the elements no longer fall upon you.
May we now relish in the warm sunlight as you now watch over us with pride.

May God be with your children and parents as my thoughts and prayers are.

Rest in peace my "Law Enforcement Brother".



With Respect and Pride
Officer Renee' Kelley
Oakland Police Department
Oakland Florida

Patrol Officer Renee Kelley
Oakland P.D. (Florida)

My thougths and prayers are with Deputy Sheriff McElderry's children, parents, famliy, friends and co-workers. You are never alone in your pain and grief. Your law enforcement family and fellow survivors are always with you. Psalm 55:22

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

Dear Family and Friends,
As you walk this road of grief, we will stand by your side holding you along the way in prayer. Our hearts are broken with you as we share a grief like no other. Losing him in the line of duty is so honorable and your pride for him will again make you smile when you think of him even through your tears. Our family is praying that you will feel a peace beyond what you can comprehend and God will hold you close.

Cathy Hill
surviving spouse of Deputy Barrett Hill
e.o.w. 12/4/00
He died protecting those he didn't even know.

May God bless the family and friends of Deputy Sheriff Dennis Ray McElderry and the Davis County Sheriff's Department. He is now patrolling the streets of Heaven keeping watch over us here on earth. Rest in peace.

Trooper J. Thomasson
Virginia State Police

Trooper J. Thomasson
Virginia State Police

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

Rest in peace brother.

State Trooper
Pennsylania State Police

God bless the family and friends of this fallen hero. My deepest condolences go out to all during this tragic time.

Andrew
Baltimore City Police

To our brother in blue may you rest in peace. Your family, friends, and co-workers are in our thoughts and prayers.

God Bless!

Officer D. Johns
Georgia Perimeter College Police Department

Rest in peace blue angel.

S. Yates