Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

First of all, let me say God Bless You and Thank You for your Heroism. I entered Law Enforcement the same year that your incident took place. All of these years later, you still have a profound impact on me and our profession.

As Christmas is upon us, I want to let you know that You, all of the other fallen Brother Officers, and your families are not forgotten. You are in our prayers.

I also would like to make a plea to any Constable or other Texas Law Enforcement Brother: How about we get this Hero's Patch or Shield sent to ODMP for display. He has earned it!

How sad is this? Just 6 weeks after your heroic actions, another criminal justice related incident was 'caught on tape'. All these years later most people know the name of the criminal in that case, but many do not know yours. Well Constable, I know your name and I do my best to make sure others do too. God Bless You.

December 23, 2006

Thank you for all you did while with us. Rest easy now brother, your watch is over on earth, see you soon.

Sgt. John L. Gulledge Retired
Escambia CO FL SO

November 6, 2006

I too have wathced your video in several training sessions. Thank you for increasing my awareness every time I stop a vehicle. I am sure that you have saved countless lives with your sacrifice.

NC LEO

October 29, 2006

well, i do not even know what to say i have watched the video over and over again,i it is so depressing to see how a brother was taken to a better life.i just wished i would have been there to help you.keep watching over us.we will always have you in our minds

October 3, 2006

as countless other officers have said, your sacrifice has not gone in vain. if one more officer goes home after his/her shift, ... please , no more solo patrol; anywhere. for those that must; stay at your car, wait for back-up, and if need be, pistol out- for god sake, let you go home to your family, and the perp go to h e l l !

ret. p.o . john engebretsen
nypd

October 1, 2006

Its the middle of the night, end of shift, and I turned on the TV while changing out of my uniform. What was playing, Deputy Lunsford's final traffic stop, caused me to freeze, and frankly, just cry. At first, it scared me, but as I sit here and reflect on that video, as well as other experiences I've personally witnessed, it only serves as a reminder as to how police work and technology have progressed, even in the wake of tragedy, in order that we may serve the community and our fellow officers that much more fervently.

Melanie

September 19, 2006

Today in class we watched several training videos on how a traffic stop can suddenly go bad. One of those videos was yours, I can only say that it was very hard to hold back the tears and emotions as I watched a fellow law enforcement officer attacked by the monsters that we all swear to put away. God Bless you sir!

Cadet Gonzalez
HCSO Cadet

August 24, 2006

I am from Nacogdoches Texas, I grew up with Sherriff Lunsfords son, I think half of the city of Nacogdoches turned out at his funeral, He was one nice sherriff and one heck of a nice guy. One nite me an my friends where hanging out by the lake when a big shadow starting walking down toward us, we had no idea who it was until we heard the voice, "put that beer down". I thought my friends were going to have heart attacks. To the Lunford family all my families prayers go out to you, I hope I see you on the other side sheriff so we can sit down an have a beer together.

August 23, 2006

Dear Constable Darrell E. Lunsford.
10 years ago the footage of your murder was aired in Canada on a documentary special called "Crime Caught on Tape" I was only 11 and seeing this tramatized and inraged me. I kept visualizing what it must have been like to be you out there that January evening. I'm now 21 and just yesterday I was finally able to see the footage again and put everything into perspective. I think now I am finally able to scilence those feelings.
My condolences go out to you and your family

Rikk

July 20, 2006

I have just seen the video tape of your death and am sure that many officers will now be safe having watched this.I am sorry for the loss of your life but glad that,at least, good has come from it.May you Rest safe in the Arms of The Lord.

May 30, 2006

God Bless you and your family. That video tape will save countless officers their lives. You are a true hero to all of us. It makes alot of officers/people, sick and angry to watch it,and to not have been able to be there to help you, myself included.

Officer Bardwell
Grand Prairie PD/TX.

May 25, 2006

I saw the videotape of your death while in the police academy six years ago. Your sacrifice and the contribution you have made to every officer in this country will never be forgotten. Rest in peace my brother.

jerry

May 21, 2006

I was just a 21 year old rookie when this tragedy happened. I watched the tape over and over trying to make sense of it. As a uniform, I thought of it before approaching violators on the highway. As a plain clothes, I thought of it before knocking on doors. As a supervisor, I made my trainees watch it, so that they would think of it before a contact.

One person who knew him well once told me, "He was a mountain of a man with a heart just as large."

I can't believe it has been a decade and a half. I can't begin to describe the impact this has had on so many people.

Special Agent JB
U.S. DHS

March 29, 2006

Constable, you will live on through training videos that we have all seen. You gave so much of yourself in life, and you continue to give in the after life. Rest in peace, we know you still serve............

