Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Our sympathy and prayers go out to the family, friends and co-workers of Chief Leatherbury. God Bless.

Ptlm. P.K. Harding
Binghamton P.D. (NY)

I am so sad to hear the Chief died following an arrest. He was truly a man who died with honor. We lost an officer the day before, LT Glenn Hicks, so I share your sorrow.

My heart goes out to his family and friends. He is now walking the bbeat in Heaven with St. Michael. Be safe and god Bless.

Chief JA Millan
NC Public Schools Law Enforcement, Avery Dist

My prayers and thoughts are with the family, friends and co-workers of Chief Leatherbury. May you always remember what a hero he was. He is now an angel keeping watch over all of us from above.

Lori Brown
Aunt of Deputy Renee Azure EOW 8/06/02

GOD BLESS CHIEF LEATHERBERRY. WHAT A SAD WAY TO END 31 YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. MAY HIS FAMILY ALWAYS KNOW HE WAS A HERO. OUR PRAYERS TO THE CHIEFS DEPARTMENT. REST IN PEACE BROTHER.

CHIEF RONNIE WATFORD-RETIRED
JEFFERSON POLICE DEPT,S.C.

I would like to extend my condolences to the family of Ernest J. Leatherbury. My thoughts are with you.

Anonymous

Rest in peace blue angel.

S. Yates
concerned citizen

My deepsest sympathies to the family, friends and coworkers of Chief Leatherbury. A very dedicated law enforcement officer whom we are very proud of. Rest in peace brother.

Trooper Andrew Canepa
Pennsylvania State Police

Thank you for your service, Chief Leatherbury. My condolences to his family, friends, and fellow officers. I know that the Crisfield Police Department will continue to be strong, despite the loss this tremendous loss. Rest well Chief Leatherbury, and thanks for fighting the good fight.

Pat
Baltimore County Police Explorer, MD

My condolences and prayers go out to the family, friends and co-workers of Chief Leatherbury. He came into our line of work a young man, and he went to God as a young man still, even though his tour of duty lasted 31 long years.
Thank you, Chief, and God Bless.......
Mike Bradford-Tallahassee, FL.

Inv. Ret: Mike Bradford
Tallahassee Police Department

Condolences to the surviving family members, friends,and co-workers of Chief of Police Ernest J. Leatherbury. May the Lord be with you all during these difficult times. Chief will be in our prayers.



God Bless

Patrol Officer. R.Gomez
Pinecrest Police, Florida

Deepest sympathy to the family of Chief Leatherbury. May God give you peace.

Anonymous

On behalf of the Newport Police Department, and myself. We extend our most heartfelt sympathies to the officers of the Crisfield Police Department, family, and friends of Chief Leatherbury.

Lt. Mike Hansel
Newport Police Department-TN

Thanks, Chief for being there when you were needed, it is impressive that you would pitch in with patrol and do what was necessary. That means a lot to those of us on the street. To his family, you have only memories now, but they will sustain you during this, your most difficult moment. Those of us who have lost a friend in the line of duty know the pain you are suffering right now, and hopefully you can feel the prayers for you across the miles...Rest in Peace Chief, and thanks.
KY Peace Officer
Isaiah 40:31

In Memory: Billy Walls JCSO EOW 11-13-01

Please remember the fallen officers we have lost. Remember the men and women who died trying to make this world a safer and better place for us all to live in. Thank you Chief Leatherbury for a job well done. Please continue to watch over us and protect us as only you can. You will forever be at our side and in our hearts.

For those of you who still have loved ones with us please take the time to tell them how much you appreciate and care about them.

IF I KNEW

If I knew it would be the last time
That I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly
and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.

If I knew it would be the last time
that I see you walk out the door,
I would give you a hug and kiss
and call you back for one more.

If I knew it would be the last time
I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word,
so I could play them back day after day.

If I knew it would be the last time,
I could spare an extra minute
to stop and say "I love you,"
instead of assuming you would KNOW I do.

If I knew it would be the last time
I would be there to share your day,
Well I'm sure you'll have so many more,
so I can let just this one slip away.

For surely there's always tomorrow
to make up for an oversight,
and we always get a second chance
to make everything just right.

There will always be another day
to say "I love you,"
And certainly there's another chance
to say our "Anything I can do?"

