Family, Friends & Fellow Officers Remember...

Officer Collins,

On this the anniversary of your leaving us in the physical sence, we pay tribute to your spirit. Tonight the Evening Watch of the Henry County Georgia Police Department will hit the street in your honor. Please watch over us as we continue your fine work.

For the entire shift,

Sergeant V.T. Rosen

Sergeant V.T. Rosen
Henry County Police Department

April 11, 2007

You proved you were a true officer with your actions that day. It is sad to know, none of us will be able to see your true potential. This job is 24/7, whether you get paid or not is the only difference. An officer is never off duty. Thank you for your service Officer Collins.

Melissa
wife of a Michigan Deputy

April 11, 2007

We can let you go so much easier when we know your
eternal destination....at home in Heaven with your
beloved Savior Jesus. I guess He was the only One
who knew your first day would be your last. We can
rejoice in the midst of our pain and suffering because
you are supremely happy now, rejoicing with the King.
We know we can trust Him to heal our broken hearts.
Time will never diminish your sacrifice. Thanks for
having the courage to do this difficult job. Hard to
believe your career was cut so short. You had so much
to give to your fellow man. God bless all those who still miss you!
Lynn Kole
Washington State

April 11, 2007

Hello Mel,

Today I thought about you. And I cannot help but say that I cried again. In a few days my community will be saying goodbye to another fellow officer who was killed in the line of duty recently. So, I decided to leave you a note. Look out for Deputy Dennis Wright up there. I know there is a special place up there where you guys can meet and talk about all that y'all have in common with each other. This April will be 4 years since you were taken away. I wanted to say to you again what I said to you three years ago and that is "No greater love hath any man than one who would lay down his own life."

Continue to Rest my Brother,

T

APO T. EDWARDS
Savannah-Chatham Metro Police Dept.

November 21, 2006

The time I met you I knew that you would be a great policeman. I could tell that you wanted to make a difference and help people. You are truely missed.

Reserve Ofc. Matt Beckham
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

November 17, 2006

Mel,

Its been 3 years and i just wanted to say that no one has forgotten you. I miss you man.

Deputy Andrew K. Altman
Brantley County Sheriff's Office

May 22, 2006

To Officer Melvin Earl Collins and his loved ones:

On this the third anniversary week of your tragic death, please know that your memory is honored and revered today.

My heart goes out to your family. You’re in our thoughts and our prayers. Reading the loving reflections about your beloved Melvin gives us some understanding of what a kind and honorable man he was, and what he meant to his family and friends.


Melvin, you rescued us, saved our possessions, our lives and our families. You are one of the rare heroes among us. You were always there for us in the most traumatic moments of our lives. No matter when we called, we just expected that you would come and do whatever it took to help us, and you always met our expectations. Your selflessness and dedication are awe-inspiring.

This world, this country, your community truly are better places because of you. To have lost you is a great tragedy, an irreplaceable, immeasurable loss for society. We are grateful for and to you, and honor you for all you did for us day in and day out whether you received a word of thanks or praise.

Rest in Peace, Officer Collins. I am humbled by your valor, courage, and dedication. How your loved ones must miss you.

This reflection is sent with the utmost respect for the distinquished service Melvin gave to his community and the citizens of Georgia, and for the supreme sacrifice he and his family made on April 11, 2003.

Phyllis Loya, mother of fallen officer Larry Lasater, Pittsburg PD, eow 4/24/05

April 15, 2006

On the third anniversary of the end of your watch I salute you for your courage and dedication to duty. You are a hero. Thank you for your service to the citizens of Brunswick. Rest in peace my brother in blue. May God bless you and your loved ones.

State Constable J.L. Green
S.C. State Constables

April 11, 2006

Born and raised in Brunswick but I have been gone over 20 years now in the Navy. I didnt know you but I thank the Lord for you and your brothers and sisters in blue. Rest in peace and know "We have the Watch".

Steve Richardson
us navy

February 24, 2006

Though it has been a few years since your departure you are still remembered. You are still a hero to many and you will never be forgotten. Continue to watch over us as you patrol in heaven. May God continue to bless your family.

Deputy Jamie Davis
Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office (Va.)

February 2, 2006

As I join the hundreds of police motors making their way to the memorial in Washington D.C. next month, know you will be in my thoughts.
While your tour is over, ours continues.
Thank you Melvin for your service.

Senior Trooper
Virginia State Police

April 11, 2005

Officer Collins, Melvin, everlasting joy will be your portion....just the other day we roared with laughter in thinking of the joy you brought. I know that you are home in glory for you were a remarkable Man of God. I've known you for so many years...you are and will always be my friend, my heart. You unselfishly gave the most precious gift of all and I like so many others THANK YOU. My prayers are continuously with your family and friends there in Georgia. And you are so greatly missed by your family and friends here in Shreveport, Louisiana. I know that you are looking down, watching over us all! The Brunswick Police Department and your fellow Brothers and Sisters in Blue all over are truly special in every right....until Zion.....

"So the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads" [Isa.51.11, NKJV]

L.W. Collins
Shreveport, Louisiana

December 17, 2004

Mel,
It still seems like yesterday when this happened. It is really hard to believe. Losing you and my father has really made me realize how we are not promised tomorrow. We just did a law enforcement officer's funeral today. This one was not in the line of duty however, he was the retired Police Chief for Nahunta. Still when I put my uniform on and my mourning band it brings a tear to my eye remembering that day. In fact my eyes are watering up now. I miss working with you man and will never forget you. I plan to go by your grave tomorrow. I can't wait to see you again brother. Take care!