AZ Narc

March 13, 2006

Although there are many who criticize your actions right before your death, be assured I am not one of them. It is my belief that you did the best you could with the knowledge and training that you had. There is also one thing that others must remember. You were there doing your job, it was you who was assaulted, it was you who took a bullet for your community, and none of my sacrifice, or any other living cops that I know will ever match up to your heroism. Countless officers have learned from your death and you have saved countless lives. Constable, I salute you.

Matthew Vincent Blackstock Deputy Sherif
Hemphill County Sheriff's Office

December 3, 2005

Constable Lunsford, I was a Cherokee County Reserve Deputy at the time of your sacrifice, just beginning my law enforcement career. I remember hearing about the incident, and it seemed like every law enforcement agency in east Texas came to assist in the search for your attackers. I remember how angry and how shocked I was that someone could attack and kill a officer of the law. It was that point that I realized how dangerous that the job really is, and what a close brotherhood we in law enforcement have. I, like the other officers who have left reflections, watched the video tape over and over again in training, and it has made me, and thousands of others better officers. May God be with your family, and your department. You are a hero, and may your memory, your service, and your sacrifice go on forever. Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the sons of God.

Officer Shane Cannon
Mesquite Police (former Nacogdoches Police Officer)

November 17, 2005

I just watched your tragic last night on duty on television tonight when it was aired on a police video show. My thoughts and prayers are with you and you will never be forgotten.

Sherri
Citizen of Texas

November 3, 2005

Paw Paw you and your fellow officers were one of god's angels helping this community... By your death , you have taught many other officers how to deal with that type of situation.. Your family , fellow officers, and this world, and especially the city of Garrison will never forget you.

no rank / Austin Lunsford
no agency

May 30, 2005

I was a rookie officer when I watched the video that changed law enforcement forever. The lessons learned are invaluable and serve as a reminder everyday that I work about how fragile life is. Your sacrifice has saved many lives. You are truly a hero.

LMP
Texas LE Officer

December 8, 2004

To the the family of Constable Lungsford,

I watched the video tape of your loved one while in the Police Academy in November of 1991. I have never forgot what I saw on that tape or Constable Darrell Lungsford's name.

On June 10, 2004 I stopped a vehicle on the highway near my home town. The vehicle was occupied three times. I had the driver out of the vehicle questioning her and had just walked back to the vehicle to speak to another passenger when the female driver started yelling at one of the other passengers. He started getting out of the vehicle.

At that moment I remembered the training I had recieved because of that fateful day that cost Constable Lungsford his life. I was able to control the situation and retreat back to my patrol vehicle and wait on back up. Subsequent investigation revealed over 61 pounds of marijuana in a hidden compartment in the trunk.

Because of the sacrifice your loved one made, I was able to return home that night to my wife and daughter. I will be forever indebted to Constable Lungsford and his family.

May God bless Constable Lungsford and his family for the countless lives that have been and will be saved from this tragic event.

I hope that Constable Lungsford's heoric death will serve many more new officers as it has served me over the years.

My thoughts and prayers are with you always.

Anonymous

June 14, 2004

May God bless Constable Lunsford and his loved ones.I think about him everytime I get on Hwy 59 and drive past the auto parts store he owned.His death was a terrible tradgedy.I remember it like it was yesterday.I remember the manhunt and the heartbreak I felt when I learned of his death. About a year after his passing I saw the video of his murder in the academy.The video brought back the same feelings of sadness all over again.May Jesus Christ watch over your family and ease their pain.

Anonymous

February 13, 2004

It took me a while to find your memorial because I could not remember your name, only the video that I watched years ago. Because I learned so much from it, it was worth scrolling through every Texas county and constable agency starting with the letter "A" so that I could tell you Rest In Peace brother.

Sr.Cpl Hunt
Dallas PD

October 23, 2003

I just got home from a class where I watched the videotape of your murder. It left me physically ill and emotionally shaken...and I felt sorrow and pain for what you must have gone through in those final moments. It is some solace that you are at peace now and that the "people" responsible have been punished.

Anonymous

A few years ago while I was in the police academy I saw the horriabe video of your murder. In your passing thousands of other officers, and academy trainees have learned a new lesson on how to handle multipule suspects at once.

It is with a great deal of gratitude I thank you for your ultimate sacerfice to protect the people of Nacogdoches County, and for the lessons that officers now can learn from such a tragic event.

God bless.

Jeff Connell
Awater Police

Thank you for all the lives your passing has saved.

Cadet Johnny Whisenant
Capital Area Law Enforcement Academy