But just in case I might be wrong,
and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you
and I hope we never forget.

Tomorrow is not promised to anyone,
young or old alike,
And today may be the last chance
you get to hold your loved one tight.

So if you're waiting for tomorrow,
why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
you'll surely regret the day,

That you didn't take that extra time
for a smile, a hug, or a kiss
and you were too busy to grant someone,
what turned out to be their one last wish.

So hold your loved ones close today,
and whisper in their ear,
Tell them how much you love them
and that you'll always hold them dear

Take time to say "I'm sorry,"
"Please forgive me," "Thank you," or "It's okay."
And if tomorrow never comes,
you'll have no regrets about today.

Anonymous

My fiance, Dennis McElderry, was the first law enforcement casualty of 2003. It saddens me to know that Dennis was not the first to die in the line of duty, nor will he and Ernest be the be the last to die this way.

Having gone through the pain of losing Dennis I can truly understand and feel the pain that Chief Leatherbury's family, friends, and co-workers must be feeling. I wish I could give you a few words of wisdom to help you through this tough time, but there isn't anything I can really say or do to make the situation better. Please know that my thoughts are with you.

Please accept my condolences on behalf of the McElderry family and remember that Ernest is part of huge law enforcement family. If you ever need anything any number of them will be there for you (as I've quickly found out!) From reading the many reflections posted here, I am certain Ernest was well respected and well loved. Thank you for a job well done and for helping to make this world a safer place for us all. Please take care of my fiance Dennis.

Peace, Love, Luck, and Happiness!

Jocelyne Brar
Dennis McElderry's fiancee - EOW (01/03/03)

I had the privlege to know Chief Leatherbury when he was a Maj/LTC with the Maryland State Police. Chief Leatherbury is an example of one of the finest in our profession. He took on a challenge of a small department with turmoil, and turned it around to be a department that officers were proud to work for. I am also privileged to know Chief Leatherbury's son, 1SG Ernie Leatherbury of the Maryland State Police. Ernie and I worked together several times when I worked for Salisbury Police Dept, MD, and we became great friends. My love, sympathy, and respect goes out to Chief Leatherbury's family. God Bless and Rest in Peace.

Ofc Troy L. Raines
Boynton Beach PD, Florida

Our prayers and sympathy goes out to the family, friends and co-workers of Chief Leatherbury.

Lyndell and Elizabeth Taylor
Parents of Deputy Sheriff
Morris Lyn Taylor (Douglas County Oregon)
EOW 09-14-02

Anonymous

To the family, friends, and co-workers of Chief Leatherbury.
May God be with you and comfort you during this time. I know this is a great loss. He is now patrolling the streets of heaven. God bless and God speed.

S/TRP K.P. Bazen
South Carolina Highway Patrol

This Officer gave everything. To the Family: we are here mourning with you the lost, we have and are walking the path that you are walking, we mourn with you today.

Isaiah 57: 1-2
The righteous perish,
and no one ponders it in his heart;
devout men are taken away,
and no one understands
that the righeous are taken away
to be spared from evil.
Those who walk uprightly
enter into peace;
they find rest as they lie in death.

God with all those who mourn.

In Memory of
Donald Kenneth Bond, Jr.
EOW: 9/6/01

Anonymous

This type of dedication is a great quality, I am sure that the men and women are proud to have served for the chief and will remember that although he was their boss that he was also right there beside them doing the job.

May this man never be forgotten.

My heart goes out to the family and friends of Chief Leatherbury. I cannot begin to imagine your pain. May God grant you the stregnth to find some peace in this tragedy.
Stay strong for eachother, and keep Chief Leatherbury alive through memories. My prayers are with you all.

God Bless

LEO Wife
NJ

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

God's speed Chief

Officer D. Johns
Georgia Perimeter College Police Department

To the family, friends and coworkers of Chief Leatherbury may God be with you all in this time of loss and may you find peace with the help of each other. Rest in peace now Chief.

Deb Azure
Mother of Deputy Renee Azure, EOW 08/06/02

God Speed, Brother.

P.O.K. Murphy
Union Police, NJ

Take comfort in knowing we all are one family.
Our department, and its' members, are there for you at all times.

Gresham Police Benevolent Group