Operations Specialist Andrew K. Altman
Brantley County, Ga. Emergency Management

October 14, 2004

Mel,
It has been a year since you were killed. But we have not forgotten you or what you did. Since you were killed, I had the pleasure of working with your roommate from the academy John Roberts. After he finished the F.T.O. program and was released he came to my shift. After working with John for only a few days, I knew he and I would become close friends. We would talk about when you guys were in the academy and how much he mises you. John is a great guy! He said you were too!! Now that I have been transfered to the Traffic Unit, John and I still remain close friends. Everyone is still displaying the stickers that were made to honor you. I display one on both of my P.O.V.'s. Well, keep us safe until we come home. You are our "Guardian Angel" in the B.P.D. blue uniform. We love and miss you! From all of us here at the station!

Pfc. Michael Davis
Brunswick Police Dept., Traffic Enforcement Unit

April 18, 2004

Officer Collins....you served us one day. You'll watch over us forever. Thank you for your service & God bless.

Special Agent Dennis Duncan
Norfolk Southern Railway Police

April 9, 2004

Melvin,

You knew what it meant to be a Peace Officer and what it meant to be a Man of God. It takes a strong heart to protect and serve. That night hit us all like a ton of bricks. You will always be remembered as a hero in all of our hearts. "However my life is worth nothing to me, just that I finish the race the Lord has set before me." Acts 20:24 Take care we'll be seeing you brother.

Ofc. Gerald Herndon
Brunswick Police Dept.

March 19, 2004

May you rest in Peace my brother, You are a true hero in blue

i. davis
morven police dept ga

March 16, 2004

“When God made Peace Officers….”

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 their uniform.

They have 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.

They have to be in top physical condition at all times, running on black coffee and half- eaten meals. And they have 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 the problems,” said the Lord, “It’s the three pairs if eyes and 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 they already know and wishes in that they had taken that accounting job.) Another pair here in the side of their head for their partners’ safety. And another pair of eyes here in front that can look reassuringly at a bleeding victim and say, “ You’ll be alright ma’am, when they know it isn’t so.”

“Lord,” said the angel, touching his sleeve,” rest and work 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 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 elements of a hundred crimes, recite Miranda warnings in it’s sleep; detain, investigate, search, and arrest a gang member on the street in less time than it takes five judges to debate the legality of the stop…and still it keeps it’s sense of humor.

This officer also has phenomenal personal control. They 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 sober. “I didn’t put it there,” he said.


Anonymous

Senior Instructor
FLETC

January 7, 2004

May God bless your family my brother in blue!

You are a true hero for you did not have to identify yourself as a police officer but you did, in order to protect others.

Thank you!

Police Officer
Montgomery County, MD

November 26, 2003

Such a sensless tragedy!... Brother Collins; you are a true hero and will forever be remembered! Watch over us down here!

Ofc. Meshia Thomas
Univ Of Tennessee Police Dept

September 28, 2003

When others would have ran, you made a choice to stand. The true meaning of a hero, that few will understand. God bless the family of our fallen brother.

Officer Fillers
Riverdale Police Dept.

You showed courage and took action to protect the community you served. God speed my brother, you will be truly missed.

Detective K. T. Shoop
Virginia Beach Police Department

May God Bless the family of Police Officer Melvin Collins. I am a citizen of Glynn County, Georgia and words of thanks I wish to say could fill this page. Thank you for protecting our community, and our city. Though I never knew Officer Collins or his family, I have heard only wonderful things about him from fellow officers. I hope God Blesses Officer Collins, his family, and our community through this difficult time.

It's not the critic who counts nor the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or were the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood who strives who spends himself in a worthy cause.

I can think of no greater cause than to give your life to your country and community.

Thank you Officer Collins.

Brad Martin
Brunswick, Georgia

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 Officer Collins 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

Officer Collins,

I mourn your loss; the loss of your life, the loss to your community, the loss to your comrades, and certainly the loss to your family. I am glad for you that you had the opportunity to know St. Michael in this cruel world. I am certain that you are now getting to know him in Heaven.

Citizens sometimes seem to feel that we have made a decision to be a cop or not. They simply don't realize the truth of the matter. We are officers or deputies or agents because it is a calling, not completely un-like your other calling to God.

This is why your one day tour of service is as significant as one whole lifetime's tour. You felt the calling and you answered. The academy, certification, and oath only serve to inform the public. You knew your heart and the need to serve before ever knowing the term P.O.S.T.

Only a man's good character and relationship with God give him the courage to display the acts which you demonstrated for us. Your sacrifice is as significant as any other officer's sacrifice. When I visit the memorial again, I will be sure to touch your name and whisper a prayer.

You felt the calling and responded, and for that I appreciate your sacrifice. I feel that God too appreciates your sacrifice. Had you ever considered that from the earliest tingle of faith years ago that this one event, this one robbery, the defense of this one victim, would be God's plan for you. Your mission for God is accomplished here. Others of us are still working on ours. "One more trip around the mountain," my pastor once said. Thank you for fighting the Good Fight.

God bless your eternal soul.

Deputy Chris Harper, 129
Putnam County SO, Georgia